SIMPSON-LAWRENCE Winches

[Vitalba]

Mine (circa 1966) in plain Bronze, are marked B 250-2476and2560, (4.25" high,6.25" base dia, 4.25"dia at the top with a drum of 2.25"dia min.). They both rotate in the same direction which means on one side of the boat the sheet comes in on the outboard side of the drum and on the other side of the boat, on the inboard side of the drum.
I have been told that on some types the ratchet action can be reversed. Can any one advise whether this is possible on the above (and if so how to do it)? VITALBA

 

[Simon_and_Tanja]

Reversed wiches are likely to cause repeated problems for casual crew which have spent many years learning to load lines clockwise on all other boats. If you have no obstructions I would certainly not attempt to make one of my winches uniquely different.

P.S. I'm the car driver turning corners with my windscreen wipers going, because Mazda and Nissan cannot agree which wand controls the lights!