Need for self tailers?

[greggron]

Congrats on the Sadler, enjoy her. When I moved to a bigger boat I moved from STs to non-STs. I thought it was going to make life v difficult. Not at all, I don't miss them a bit. Plenty of things I'd rather spend my money on until they're completely knacked. Then and only then will I consider upgrading to STs

 

[Quandary]

Different priorities for different folks I suppose but self tailing winches would be high on my list but the I love to keep tweaking so they pay their way. We are usually two up and are lazy enough to forget about cleating off sheets and only take the handles out to cast off for a tack or gybe, I know my wife would be reluctant to go back to non tailing winches as she often is winding two handed. Good ball bearing two handed lock in handles (the ones with knob on the top) are also a big help when I want a quick tack and well worth the money.

 

[PetiteFleur]

I love my ST's, but I was very lucky a few years back and picked up at an auction a pair of Andersen 46's which had been taken off a sunken yacht. I spent a few pounds on new pawls and springs and spent a pleasant day stripping them down and cleaning them up as they were full of sand. Oversized for my 33' Moody but very easy to use.

 

[Lucky Duck]

I replaced my 30s with ST30s, but still find it a fiddle to put in a smart tack! Trouble is that by the time you've surged in the bulk of the line and then wound on a couple more turns for grip and fed the tail into the jaws, it's time to tack again and I still hadn't got the genoa drawing. I think you need to use a larger size if fitting STs, no matter what the catalogues advise, or else you lose the advantage you were hoping to gain. Off the wind, though you can easily tweak the sail trim one-handed but it wasn't so much of a problem as I could balance the weather helm against my thigh, leaving both hands to grind and tail. There is also a greater difference between the two ratios on the STs sometimes meaning one is too slow and the other too heavy. Still, nothing in life is perfect.

Rob.

Simple - take two turns round the winch for the rapid bit and then add the third and final turn for what should be the final foot or so of jib sheet. IME doesn't take any time at all.

 

[charles_reed]

Sitting in cockpit of newly acquired Sadler 32 today and thinking of application of limited upgrade budget, I wondered whether I really need self-tailers after all, even single handed. I really resent spending minimum £1600 plus fitting (less whatever you can get on ebay for used winches) when there is nothing wrong with existing non-ST Lewmar 40s and I'd rather spend on things totally lacking (like electric windlass, my biggest expenditure). Of course the thing I can't do is use both arms, as I don't have a third one to hold the tail so there are probably situations where I can't sheet optimally because the load is two great. In a dinghy I sometimes use my teeth on the mainsheet but I don't think that is appropriate here! Perhaps the answer is three Weetabix or weight training so that I can grind with one arm.

Chandlery Barge, Burseldon. I was there this morning and they have several pairs of self-tailers going for about 50% of the price you've quoted - and they'll probably take your's in part-exchange.

Personally, having owned two boats without self-tailers and two with - I'd never consider going back to non ST winches.

 

[Twister_Ken]

How many times would you use the sheet winches in an average day's sailing?

How many times would you use an anchor windlass in an average day's sailing?

Go figure.

 

[Border Terrier]

Different priorities for different folks I suppose but self tailing winches would be high on my list but the I love to keep tweaking so they pay their way.

ST winches allow easy sail trimming while removing the need for the use of traditional cleats. A "no brainer".

 

[Daydream believer]

ST winches allow easy sail trimming while removing the need for the use of traditional cleats. A "no brainer".

Actually, whilst I love my ST winches I disagree with part of your post
If you want to constantly tweak the sheet then a ST is not so good. To ease the sheet you have to remove the handle, unwind the part in the tailer then ease off
However, if you want to pull in then (assuming the handle is in the winch) you can just wind in
But if you are racing & want to sheet in quick then you have to leave the handle out, pull in the slack, then put the sheet round the tailer, then put the handle in then wind in the weight. It is a slightly different process to one without a tailer & everyone does it very slightly different but a non self tailer for a fully crewed boat is quicker
For a single hander like me with a self tacking jib I would go for the ST winch every time