Sheet winches rotation

[Rowana]

When I bought Rowana last year, I discovered that the winches are handed.

It does my head in as each and every winch on all the boats I've sailed in the past has been clockwise rotation.

I still get it wrong sometimes, and what will happen when I go back onto a boat with clockwise winches, god only knows!

 

[VicS]

The winches on my boat are handed and always have been as I flipped the pawls over in one of them before I first fitted them. The sheets go outboard and that is quite handy sailing a small boat single handed as much of the slack can be quickly pulled in before putting any complete turns around the winch drum.

The winches on the larger boat I crew regularly are not handed. As they spin clockwise and I am right handed that is no problem although it may not feel so natural if I were left handed.


It may be possible to reverse the pawls in one of Rowana's winches to make them both right-handed if you think that will help you.

 

[Lakesailor]

I agree with you there, singlehanded and a small boat they just seem to work so well. Of course larger boats may not have the winches on the cockpit coaming and the sheet lead may be arranged to suit unhanded winches, but for me they just make so much sense.
On my last boat I did the same as you and reversed one of the winches.

 

[Guest]

Mine like most other small boats are on the cockpit coaming ... and they annoy me .... both clockwise rotation.

I always make sure that I place a turn on the slack one before tacking - so that crew don't have to remember which way to lay on the sheet ...

I have offer of bottom action winches - but I think they are also both clockwise handed ... I may try the "pawl swap-over" ... see if that works .... It's about time my winches were serviced anyway !! Along with the rest of the boat ....