Intro and Wing 25 Help

[Lewmcd]

Good evening, new member here and new (old) boat owner.

I’ve recently purchased a lovely wing 25 in great condition, she sails like a dream, but for one problem. I cannot get the winches to tail without the sheets rolling over each other and then slipping.

she has the old fashioned non self tailing winches with the bottom handle. Is there a specific technique to using these? I’ve searched google and only get adds and there doesn’t appear to be anything on YouTube.

I would rather not replace them as they look great but at the moment they don’t appear to work, can anyone advise me on how the work?

 

[sarabande]

Great boats.

Is the "chasing" on the winch barrel worn smooth ?

Modern winches (both port and stbd) all wind in clockwise. Some older bottom-action winches are "handed" and work in the opposite way . Your pic shows the sheet the wrong way round if the winch is a clockwise winder.

 

[William_H]

Most common problem with winches is the level of sheet as it approaches the winch. You need to ensure that the sheet arrives from a point below the bottom of the winch. This ensures that turns, as added to the winch push into the bottom of the stack of turns. Usual problem is a turning block for the jib sheet which is too high. Needs to be really low unless winch is up on a pedestal. You might have to raise the winch on a pad. I would expect 3 or 4 wraps around the winch to get a decent grip. Plus of course you must also pull with your other hand to keep friction on drum. ol'will

 

[Lewmcd]

Great boats.

Is the "chasing" on the winch barrel worn smooth ?

Modern winches (both port and stbd) all wind in clockwise. Some older bottom-action winches are "handed" and work in the opposite way . Your pic shows the sheet the wrong way round if the winch is a clockwise winder.

It is very smooth, the boat was built in 66 and I have a feeling the winches are almost as old. I’m still trying to research the kit on it. It does wind clockwise, the sheet wasn’t under tension when the photo was taken, just around the winch so it was out of the way.

 

[Lewmcd]

Most common problem with winches is the level of sheet as it approaches the winch. You need to ensure that the sheet arrives from a point below the bottom of the winch. This ensures that turns, as added to the winch push into the bottom of the stack of turns. Usual problem is a turning block for the jib sheet which is too high. Needs to be really low unless winch is up on a pedestal. You might have to raise the winch on a pad. I would expect 3 or 4 wraps around the winch to get a decent grip. Plus of course you must also pull with your other hand to keep friction on drum. ol'will

Thank you, we tried to get the sheet to feed into the bottom of the winch but it proved difficult. We will have another go next time we’re on the boat.

Does anyone know of any antique chandlers in or around the south coast / London?

 

[graham]

I have very similar bottom handle winches on a similar sized boat.

I find that if you put two turns on initially and winch in as much as you can before putting the third turn on seems to avoid a riding turn jamming the winch.

The barrels on ours are also worn smooth.

PS your boat looks superb. I would hesitate before removing or altering the mounting of the winches,they have worked up until now so it may be just adapting the technique.

 

[alahol2]

Does anyone know of any antique chandlers in or around the south coast / London?

Assuming it's still there, the Chandlery Barge is a good bet...