Which winch for the halyard?

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  • 28 Jan 2012 22:05
    Reply # 809667 on 804670
    Deleted user
    On Easy Go we have no winches and prefer the 4 part block and tackle to get the sails up. If they are too full of wind it is easy enough to slack the sheets or fall off a bit. Kathy is no specimen of female power lifter but she manages to get the sails up and down when she needs to. 

    Being able to make all the sail adjustments from the pram hood hatch without any deckwork is the most important feature of the Badger design. If we needed a winch to accomplish this it would be on in a flash.  Given the chance to put on a winch I could appreciate the power it would offer but to date have not needed one.  

    We have a windlass that has never been installed as we have also used a 4 part handy billy to raise the chain and anchor and use with the kedge.
  • 23 Jan 2012 07:07
    Reply # 805106 on 804906
    Deleted user
    Annie Hill wrote:We had single-speed Barient self-tailers on Badger.  I think they were 25:1 but couldn't swear to it, but they were the smallest available at the time and more than adequate even for me.  Pete hardly ever used them, but I have never claimed to be strong!
    Thats actually what I wanted to know, since Susie wants the capability to handle all aspects of the boat by herself. I probably wouldn't use the winches much either..
    Last modified: 23 Jan 2012 07:25 | Deleted user
  • 23 Jan 2012 04:58
    Reply # 805077 on 804670
    I have a non self tailer Barlow 16 bolted on. Once I get sailing and the $$ become available I'll fit a self tailer. My sail is 30.2 sq metres. I plan on a 4:1  halyard.
  • 23 Jan 2012 03:50
    Reply # 805054 on 805053
    Deleted user
    David Tyler wrote: I'd always prefer a bronze drum for durability, but...
    Carpe Diem.
    You have a point there, I just noticed Arco's are the same price chrome, alu or bronze. Makes them the best value actually.

    Except they charge $150 delivery...  :o(

    But just discovered my local supplier of epoxy is an agent for Arco, so I may get these bronzy things yet..  :o)
    Last modified: 23 Jan 2012 04:37 | Deleted user
  • 23 Jan 2012 03:32
    Reply # 805053 on 805045
    Gary King wrote:So..  the Mrs might be struggling with a 8:1 cheapie..
    Had a look at the Arco/Hutton winches, David, but the Aussie $ has been kinder to their imported competition.
    I found this deal though.
    Looks like a good price, and the power is right. I'd always prefer a bronze drum for durability, but...
    Carpe Diem.
  • 23 Jan 2012 03:19
    Reply # 805045 on 804670
    Deleted user
    So..  the Mrs might be struggling with a 8:1 cheapie..
    Had a look at the Arco/Hutton winches, David, but the Aussie $ has been kinder to their imported competition.
    I found this deal though.
    Last modified: 23 Jan 2012 03:22 | Deleted user
  • 22 Jan 2012 22:07
    Reply # 804906 on 804670
    We had single-speed Barient self-tailers on Badger.  I think they were 25:1 but couldn't swear to it, but they were the smallest available at the time and more than adequate even for me.  Pete hardly ever used them, but I have never claimed to be strong!

    We used them on several occasions for kedging off, so they are really surprisingly powerful for their size.

    With money being in short supply, a suggestion worth considering is to have a smaller and therefore affordable winch, and an extra long winch handle, which makes a surprising difference.

    I totally endorse Arne's comment about having self-tailing winches.  I manage with mine on Fantail, but can see it being a bit of an issue if ever I get round to fitting a proper control position and pramhood.
    Last modified: 22 Jan 2012 22:09 | Anonymous member
  • 22 Jan 2012 20:28
    Reply # 804846 on 804670
    Gary,
    My main halyard winch is an Arco 2 speed 30:1 self tailer
    I needed it when I had a single sail of 54 sq m, but it's rather a luxury now, with a mainsail of something around 35 sq m. (3:1 halyard in both cases)
    As David says, it's a great boon to have enough power to shake out reefs, particularly when sailing downwind in a big sea, left over from the big wind for which you reefed. You really don't want to round up to take the wind out of the sail, in those conditions, if you can avoid it. But I would think that a 20:1ST Arco winch would give you enough power for a 30 sq m sail. These are excellent winches, and since you are in Australia, worth having a look at.
  • 22 Jan 2012 19:51
    Reply # 804842 on 804670
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Gary

    A two-speed winch sounds like Overkill Light for a 30sqm sail. On my 48sqm sail for Johanna I do with a single speed winch (Andersen 12ST) - although with a 5-part halyard. This lets me hoist 5 of 7 panels by hand before using the winch. On Malena’s 32sqm sail (4-part h.) I never had a winch. The important thing is to get a good self-tailing winch (or two) to let you swing the handle with both hands. Also be careful with how you position the winch to make it easier to operate.

    I never bother with hoisting sail with full load in it, not even a single panel. On a low AR sail as Johanna’s it will just lead to bad setting. I much prefer to stop for a second, let go the sheet, haul up the panel, set up the luff and yard parrels before falling off and sheeting in again. However, your high AR sails are probably less demanding on this (as my high AR sail on Broremann is too), so maybe you can haul up sail as you go - but then you need a third hand easing the sheet...

    Arne

  • 22 Jan 2012 19:00
    Reply # 804808 on 804670
    Deleted user
    I would go for the 2 speed. Even though the sail probably will not be that heavy with a 2 speed winch you have the ability to really power the sail up with the high speed, but you have the option of the low speed when things load up such as when you are shaking out a reef when the sail is full of wind. If there is not too much price difference between the 1 and 2 speed winches then a 2 speed is a much better investment.
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