Hobie Cat Forums

My traveler doesn't "travel" smoothly, should it be lubricated? If so what is reccomended? Vern

I would clean it well with some dish soap. That should help quite a bit if it is just full of "crud". I use some McLube SailKote to keep it sliding smoothly. Just be careful because your traveler will slide a lot quicker on jibes and may catch you off guard.

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-Zach
West Lafayette, IN (school)
Melbourne, FL (summer)

i tried mclube did not help for me so i put grease for a trailer in it and it worked great.

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http://youtube.com/optikid16030

1983 Hobie 16 Cat fever #55697
2008 Laser Radial/4.7 #190471
S.S.S.
S.Y.S.P

Until it gets sand in it.

A problem with the old-style travelers is that the stainless roller pins will eventually create divots in the soft aluminum track. The only way to fix it is to replace the track.

The newer traveler cars, with the brass wheels work much better.

But in the mean time, don't use a petroleum-based lubricant on the traveler. It will attract sand and dirt and eventually make the problem worse.

Use a dry silicone / teflon based lubricant, like McLube or spray silicone.

what do you recommend ?

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http://youtube.com/optikid16030

1983 Hobie 16 Cat fever #55697
2008 Laser Radial/4.7 #190471
S.S.S.
S.Y.S.P

Or keep a small bottle of dawn dish washing soap, very slippery.

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Bodhisatfa

I clean mine with a pressure washer then DRY silicone spray after This works for me It might work for you
Former Hobie Admiral Gary

McLubed my old style traveler track on my 14 over the weekend, worked great.

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Mark Van Doren
Division 9 Chairman
H20 #647
H14 #47787
H16 #112205

I used the silcone spray it works pretty good, was at Patagonia lake this weekend had a few good runs.

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My second home is a third world RV park.

Howzit Peeps!

I have a old 1980's Hobie and you can only lubricate the traveler so many time before you have to accept that it has reached the end of its life.

This is what I did and it ended up costing a bit, but made the a really big difference.
change the main sheet traveler system to a 22mm Harken system.
Download the Harken manual from the web.
Buy a new Harken traveler car model 2728
and buy the 22mm small boat track.

Install and all round happiness this especially helps if you have a spi boat.
this is the same system that the Tigers use.

first, keep it clean. second, dino based lube will attract dirt. use silicone spray.

Is this setup race legal?

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2011 H16... Have a Hobie Day!
1983 H14 Turbo...

I use CRC Silicone Spray for everything on the boat and it works great...

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_11151_10001_431734_-1?ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=431734&cid=sc_googlepla&gclid=CIb02Y2Ui7MCFQSEnQodyXAAfA#.UIBFWLQ1b8s

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2011 H16... Have a Hobie Day!
1983 H14 Turbo...

i am not too sure if it is race legal. but racing with an old boat you barely stand a chance of ending in the top ranks. if you look at the new french hobies you will see that it has a very good ball bearing system build into the crossbar.

Matt, You mentioned:
A problem with the old-style travelers is that the stainless roller pins will eventually create divots in the soft aluminum track. The only way to fix it is to replace the track.

Is this something that you can see on inspection? My traveller is the original, and when not loaded works great. As soon as you hook the sail to it, I need to kick it to get it to move. I need to get it fixed if it is the problem you discribe.

On the plus side, I haven't been whacked in the head by a fast moving boom yet, either!

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Steve
1979 Hobie 16 "Orange Crusher"