Why don't they make longer winch handles ?

[LONG_KEELER]

Would it be fair to say that over the years , most volume boat builders under spec winches ?

Not so much self tailing or size but at least having two speeds would be nice. Particularly so called cruiser/racers tend to under spec , probably assuming lots of hands and the need for speed rather than mechanical assistance.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Would it be fair to say that over the years , most volume boat builders under spec winches ?

Not so much self tailing or size but at least having two speeds would be nice. Particularly so called cruiser/racers tend to under spec , probably assuming lots of hands and the need for speed rather than mechanical assistance.

It might easily be that way, it would keep the cost of the boat down. Winding the foresail in while going from a reach to a beat in a breeze ought to be a part of any boat test. I don’t recall reading any comments on winch size, maybe they're mostly felt to be adequate, and it's our zimmer frames getting in the way that causes the difficulty.

 

[lustyd]

Of course the standard winches are undersized, why else would you buy the upgrades? Simple marketing to have a list price, a price people pay, and some upgrades you can throw in to sweeten a deal. Cars have woefully underspecced carpet in the footwell, but people buying new get free mats if they're smart.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Of course the standard winches are undersized, why else would you buy the upgrades? Simple marketing to have a list price, a price people pay, and some upgrades you can throw in to sweeten a deal. Cars have woefully underspecced carpet in the footwell, but people buying new get free mats if they're smart.

Dragonflys are so shockingly expensive new that I assume they didn‘t think it worth the bother of saving money on winches.

 

[lustyd]

Dragonflys are so shockingly expensive new that I assume they didn‘t think it worth the bother of saving money on winches.

I bet there was still an option for fancy sails or some such though. There's always something to squeeze more cash from buyers!

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I bet there was still an option for fancy sails or some such though. There's always something to squeeze more cash from buyers!

There’s an impressive extras list but nothing to do with the sailing. Heating, toilets, water pumps, fridges, they come with just cushions down below, some folks don’t bother with a stove. My wife could turn a grown man to stone before her second cup of tea in the morning, we have a stove. And a fridge, for the milk.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Of course the standard winches are undersized, why else would you buy the upgrades? Simple marketing to have a list price, a price people pay, and some upgrades you can throw in to sweeten a deal. Cars have woefully underspecced carpet in the footwell, but people buying new get free mats if they're smart.

Perhaps when most yachts were built, the 1970's and 1980's , there was still a low expectation among yotties. Perhaps aligned to owning Allegro's , Morris Marina's, and suchlike. At least you didn't have to ask for an extra long handbrake .

 

[Resolution]

Would it be fair to say that over the years , most volume boat builders under spec winches ?

Not so much self tailing or size but at least having two speeds would be nice. Particularly so called cruiser/racers tend to under spec , probably assuming lots of hands and the need for speed rather than mechanical assistance.

Perhaps when you say "over the years" you really mean " back in the early mass production years" ie the seventies and into the early eighties? From my experience in the 2000s the big volume producers all had excellent winches relative to the sail sizes. Why under-spec on an item that is so critical to enjoyable boat handling?

 

[Sandy]

From time to time I get to play with some Anderson 78s. They come with a standard winch handle. I know the original post was some time ago, but would ask the OP, When were the winches last serviced?

 

[Daydream believer]

There’s an impressive extras list but nothing to do with the sailing. Heating, toilets, water pumps, fridges, they come with just cushions down below, some folks don’t bother with a stove. My wife could turn a grown man to stone before her second cup of tea in the morning, we have a stove. And a fridge, for the milk.

So that is why you have the performance of an old dog. Overloaded- Fridge indeed

 

[lustyd]

There’s an impressive extras list but nothing to do with the sailing. Heating, toilets, water pumps, fridges, they come with just cushions down below, some folks don’t bother with a stove. My wife could turn a grown man to stone before her second cup of tea in the morning, we have a stove. And a fridge, for the milk.

Well at least we know why you're all in such a hurry to get places. If a wine rack was an optional extra I'd treat the trip to the pub as a race too ?

 

[johnalison]

We had 2-speed ST winches on our Sadler 29 bought in 1987. I wouldn’t dream of sailing a boat of that size or larger with anything less, even though today’s fractional rigs given proportionately less load.

 

[greeny]

Whilst grinding our 150% genoa in the other day (for about the 6th time that afternoon) I was wondering why no one makes a winch handle with a longer arm for extra leverage. There is plenty of space for it on the boat and I cannot believe the extra engineering would significantly add to the cost. I have one with the double handle so 2 people can use it at the same time but the arms length is identical to a single.
There is probably going to be an embarrassingly simple answer but I can't see it !
Chris

Maybe been said before but:-
Because you would probably end up hitting your mits on things that are around the winch area such as stanchions / guard wires, spray hood frame, bimini frame etc etc. Obviously for a 10" handle you will need minimum 22" clear area in all directions. For 15" you would need 32". (including hands of course, my arithmetic is not that bad.)

 

[doris]

Whithout checking through the entire thread, has anyone, apart from Flaming, discussed techniques. A decent helm will only fully power up the sail once it s almost completely in. The winch is only really needed for the last few inches.
Tacking, first half fast second half slow.