Wincher?

[Quandary]

Our current boat only has self tailers on the sheet winches and my wife who winds the main up and down has been moaning about the halyard winch on that side, it is the one that is used most and because it is under the hood we have to use a 8" handle for clearance, a new self tailer is circa £800 quid and I am reluctant to invest. Would one of those wincher gadgets work on a halyard winch? The lead from the bank of clutches is quite short which might restrict the rise of the coil. There are six clutches each side but other than the main halyard and reefing lines none of them move far, just minor adjustments for sail shape. An alternative might be to bring the main halyard out a couple of metres up the mast so that I could sweat it from there and she would just need to tail. The main is tensioned with a cunningham so the tension is not that great just friction anf weight as it goes up the slot but the feeder is not smooth so I go forward to the mast to help it.

 

[NormanS]

I was given a loan of a Winchrite, with the option to buy it. I wasn't impressed, and didn't buy it. I was only interested in it's use for the genoa sheets, and found it not worth the bother. Remember that when you're not actually using it, it has to live somewhere. Sorry to be so negative, I'm sure others have found them to be very useful. I don't need it for the main halyard, - it only gets hoisted at the start of the year. ? In mast furling is wonderful that way.

 

[davethedog]

We have a Winchrite and find it useful for a variety of tasks including getting someone up the mast via the main halyard (and yes it is a self tailing winch and also has a clutch, and we use a secondary to a different clutch and self tailer before anyone complains).

Although we do not need to use the Winchrite that often, when we have it has been good (not as good as a proper electric winch of course but then again it is a LOT cheaper and you can use it on other winches and other boats if required).

 

[colind3782]

I have Winchers (not Winchrite guys) on all my old winches and they're not perfect as you still have to tail the line but they're better than nothing and considerable cheaper and less faff than self-tailers.

 

[WoodyP]

I fitted Winchers and they work well enough for me to tack and adjust foresail when single handed.

 

[BabaYaga]

Would one of those wincher gadgets work on a halyard winch?

I have '"Winchers" on my genoa winches and find them useful, but very much doubt there would be any real benefit on a halyard winch. The idea must be to be able to use both hands on the handle, but a third hand would be needed take off the tail.

 

[Bobc]

I think your best bet would be to get the halyard to exit the mast a bit higher and sweat it up. Much quicker and easier than winching it up.

 

[Allan]

I had a Wincher on the halyard winch of my previous boat and removed it as useless! A friend then showed me the correct way it should be used. I refitted it and realised how useful it really was. No problem using two hands on the handle, just quickly pull half a turn off the top ever turn of the handle. Once you've got the rhythm it's simple.
Allan

 

[ProMariner]

Look into a ball bearing luff track and car system, you would only need to winch the last 3 inches.

Or just swap, so you do the ropes, while she drives?

 

[Quandary]

She is the driver and prefers to stay in the cockpit, ( on these occasions assisted by the autopilot), but she has to wind the main up while I feed it past the mast feeder, I have filed and smoothed the entry fitting but the b****r still refuses to feed from the stack pack unassisted. Our Finngulf had an Selden MDS system mast profile, full length battens and 8 wheeled cars, the halyards all came out of the mast above head level for sweating up and all the winches were self tailing so she has been spoiled in the past.

 

[LittleSister]

Have you tried doubling up the halyard? - i.e. sail end of halyard comes down from top of mast, though a block at the head of the sail, then back up to top of the mast, where that end is fixed. Doubles the length of rope to haul in, but almost halves the pull required to do it. (May obviate the need for your to help at the mast to get sail up, too.)

Otherwise sweating it up, as you say.

Are the mainsheet track and sliders/cars as clean and well lubricated as practicable?

 

[fredrussell]

If you can get up the mast, spraying the mast track and sliders with McLube Sailcote will make the sail go up and down a fair bit easier. It’s expensive stuff, but worth the outlay IMO.

 

[Arcady]

+1 for Winchers. As already pointed out, they don’t strip the tail off, but they are a real help. Cheap (ish) and I would rate them about 80% as useful as proper self-tailers.