Sheet winches rotation

ferrispeterchris

ferrispeterchris

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I am in the process of changing the origional Tufnol type winches and have noticed they both turn freely clockwise.Is this the norm?I would have imagined one would turn c/w and one c/c/w. Peter. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Some can be reversed so if you want one clockwise and one counterclockwise get new ones that can be altered. Done it with my Barton ones.
 
I would think it could be confusing to have winches that turned in different directions to tighten the line. Righty, tighty is a well known concept. You might have winches on the mast for halyards, on the boom for reefing and, of course, sheet winches - you instinctively turn them clockwise to tighten a line.
I did once contemplate changing my sheet winches as VicS has done, admiring the symmetry of the arrangement. I chickened out in the end.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I would think it could be confusing to have winches that turned in different directions to tighten the line. Righty, tighty is a well known concept.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh I don't know, I still get it wrong all the time.

I get it 100% right as long as I don't think about it, the moment I concentrate, doh! back to front.
 
I've a little 18ft fin keeler and it has handed sheet winches.
It helps with a better sheet lead onto the winch and also in the dumb-brain stakes as all I have to remember is that the sheet goes outboard of the drum.
 
A long time ago we sailed a Harrison Butler, then had a Fox Cub, both with handed winches. Then we had a Hurley also with handed winches. Then accountants decided it was cheaper to have them all the same. That is because they dont know their rear from their elbow never mind port from starboard.
 
I think mine are handed, but they have fixed handles.

Maybe this is why I always get it wrong when I stop to think about it.
 
CCScott posted:
>Just as an aside, never seen self tailing winches that
>are handed. "

I've got them! Setamar winches, made in Germany, very unusual, as only have ST jaw - no drum to wind line around. Sadly no longer on market.
 
That would do my head in.

Do I start outboard or inboard? All I have to remember is clockwise, clockwise, clockwise, clockwise, clockwise or clockwise, dependent upon which winch I'm using.
 
I would love to have handed winches - would have stopped dragging my dodger into the winch last year tearing it ...

I also prefer bottom action winches ......... who decided that top action winches should become standard needs shooting ! Ask for a bottom action winch now and mortgage the chequebook - that's if you can find any .....
 
Bottom action winches are still made by a manufacturer here and available off the shelf - they are exported to the UK. Only available in bronze if I recall correctly. PM me if you want some.

John
 
Have 2 offered FOC by another .... older ones of his Centaur ... look just about right for my MAB ..... have to get round to sorting it out !!

Why do I like them ? Handle is always there ... at bottom without getting in way of casting rope on / off ...... don't have to fiddle reaching for handle when sheeting / going about etc. Less to drop overboard !
 
[ QUOTE ]

Do I start outboard or inboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

Quite easy. As I said [ QUOTE ]
all I have to remember is that the sheet goes outboard of the drum.

[/ QUOTE ]
 
[ QUOTE ]

Do I start outboard or inboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

Quite easy. As I said [ QUOTE ]
all I have to remember is that the sheet goes outboard of the drum.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't need to know which side of the boat I'm on or even be looking at the winch. Singlehanded it's just automatic.
 
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