Adding a cabin top winch: Defender has them on sale

[Ben4195]

http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|118|2358547|2358549&id=1396517

Hi folks, on my Beneteau 361 I have one cabin top winch on the port side which (along with six clutches) handles all my winchy needs; halyards, mainsheet, vang, outhaul, etc.

I have found, however, that there are no remaining clutches for an additional halyard I ran (mostly as a safety line when I climb the mast), so whenever I need to utilize that halyard I have to temporarily rearrange some lines. No big deal. But down on my to-do list I've always wanted to add another winch and clutches on the starboard side of the cabin top.

Defender has their Lewmar winches on sale and the savings are considerable, plus you get a free winch handle, so I pulled the trigger.

So a couple questions:
1. it seems like a pretty straight forward job of installing a winch and clutch, but does anyone have any tips or warnings?
2. Does anyone run their topping lift through a clutch or cabin top cleat? Seems to me that could be advantageous, but the topping lift line might be to small a diameter for the clutches I'm considering, which have a lower line diameter threshold of 5/16".

Thanks for any advice!

 

[py26129]

My only question regarding running the topping lift to a clutch (not a cleat) is:" what happens if the clutch is accidentally released?" Not so much of an issue with a cleat.

Cheers

Matt

 

[Jumpstart]

When installing winch make sure you over drill bolt holes, fill with thickened epoxy, redrill holes, and use butyl tape to seal the bolts. http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/rebedding_hardware Below you will need either backing plates or thick stainless washers. You might have to cut access holes in liner and use plastic plugs to cosmetically cover the holes.

Use 5/16" NE VPC for your topping lift. Plenty strong and low stretch for the application.

 

[Ron20324]

My only question regarding running the topping lift to a clutch (not a cleat) is:" what happens if the clutch is accidentally released?" Not so much of an issue with a cleat.

Your cup is half empty. What happens if you release ANY clutch? Not much of a concern with a TL, as the boom would only drop (on the bimini?).

 

[Ben4195]

Thanks all for your advice. Wednightracer, I think i read somewhere, IIRC a post by Jackdaw, which indicated the areas of the deck that are programmed for hardware, such as winches and cluthes, that Beneteau made those areas 100% fiberglass. It appears to be the case based on observations of my own boat, but can anyone confirm that, or am I mis-remembering a post?

In any case, I am planning on over drilling those hole locations and mounting as you suggest. One Beneteau design feature I love is that the ceiling in the cabin has wood access plates for those cabin top appliances, so after the winch and clutches are mounted I simply put the wood plate back on and it looks nice again.

 

[Apex]

Ben: Drill a small pilot hole first. That will tell you if you have coring there or not. Save time and extra steps by not having to drill oversize if not warranted. Nice feature on the access panels.
As far as topping lift, you can always splice just ahead of the clutch to a bigger line.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Your cup is half empty. What happens if you release ANY clutch? Not much of a concern with a TL, as the boom would only drop (on the bimini?).

Nothing is going to drop if you release the clutch when the sail is up. I moved my topping lift to a clutch recently and like the change. I do have an old horn cleat that was once used to secure a halyard (before I added clutches) on the coach roof near the clutches that I don't really have a use for, so I ran the tail end of the line thru the cleat base. That pretty much helps me identify the TL at a glance and serves as a safety if I do release the clutch when the sail is down.

 

[Jackdaw]

the areas of the deck that are programmed for hardware, such as winches and cluthes, that Beneteau made those areas 100% fiberglass. It appears to be the case based on observations of my own boat, but can anyone confirm that, or am I mis-remembering a post?

You remember correctly

 

[Ben4195]

Perfect, thanks for the confirmation Jackdaw!! and thanks Scott and Apex!

 

[Dave Groshong]

We will match Defenders pricing on EVO Lewmar winches

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Perfect, thanks for the confirmation Jackdaw!! and thanks Scott and Apex!

I have a spare halyard leading aft, that I don't really have any need for, so I use it for the topping lift, instead of the wire that used to hang down from the masthead. That way, I eliminated the wire. If I were to ever install a boomkicker or a rigid vang (I haven't pulled that trigger yet) then there would be no need for the TL, but I would still have that spare halyard, that would be serving no apparent purpose. How many actually have that spare halyard leading aft and what do you do with it?