Just picked up a 1988 mac 26d. For me its upgrading to a "big Boat" It does not have winches but I see others that do.
Learn me please.
Learn me please.
do I really need winches on my mac 26d?
- Thread starter Von Clipper
- Start date
You won’t need big winches but even small ones like #6 winches would make sail trimming much easier. And safer.
You do not NEED winches, but they make trimming the jib much easier in heavy wind. Definitely used is much cheaper. Ebay always has some but you can find deals at marine consignment shops and junk shops too. If there are abandoned boats nearby, you might get permission to remove some. If you know someone in a big marina, ask them. Sometimes you can get them dirt cheap.
There's plenty of used marine places out there. Mass Marine and ebay are the first places that come to mind. I had a Starwind 19. That was just below the threshold for needing winches. My O'Day 25 absolutely needed them. There were multiple times that I grabbed a hold of the line while tacking and it pulled me across the seat!
Ya see, never woulda thought of that until I learned the hard way. It's the small things.
Thank you
Thank you
Every turn on a line increases resistance. I usually pull as much jib sheet in as I can by hand and then do the hard work with the winch. It's a good balance between speed and torque. Doing it all on the winch, even without a handle, is often harder and slowerOnly if he winds the sheet the wrong direction
Winches don’t have to be super expensive. You can go the used route, but West marine has a BOGO sale on Lewmar winches every March. Lewmar #6 non self tailing winches are $197.99 right now, so if they have the sale you will be able to get two new winches for under $200 -that’s not a ton of money for something that is going to greatly improve your sailing experience.
Once you have winches you will also need a winch handle-I know you can do without it, but why? Amazon has a cheapy for $33. Or if that is too much, talk to sailors you know and tell them you need a handle. If they are anything like me they have a few old ones laying around that were replaced with one touch or floating handles and will probably give you one, or trade for a beer.
Once you have winches you will also need a winch handle-I know you can do without it, but why? Amazon has a cheapy for $33. Or if that is too much, talk to sailors you know and tell them you need a handle. If they are anything like me they have a few old ones laying around that were replaced with one touch or floating handles and will probably give you one, or trade for a beer.
About those self tailing winches? Not needed for a small boat like a mac 26d? Even $400 for a pair of new would be great. Thank you
On a Mac 26d, self tailing winches would be more trouble than they are worth. Ideally, I would put a cam cleat behind the winch for quick release of the sheet when you need it. Ordinary sailing, 2-3 wraps on the winch is sufficient. This is from a former ODay 25 sailor.
There are no winches on my Mariner 19. Don't need them with just a working jib. Some folks rig a 2:1 purchase on the jib sheets, I haven't seen the need. If I had a jenny or spinnaker, I would need winches.
Fred W
Stuart Mariner 19 #4133
There are no winches on my Mariner 19. Don't need them with just a working jib. Some folks rig a 2:1 purchase on the jib sheets, I haven't seen the need. If I had a jenny or spinnaker, I would need winches.
Fred W
Stuart Mariner 19 #4133
I can’t imagine trying to trim a jib in heavy wind on a 26’ boat without a winch and handle.
On my 24’ S2 I have self tailing #14 primary winches, #6 winches on the cabintop for halyards, etc. and I mounted my old primary #7s behind the primaries for the spinnaker, so obviously I’m a fan of winches.
Yep, it is nice to have a winch, but if you don't the trick is pull it as tight as you can during the tack before it fills. If it isn't tight enough, get moving, head up again until the sail is luffing, pull the sheet tight, then fall off again. It's not as nice as a winch, but you can still sail upwind.