Buying advice. Only two winches?

[Boathook]

I expect most people only have one winch on their sailing yacht (the anchor winch) but 2 ,or 4 capstans. A winch has its rope or chain permanently attached

I call that a windlass. A lot of boats still don't have one.

Possibly the language has evolved over the years.

 

[xyachtdave]

I expect most people only have one winch on their sailing yacht (the anchor winch) but 2 ,or 4 capstans. A winch has its rope or chain permanently attached

If I get 5 minutes spare tomorrow I’ll give Harken a call and let them know!

 

[chrisclin]

I have a Hunter Pilot and have only one winch. Admittedly the boat has a self-tacking Jib but i only ever use the winch for hoisting the main. I was very dubious coming from a boat with 6 winches but it does seem to work.
The only problem I find is that as I don't put the jibsheet round the winch, the only way I can tighten the Jib is by throwing in a tack and pulling in the sheet while the boat is head to wind. However you're talking about having 2 winches - luxury!!!

 

[ProDave]

The only problem I find is that as I don't put the jibsheet round the winch, the only way I can tighten the Jib is by throwing in a tack and pulling in the sheet while the boat is head to wind. However you're talking about having 2 winches - luxury!!!

We use the port winch for both the main halyard and the jib sheet. Once hoisted the main halyard is clamped in it's clutch and released from the halyard leaving it free for the jib sheet.

The starboard winch is for the spinnaker.

 

[shanemax]

A great boat. Solid and seaworthy and the bilge keeler sails reasonably well for a bilge keeler.

If you want total freedom to cruise your boat to its maximum enjoyment, have a calm unstressed mind, ditch crawl into places you have never been before, anchor close to shore, take short cuts across sand banks (and the east coast is full of sand banks and hazards) and generally relax then it has to be a bilge keeler or lifting keel otherwise I'm afraid you are stuck in the channel, and never taking your eyes off the chart plotter or depth sounder and will have to spend your nights in some, deep water, mind numbering marina as opposed to rowing distance from some sandy beach, close to shore, and somewhere new.

 

[Lucky Duck]

We use the port winch for both the main halyard and the jib sheet. Once hoisted the main halyard is clamped in it's clutch and released from the halyard leaving it free for the jib sheet.

The starboard winch is for the spinnaker.

Just looked at some photos of our old 265, there was a reasonably sized clam cleat fitted on the starboard side with no obvious need so we used that for the cruising chute sheet.

It would have been a joy if those winches were self tailing!

 

[shanemax]

I have a very large roller head sail but do not find it necessary to use a winch, I mainly cruise and do not need that extra half a knot. I have always managed to use my knee, back and arms to get the sail where I want it and if necessary I can head closer to the wind for a half a second to get the sail in further but in general I never usually have to.

 

[dunedin]

I have a very large roller head sail but do not find it necessary to use a winch, I mainly cruise and do not need that extra half a knot. I have always managed to use my knee, back and arms to get the sail where I want it and if necessary I can head closer to the wind for a half a second to get the sail in further but in general I never usually have to.

Then you must have a very small boat, or are sailing upwind with a seriously slack sail.
On our 38 footer we also keep close into the wind when tacking to sheet the sail in. But even then with sail slack, needs a really hard winch to get the sheet bar tight. And if breezy, a bit more with some force. Then bear off and sail close to wind at speed.
At least 90% of boats that we overtake going upwind have the genoa sheeted too loose, and often the upper leech is flogging out of sight of the helm. Inefficient and damages sail.

 

[shanemax]

Then you must have a very small boat, or are sailing upwind with a seriously slack sail.
On our 38 footer we also keep close into the wind when tacking to sheet the sail in. But even then with sail slack, needs a really hard winch to get the sheet bar tight. And if breezy, a bit more with some force. Then bear off and sail close to wind at speed.
At least 90% of boats that we pass upwind have the genoa sheeted too loose, and often the upper leech is flogging out of sight of the helm. Inefficient and damages sail.

Interesting, but tell me who are you to say 90% of others have got it wrong ????
And with regard to the size of my boat, I have a man in the engine room and a man steering !!!

 

[shanemax]

Then you must have a very small boat, or are sailing upwind with a seriously slack sail.
On our 38 footer we also keep close into the wind when tacking to sheet the sail in. But even then with sail slack, needs a really hard winch to get the sheet bar tight. And if breezy, a bit more with some force. Then bear off and sail close to wind at speed.
At least 90% of boats that we overtake going upwind have the genoa sheeted too loose, and often the upper leech is flogging out of sight of the helm. Inefficient and damages sail.

I have just re-read your bragging. Overtake underlined. Perhaps they are just enjoying themselves and have nothing to prove to theirs egos.