Idiot question about winch handles. Does “one touch” work?

Kukri

Kukri

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Coming from the world of wooden gaff cutters I have not had to do with winches. This has now changed.

I recently ordered a new handle on line and thanks to a mix up I got a “one touch” handle through the post. I haven’t had these before. I can see the idea, but do these really lock in securely?
 
If that's a handle with a knob on the top to lock it into the winch, then yes, they do lock in until such time as the locking plate gets very worn. Sometimes it can be a bit of a pain if you want to get one out very quickly.

Richard
 
I replaced all the old winch handles with Lewmar one touch: stumpy, long and double handled. I first tried with the stumpy one and it worked well. Note that they do not lock into some non-lewmar winches. I have a pair of Maxwell winches and they don’t lock into those.
 
Thanks; I should have said this is a Harken one with a rib running along the handle; squeeze the rib and it releases, but the two little prongs that retract when you squeeze the rib seem rather small. All the winches are Harken.

The tiny little prongs:

 
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I have lewmar one-touches. I was suspicious before buying: If they're that good why aren't all winch handles made like that?

They turned out to be that good. Work fabulously in both my lewmar and bariant winches. The first one I bought is 8 years old but like new. Not tried the harkens and frankly the lewmars are that good I don't see a reason to try anything else.
 
I've got a One-touch winch handle - excellent piece of kit. Longer than standard handles, so it gives better leverage, and easy to switch between winches so you only need one (on a non-racing cruising yacht!). Pricy but well worth it.
 
My sheet winch handles are 'one touch' same same your Harken..... I rather like them.

One down by the helm is the one that came with my Muir windlass ... pretty basic for a basic job with the furler and the mainsheet.

I did have a luverly Andersen by the mast but it became an offering to some southern sea god south of Cabo Froward ten years ago... just a basic and expendable one there now.

PS.... for the removal of doubt... it didn't fall out of the Andersen winch.... was hooked out of the pocket by a bight of the main halyard....
 
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Minn said:
Coming from the world of wooden gaff cutters I have not had to do with winches. This has now changed.

I recently ordered a new handle on line and thanks to a mix up I got a “one touch” handle through the post. I haven’t had these before. I can see the idea, but do these really lock in securely?
Click to expand...

If you paid for the 'normal' sort you might have a bargain.

However, and being a cynic, it might be a loss leader - expecting you to buy 6 more.

Jonathan
 
Not used the Harken type but like the Lewmar version. Used on both the boats I sail on most frequently.

Only observation is that some people, rather than just gripping the bar to release, hold on to the handle or the end as well. I have visions of the thing being flipped out of the boat as it come free.
 
Well I will bite and give a different opinion. My boat is quite small and I use for preference the floating plastic winch handles of the smaller size. I was given a new handle with lock mechanism. Crew lost old one over board so replaced it over board. It was a race so no going back.
After trying the locking handle for a while I removed the locking mechanism. Now I just trim in the jib and lift the handle out with one action. I think less chance of losing the handle cos it is only in the winch for a short time with it in my hand. So yes contrary to other posters but it suits me. ol'will
 
One touch handles are fine. Standard handles have a square plate which engages I the winch, which is released by the thumb turn. One touch handles have a bar all along the handle which releases 2 or 4 pins. It’s just a different way of releasing the handle.
 
Another vote for one touch winch handles. Ours are Ronstan.

The only negative is the durability. Ours are only a year old and the aluminium drive socket is showing some corrosion. There are also some some other general signs of wear and tear . I am not sure what grade of aluminium has been used for the drive socket and what type of anodising has been applied, but it is not holding up well in our application.

To be fair they do not see a freshwater rinse very often. We cruise full time so they probably see more action in a year than many users will subject them too over a decade. Ronstan gear is usually durable, but perhaps other brands have made wiser material choices and are better in this regard.

As well as the locking mechanism the lighter weight is a surprisingly useful advantage, especially when conditions are bouncy and you are trying to hang on with one hand.

Our alternative handles are the double handled Lewmar models. These are beautifully made, will probably last a lifetime, are immensely strong and provide great leverage, but the weight means that to use they are a little like waving a hammer around. Combined with the slow and cumbersome locking mechanism it means they see very little use these days.
 
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Minn said:
Thanks; I should have said this is a Harken one with a rib running along the handle; squeeze the rib and it releases, but the two little prongs that retract when you squeeze the rib seem rather small. All the winches are Harken.

The tiny little prongs:

Click to expand...

We have both types on board and they do work except as Richard said they can be a pain to remove once worn .
 
Neeves said:
If you paid for the 'normal' sort you might have a bargain.

However, and being a cynic, it might be a loss leader - expecting you to buy 6 more.

Jonathan
Click to expand...

:D

my experience of winch handles leads me to believe that the cheaper the better.

i had a shiny one once, lasted about five minutes before it got pinched.

the rest fell in the drink.
 
I have had Lewmar One Touch winch handles for some years. Much lighter than the locking handles that were on the yacht when we bought her.
I bought an 8" and a 10". I have the yellow knob in the top which proves useful when furling the headsail when its windy. One of the best things I have bought. Easy to use and very secure. I do not leave them out in the pockets when off the boat.
Highly recommended

winch handle.JPG

TS
 
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