Thanks for your replies, Tom and Bill.
Tom, you're right, of course, that having the traveler/cleat on the
companionway shelf doesn't eliminate the difficulty of getting in and
out of the cabin. And you're also right that I don't spend a lot of
time in the cabin (though I might like to). But I do pull sails,
rudder, and other gear in and out of the cabin every time I sail. So
I'm hoping it'll make that a little easier, while at the same time
giving me a little more upwind capability. I've considered mounting
the traveler on the cockpit floor farther aft, but I'm trying to
avoid that clutter (and damage to my toes!).
Losing twist control is a more serious problem. I wonder if using my
boom vang to better effect might help overcome that. Or perhaps
angling the mainsheet, so that it attaches to the boom farther aft.
Right now, on a stock M15, it is attached mid-boom, straight up from
the companionway shelf. So it seems I could fairly easily attach it
about 3/4 of the way back, at a point near where it is on an M17. Or
would that just introduce a different set of problems? In any case, I
see an awful lot of boats that don't connect the boom to the stern
(including the M17), and I assume that twist control is not a killer
issue with them.
Bill, I've also given some thought to attaching the traveler to a
stern rail similar to the Flicka design. But since I'm hoping to be
able to sit up against the bulkhead while sailing (with a tiller
extension, of course), that would mean a fairly long run for the
mainsheet, at right about neck level for any of my crew. So that
option doesn't have much appeal to me.
I know, I know. I should just leave well enough alone. It's a flaw in
my character.
Have fun up in Port Townsend, Bill!
David
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David W. Wood -=- [EMAIL PROTECTED]
1981 M15 -=- Hull #163
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