Winch Placement

[Roach1948]

I have re-varnished the mast and now replacing all the mast furniture. The winches were removed before I bought the yacht so I found a couple of classic winches on e-bay and have now made the wooden based for them, the question is where to place them?

I have plugged the old screw holes for where the winches used to be placed – on port and starboard of the mast just below the boom level. This is quite a low position and I was thinking of placing them more like chest high above the boom level, then I can work the winches without squatting on deck. After close inspection of other classic yachts I realised that many have winches placed very low. I suspect to prevent sheet snagging when tacking – but surely there is chance of this at any level on the mast . Anybody have any wisdom on where to place my winches? I have a nagging feeling I maybe missing something here…

 

[Poignard]

Just a thought. How will you feel standing up to winch when the boat is jumping around and you need one hand for cranking and the other for tailing?

 

[Roach1948]

Yes I thought of this, but I would not put the winches higher than I can reach in a kneeling position, that way I can stand or kneel depending seastate.

 

[Peterduck]

Is there any way that you can fasten the winches to the mast by bolts passing either side of the mast and clamping the winch bases to the mast? I lost a mast which broke off at an old bolt hole which had been plugged, so I am deeply suspicious about any fastenings into the mast.
Peter.

 

[old_salt]

Peter I am assuming you have a wooden mast. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Two blocks of hard wood (Teak or Iroko) shaped to fit the mast forming effectively a square clamp around the mast then the winch securely fastened to one then the two blocks, then clamped though with 4 bolts running on each side of the mast though and hidden in the blocks then counter bored for heads and nuts and plugged. I hope this is of some help to you Peter.
Cheers David.

 

[old_salt]

Ouch.
I have just reread the posts and realised it is not you peter who requires the info but your post was a reply to a request. Please accept my apology and I hope that my post will be of some help to Roach1948.

 

[Roach1948]

Well it is all helpful stuff to me - So thanks Old_Salt.

I have made two Mahogany wooden plinths (with semi-circular cut-outs) and I was planning in using these as clamps so to speak.

You worry me about the old plugged holes comment though. Should I place the winches over the old holes? I was thinking this could weaken the (wooden) mast further as the holes wont match up and I will certainly need to drill new ones and these might be very close to the old ones. I also have other plugged holes where cleats and other mast furniture went, that did not come with the boat when I purchased her. I have pugged everything with teak dowels though. It is a solid douglas fir mast though, so I think this is stronger than a hollow mast?

 

[Roach1948]

This weekend I had a look at the winch plinths again to have a good think as to how to fit them. I cant use the two on either side of the mast as a clamp; the mast is eliptical to allow for the sail track. I will, therefore, need to mount the winches at 45 degrees to each other. As I have how got a fobia of using fastenings in the mast, I was wondering whether I would get away with just epeoxing them to the mast?