Sun Odyssey 32i V Oceanis 311 (genoa winches position)

[Echuca]

Hi
I’m considering a SO32i v Oceanis 311 (Lift keel).
I find the positioning of Genoa sheet winches on the SO32i to be very odd and looks awkward to operate esp. on tiller version? During a manoeveur (how) can one person easily access both winches and ideally mainsheet as well?
The winches seem unusually far aft and do helm and crew get in each others way?
Maybe i’m missing something, boat otherwise looks great! Any other pros-cons of either boat much appreciated.
I sail a GibSea 76 very easily managed by 2 or even one person.
Thankyou in advance

 

[westhinder]

Looking at some pictures on the internet, I get the impression that there are two versions: one with the winches very far towards the stern, another with the winches in the more conventional position. The latter were all pictures with a tiller. I think the idea putting the winches further to the back in the wheel-steered version, is to enable the helmsman to sail the boat on his own. The crew can access the winches too, but they will either be working with their backs to the sail, which is awkward, or they have to move behind the wheel as well. In that case the helmsman could free the genoasheet and the crew winch it in on the new tack, so there is no need to shuffle around behind the wheel.

 

[Tranona]

Winch positioning as you say becomes important if you singlehand regularly with wheel steering, so better further back. That was one of the negatives about the 32i which was on my short list. In the end with the Bav 33 I bought you could specify the winches in either the forward or aft position - there are plates bonded in for both, or as I did specify 2 pairs so the choice is there. Would imagine with a tiller steered boat the forward position would be better.

 

[RupertW]

Winch positioning as you say becomes important if you singlehand regularly with wheel steering, so better further back. That was one of the negatives about the 32i which was on my short list. In the end with the Bav 33 I bought you could specify the winches in either the forward or aft position - there are plates bonded in for both, or as I did specify 2 pairs so the choice is there. Would imagine with a tiller steered boat the forward position would be better.

Moving to wheel steered I find winches on the coach roof works very well but does mean I use autohelm all the time including to tack which means I have to think of the boats direction as another thing to tweak rather than something I do myself. I think the change has allowed me to sail flatter and faster as I play the ropes while the course stays constant and am far more active on sheets and leads and traveller than I was sailing alone with a tiller. I was going to say the coachroof controls are my organ but perhaps piano is better.

 

[[70521]]

I use the auto-helm when tacking let it do the steering and I tend the sheets. If I have a crew we just get out of each others way.

 

[KellysEye]

We chartered lots of Beneteaus and Jenneaus ranging from 35/6 feet to 50 feet and what we found was the Jenneaus were better upwind because they had a deeper keel, but do check that is the same now.

 

[Tranona]

We chartered lots of Beneteaus and Jenneaus ranging from 35/6 feet to 50 feet and what we found was the Jenneaus were better upwind because they had a deeper keel, but do check that is the same now.

You keep on posting this useless piece of inaccurate information. How is this at all relevant to the OP's question which is about the location of winches on two different 32' boats he is considering?