With all the boat being commissioned in the north east at least, I am always eager to see what is on the docks.

Despite another winter it seems at least one thing has not changed over the years. A perennial frustration of mine is mainsheet travelers that have negative camber to them.

That is with the curve following the curve of the cabin top, or deck so that  the ends are lower than the middle, like this:

OR this:

Because the distance from the top of the mast to the end of the boom (I.E. down the sail’s leech) is more or less fixed, (given a fixed sheet tension) when one eases the traveler, with this negative camber, the distance between the boom and the traveler INCREASES…..with the effect that the traveler will not slide to leeward easily, if at all frankly Even with ones nifty new Harken Ball bearing traveller.

It is pretty common arrangement actually:

Seen here on a “famous” name Brand north east yacht.

And here too: And certainly not with a 20 year old traveler.

On this widely promoted as a “great offshore cruising boat”.

Unless you are reaching, it is neigh on impossible to adjust  the traveler with this reverse camber, unless you ease the main sheet to

This following picture is one particular reason why it is important for the boat’s (standing) rigging to have either perfectly correct alignments for the rigging, OR a toggle to permit the stay to adopt its preferred angle relative to the chain plate:

On the other hand, having really proper mooring chocks or hawse pipes is important in a “Great offshore cruising boat:

This detail is on the same boat as one of the mainsheet pictures above. On the bow there is a nice detail.  Two properly large diameter hawse pipes, adequate to get at least 3-4 mooring lines thru, with round edges, leading to….

either a windlass OR a couple of very robust cleats.

And if you are sailing at night, and you should, very impressive, the new LED lights are becoming standard kit on even production boats. Another development from the short handed racing community.

Seen here on the bow rail of a New Tartan 3500 in the Hinckley yard in Portsmouth RI.

And again in close up. Plenty of brightness, with much less amperage draw. Many boats are now using them in side in lieu of incandescent or halogen.