FullCircle
Well-known member
We have one of these, and Mrs FC is totally delighted with it. Takes a bit more time, but halves the effort required.
http://www.easywinch.com/
http://www.easywinch.com/
Do you need electric halyard winches??
- Thread starter Oscarpop
- Start date
sailorman
Well-known member
But the manufacturers say it is NOT for winching people up the mast, and should not be used for that purpose.
I went down the extra long topping lift and windlass option for getting me up the mast
Our boat yard do use the electric winches & the rig new 82 footers
Tradewinds
Well-known member
No idea of price from the website.
Can you enlighten me as to how much they might cost?
FullCircle
Well-known member
Hm. Well, we picked ours up new from Kent Boat jumble at a knockdown 35 quid.
I have previously seen them for 65 quid, but I think the RRP is around 90 quid.
Still a reasonable price if you know what you are getting.
Having used it this season, I would recommend it to anyone.
Tradewinds
Well-known member
Thanks for that, not too expensive then - I'll keep my eye open for one.
dt4134
New member
Electric winches are handy. Whilst you should give them some respect there is no need to be scared of using them. You very quickly learn to hear what load is on the winch. I rarely use the self-tailer.
Having said that, I have every intention of converting the main halyard to 2:1 to reduce dependence on the electric winch, it's just that I need to change the sheeve to go from wire to braid so haven't got around to it yet.
Having said that, I have every intention of converting the main halyard to 2:1 to reduce dependence on the electric winch, it's just that I need to change the sheeve to go from wire to braid so haven't got around to it yet.
westernman
Well-known member
I have 6:1 or may be 7:1 on the main throat, and then on the end of that another 3:1 (i.e. a total mechanical advantage of 21:1) for tensioning the luff.
No problem with the load. But there are miles of rope to move to get the main (800 sq feet of 11.4 oz sail cloth - i.e. heavy) up!
john_morris_uk
Well-known member
Following on the thread about mains coming down quickly and easily, I don't understand why you need an electric winch to pull main up?
We have a fully battened main on a 15 metre mast and I pull it all the way to the top without the winch at all. OK so I stand at the mast and have a good length to heave down on and the last bit needs sweating up slightly but I can normally get it 99% hoisted before it has to go on the winch. (Normal routine is that the crew takes up the slack in the cockpit before putting the main halyard on the winch to apply the luff tension) I agree that I am 6'3" and am fairly fit (OK I am by most 50 something years olds standards I am very fit) but when I single handed I just put it on the normal winch and its really easy winching.
If a main halyard needs serious winching, then there is something seriously wrong with the friction in the system.
I have just thought - and even on 55' and 67' boats I have sailed you can get the main up a long way without winching at all.
We have a fully battened main on a 15 metre mast and I pull it all the way to the top without the winch at all. OK so I stand at the mast and have a good length to heave down on and the last bit needs sweating up slightly but I can normally get it 99% hoisted before it has to go on the winch. (Normal routine is that the crew takes up the slack in the cockpit before putting the main halyard on the winch to apply the luff tension) I agree that I am 6'3" and am fairly fit (OK I am by most 50 something years olds standards I am very fit) but when I single handed I just put it on the normal winch and its really easy winching.
If a main halyard needs serious winching, then there is something seriously wrong with the friction in the system.
I have just thought - and even on 55' and 67' boats I have sailed you can get the main up a long way without winching at all.
Norman_E
Well-known member
I have an electric winch for the main halyard and the mainsheet (both use the same one) but I never use it in self tailing mode. It would be far too easy to pull the main halyard in particular to the point where damage gets done.
rudolph_hart
Active member
+1.
Mine is set up with an electric winch on either side of the wheel (35 footer), and all main control lines are led through clutch banks to them. As has been said, you learn techniques for using them.
You can detect the change in tone when load is getting heavy, and to prevent damage I 'surge off' the tail so the load comes off even when the winch might still turn for a fraction of a second after you release the switch.
I never use the winch handle. I use power for furling/reefing jib only in a blow, as I can easily pull it in by hand with a couple of turns round the winch. Same with main halyard, mainsheet, jib sheets and single line reefs, all of which I finish off with a squirt of power.
Missus loves the electric winches for hauling me up the mast.
I NEVER use the self tailers.
Resolution
Well-known member
Strongly recommend fitting an electric winch for the halyards, preferably with fully-batened main and batcars to minimise friction. Your wife/partner will thank you for it - unless of course said wife/partner is built like john morris uk's six foot three, in which case I would give consideration to changing wife/partner!!
Seriously though, the electric winch will ease halyard hoists and reefing enormously. And it make a great plus point if you want to sell the boat to anyone who is aged or married to a typical woman.
Seriously though, the electric winch will ease halyard hoists and reefing enormously. And it make a great plus point if you want to sell the boat to anyone who is aged or married to a typical woman.
john_morris_uk
Well-known member
Blasted cheek - I did say it was me that pulls the thing up by hand!