Winch question

[petedg]

I'm thinking of upgrading our mainsail winch, it's mounted horizontally and not self tailing. Unfortunately I'm not sure of the make but it's unusual (for me) in that it has a serrated channel where the rope feeds and a sort of guard which is supposed to prevent the rope from continuing to feed into the channel causing it to jam. Am I right in thinking a single speed self tailing winch would be better?

 

[dom]

I'm thinking of upgrading our mainsail winch, it's mounted horizontally and not self tailing. Unfortunately I'm not sure of the make but it's unusual (for me) in that it has a serrated channel where the rope feeds and a sort of guard which is supposed to prevent the rope from continuing to feed into the channel causing it to jam. Am I right in thinking a single speed self tailing winch would be better?

Have you got a link to a photo? I can't quite picture the winch.

 

[HenryEDM]

Sounds like you are describing a self tailing winch upside down.

 

[sailorman]

I'm thinking of upgrading our mainsail winch, it's mounted horizontally and not self tailing. Unfortunately I'm not sure of the make but it's unusual (for me) in that it has a serrated channel where the rope feeds and a sort of guard which is supposed to prevent the rope from continuing to feed into the channel causing it to jam. Am I right in thinking a single speed self tailing winch would be better?

Winchers
i have then on my Hilliard winches
these are not supposed to have the line fed into then whilst winching. actually if the line fills the drum no cleating off is req

 

[petedg]

Have you got a link to a photo? I can't quite picture the winch.

Sorry no photo at the moment, will be going to the boat in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for all the answers so far.