MacGregorSailors.com

Anybody do this?

A boat I sea-trialed last week had a pair of winches right at the stern for tacking the foresail without even leaving the helm.

Seems like an awesome idea to me.

I've got them... installed myself. Works great as I single handle all the time.

From my website:

Winches in aft corners
~ Made this mod to enable single handling of the boat. It is a 5 inch winch and a cleat. I had to cut holes in the back and add access panels to bolt down the winches.





Erik

I did the same Mod


J

Niiiiice.

And I see your stern rail party seats there. Any cracking around those supports?

Here too. Used a couple of mast winches, cost £10
A little forward. Here I get a full swing on the handle and I've got a bit more space for a proper rear cleat.

In eric's first picture if you look at the docking cleat in the far left of the picture, thats were I put a cheap cam cleat, just inside the docking cleat. Most of the pressure from the jib sheets is on the docking cleat and the cam cleat just holds it. I did this 10 years ago and have never had a failure. I never need a winch for the jib sleets, I just turn into the wind a little. jim nolan 26X

Mine are a little further forward than Jim's. Same reason, full swing of the handle without fouling the rails, and clear access to a cam cleat.

Much better for the genoa than taking the sheet back up to the cabin top.

I also use them for the spinnaker sheets.

Truth is that a winch is overkill. I can't remember using the handle to trim either the genoa or the kite, but I always wrap the sheet adound the winch and cleat it off. Its just the right way to do it.

Do put lots of reinforcing inside, under the winch so that any strain is not pulling the four nuts and washers through the GRP.

C ya,
Clemo

Clemo wrote:Do put lots of reinforcing inside, under the winch so that any strain is not pulling the four nuts and washers through the GRP.

Yep. Plan to put a big plate of aluminum or SS on the underside.

I single-hand just fine with original manf. winches locations!

No need for that a 3$ plastic 1/4" thick cutting board will do fine as a backing plate for this mod !

J

K9Kampers wrote:I single-hand just fine with original manf. winches locations!

Ah, A fair weather sailor are we , no winches required for the Jib , but once you move your genny 4ft out on a bowsprit on a good blow yer gonna require a winch , my aft winches are for use with my drifter or spinnaker . I've already popped both my shoulders almost two yrs rehab for the first & one yr for the second no desire to repeat that process again besides if you have female crew aboard & wish them to learn the process yer gonna require winches even for the jib young one's included

J

Highlander wrote:

K9Kampers wrote:I single-hand just fine with original manf. winches locations!

Ah, A fair weather sailor are we , no winches required for the Jib , but once you move your genny 4ft out on a bowsprit on a good blow yer gonna require a winch , my aft winches are for use with my drifter or spinnaker . I've already popped both my shoulders almost two yrs rehab for the first & one yr for the second no desire to repeat that process again besides if you have female crew aboard & wish them to learn the process yer gonna require winches even for the jib young one's included

J

Au contraire, mon frere. The existing winches atop the cabin are fine for me, and 90% of my sailing is without crew. I man the helm aside & forward of the wheel. My control zone is between the helm and the companionway, with everything in reach. I've never been one to plant myself behind the wheel...but to each his own!

Good thinking, Highlander.

Probably overkill again, but I reinforced behind the cam cleat as well, thinking about the upward force required to release a genoa sheet in a moment of excitment.

Tks,
C ya,
Clemo.

K9Kampers wrote: I man the helm aside & forward of the wheel. My control zone is between the helm and the companionway, with everything in reach.

Hm. OK, I will try that before drilling holes in my boat.

K9Kampers wrote:

Highlander wrote:

K9Kampers wrote:I single-hand just fine with original manf. winches locations!

Ah, A fair weather sailor are we , no winches required for the Jib , but once you move your genny 4ft out on a bowsprit on a good blow yer gonna require a winch , my aft winches are for use with my drifter or spinnaker . I've already popped both my shoulders almost two yrs rehab for the first & one yr for the second no desire to repeat that process again besides if you have female crew aboard & wish them to learn the process yer gonna require winches even for the jib young one's included

J

Au contraire, mon frere. The existing winches atop the cabin are fine for me, and 90% of my sailing is without crew. I man the helm aside & forward of the wheel. My control zone is between the helm and the companionway, with everything in reach. I've never been one to plant myself behind the wheel...but to each his own!

Ah
I agree & do so myself but my boat is a completley different beast altogether she's rigged for 6 headsails in all kinds of different configurations or all together !! do most of my sailing solo also so with my set-up "Clipper Rigged" I use the whole cockpit !

J