2003 SO 37 Traveler - best way to remove the bolts

[bumsailor]

Hello, the bearings in my Amiot mainsheet traveler car are gone and needs replaced.  My options are to find instructions on how to remove the car and replace the bearings or to replace the entire assembly.  I've replaced bearings in my Harken cars often and they are easy, but I can't find instructions for the Amiot.

The second option is to replace the traveler system with new unit from Harken or another mfg.  There are several threads that describe replacement of the older system.

My question is how to remove the 6 bolts that attach the rail. 
   One description recommends unscrewing them from the bottom as they are threaded into the deck in addition to their bolts.  
   Another description indicates just "hammer" them out.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  And, if anyone has done this on their 2003 SO 37 and has the parts list detail it would be very helpful.

Thanks Much

[capnbrian]

Can’t really offer any helpful tips, but wanted to express my opinion.  The stock Amiot traveler on this boat is truly the only thing I dislike about my boat.  It’s not long enough and is difficult to get adequate purchase to use it.  I put up with it because I am pretty much just cruising around, but if anything goes wrong with it, my first thought will be to replace it rather than repair it.  JMHO!

Brian

[Charlie-Bravo]

No great knowlage here either but, they are really not going to be 'threaded through the deck' by design, more likely well sealed when built, and when one unthreads the bolts, the remaining holes look tapped with a thread, as the sealant has dried nicely over the years.  (either that or the boat builder lost the clearance sized drill, who knows. ).

As a French mechanic once told me "the hammer always wins" what he didn't allow for was the amount of collateral damage this action might cause, but he was correct of course , it will win, given applied effort,  but, I would investigate where the nuts are ( probably under a headlining) and set too with the spanners , assuming the heads are not glassed in ! Great fun this boat maintenance malarkey.

Hope it comes off with ease.

CB

[bumsailor]

Thanks for the info.  I agree it isn't the best traveler out there, very short.  My Farr had a nice Harken.  But, my wife loves the boat.  I added a new post to see if someone has info on just replacing the ball bearings in the car.  If I can do that I can put off the effort and expense to do the right thing until later in the year.

Thanks again for the replies.  

[tsenator]

I had an Amiot traveler on my 2003 43DS.   Yes its a piece of cr@p.   Way too short and my bearings fell out too.   I tried to get the endcaps off to get the bearings back in, but the stainless steel bolts in the aluminum housing (with NO anticorrosive paste) was impossible to take off with out breaking.

Do yourself a favor and just replace it, like I am many others have.  Here is someone that replaced the Amiot traveller on a 2000 boat very similar to yours  www.jeanneau-owners.com/hintsandtips/Garhauertrack.html




 

[svejk]

We replaced ours with a Harken.  I had the rigger do it because I know my limitations...

Picture

[bumsailor]

Thanks to all who have replied.  I agree that changing out the entire system is the way to go, especially given how short the traveler is!

I have made progress in that I have been able to remove one of the endcaps (the other is just corroded in place) and have been able to replace one ball at a time.  2 hrs of work for 25 balls.  This should hold me until I can figure out how to remove the headliner to get to the bolts.

thanks again!

[svejk]

The panels immediately to the left and right of center are held on by velcro. After remvong those then just remove the small philips head screws for each panel.

[bumsailor]

Thank you for the info, I'll try it this weekend.