jib sheet winches

[George]

can someone tell me why my winches seem to be designed so that the rope collects round the bottom then overlaps itself and jams up? They are slightly conical shape in the middle with the small end down so that the rope tends to slide down them, seems a totaly illogical design.

 

[Strathglass]

You will find thet the problem is not with the design of the winches but with how they are fitted on your yacht. It is important that the rope to the winch from the last bearing point (be it clutch, deck organiser or turning block) is at between 10 and 15 degrees below the line perpendicular to the axis of the winch. The problem can be resolved by mounting either the winch or the fitting at the last bearing point on raised and/or angled wooden blocks (teak if you can get it) . Doing this should solve your problem.