Being a recent owner of a 320, I have to question the placement of the one and only Winches at the front of the cockpit. This makes it nearly impossible, or at least pretty tricky, to single-hand without an autopilot. I notice that there are markings for winches just about even with the wheel on the starboard and port cockpit sides. Are these for the spinnaker option or what? Has anyone used these spots (maybe on a 310 or 340 as well) for the Jib sheets or should I just got get an autpilot to make my single-handing easier. Sharing 8 lines on two winches is just generally a pain anyway...
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If you've never had one...
you don't know what you are missing. Just got a Navico W/P 300CX after 14 years without one. This has made making trips to the bay and other multi hour runs a real pleasure. Weather single handing or with a crew the auto pilot is a very welcome addition to any boat.
you don't know what you are missing. Just got a Navico W/P 300CX after 14 years without one. This has made making trips to the bay and other multi hour runs a real pleasure. Weather single handing or with a crew the auto pilot is a very welcome addition to any boat.
J
Julian Sandford
winches
I have a 310 and the first thing I did was upgrade port winch to a 30. second was fit spinnaker winches to blanks and the third was a raytheon 4000 autopilot. Third was best.
I have a 310 and the first thing I did was upgrade port winch to a 30. second was fit spinnaker winches to blanks and the third was a raytheon 4000 autopilot. Third was best.
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Bill
You read my mind Greg
I had the same thoughts you are having about those two places on the coaming. They are intended for spinnaker winches. There is an aluminum plate cast into the fiberglass there. I thought about getting two more winches and running the jib sheets to them for single handed sailing but the problem is that the jib cars are located on the roof of the cabin and the jib sheets and blocks are set up relative to those. Not being an expert in rigging, I abandoned that idea for now although I am going to get the spinnaker gear option ( $ 468) for a future gennaker. For the time being I will either use the autopilot or learn to move about the cockpit quickly..........very quickly.
I had the same thoughts you are having about those two places on the coaming. They are intended for spinnaker winches. There is an aluminum plate cast into the fiberglass there. I thought about getting two more winches and running the jib sheets to them for single handed sailing but the problem is that the jib cars are located on the roof of the cabin and the jib sheets and blocks are set up relative to those. Not being an expert in rigging, I abandoned that idea for now although I am going to get the spinnaker gear option ( $ 468) for a future gennaker. For the time being I will either use the autopilot or learn to move about the cockpit quickly..........very quickly.
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Wayne
Winches on 340
Yes you are right about single handing. The winch location does make that difficult and an autopilot would help greatly. I do not have an autopilot but I have single handed by locking the wheel while making adjustments. My 1997 340 has a similar setup to your 320. I have a Lewmar 40 for the primary winch and it is located on the cabin top on the starboard side of the companionway. There is a lewmar 30 in the same location on the starboard side. The only difference between the Lewmar 40 and 30 is that the 40's drum is slightly taller so you can take an extra wrap on it. I find these winches to be very adequate. I did purchase the optional winches for spinnaker and these are a pair of Lewmar 40's but I hardly ever use them as I do not have a spinnaker or gennaker yet. I would use them for kedging off if running aground. You mention sharing 8 lines with 2 winches. This should not really be a problem as you hardly ever need more than one line at a time. After you hoist the mainsail you close the line stopper and take the halyard off the drum, coil and stow it. Then you don't have to put the main halyard back on the primary winch until you take the main down. You might leave the jib sheet on a winch while sailing depending which tack you are on so you can trim easily unless you need the winch for the mainsheet. The other lines are reefing lines and the jib halyard. If you have roller furling you probably dont have to put the jib halyard on the drum unless you want to snug it or take down th jib.
Yes you are right about single handing. The winch location does make that difficult and an autopilot would help greatly. I do not have an autopilot but I have single handed by locking the wheel while making adjustments. My 1997 340 has a similar setup to your 320. I have a Lewmar 40 for the primary winch and it is located on the cabin top on the starboard side of the companionway. There is a lewmar 30 in the same location on the starboard side. The only difference between the Lewmar 40 and 30 is that the 40's drum is slightly taller so you can take an extra wrap on it. I find these winches to be very adequate. I did purchase the optional winches for spinnaker and these are a pair of Lewmar 40's but I hardly ever use them as I do not have a spinnaker or gennaker yet. I would use them for kedging off if running aground. You mention sharing 8 lines with 2 winches. This should not really be a problem as you hardly ever need more than one line at a time. After you hoist the mainsail you close the line stopper and take the halyard off the drum, coil and stow it. Then you don't have to put the main halyard back on the primary winch until you take the main down. You might leave the jib sheet on a winch while sailing depending which tack you are on so you can trim easily unless you need the winch for the mainsheet. The other lines are reefing lines and the jib halyard. If you have roller furling you probably dont have to put the jib halyard on the drum unless you want to snug it or take down th jib.
R
Ron Barrow
Lewmar 40s
There are a pair of Lewmar CST winches on e-bay. The address is: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=421637605 If you are going to buy, these look like they might be a good deal. Good luck. RB
There are a pair of Lewmar CST winches on e-bay. The address is: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=421637605 If you are going to buy, these look like they might be a good deal. Good luck. RB
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Wally Boggus
jib sheets
if you preset for the next tack(spinlock on leeward only and winch on windward) you can lead sheets aft to helm. To tack snap spin lock open and winch jib sheet on new tack. Once on course either set AP or wheel lock go forward and preset for next tack. That said I think it would be easier to use the spin winches for the jib. I think it will work. There is a new 320 sitting in our marina parking lot with the additional spin winches so we will know soon enough.
if you preset for the next tack(spinlock on leeward only and winch on windward) you can lead sheets aft to helm. To tack snap spin lock open and winch jib sheet on new tack. Once on course either set AP or wheel lock go forward and preset for next tack. That said I think it would be easier to use the spin winches for the jib. I think it will work. There is a new 320 sitting in our marina parking lot with the additional spin winches so we will know soon enough.
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Greg G.
Jib Winching on 320
Not sure the Spin winches would work due to the jib sheet tracks and spinloacks being located on the cabin deck. I "think" the angle would not cut it from the spinlock down to where the spin winches are placed???
Not sure the Spin winches would work due to the jib sheet tracks and spinloacks being located on the cabin deck. I "think" the angle would not cut it from the spinlock down to where the spin winches are placed???
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Tom
Spin winches for jib
I have a twin 320 just down the dock from me and he has the spinnaker winches. Next time I see him I am going to ask to try the jib sheets on them. It looks to me like you would NOT lead them through the lock but rather straight back from the fairlead to a turning block attached to the arch (there is a welded on do-hickey there to attach a block). You need the turning block in order to lead the sheet UP to the winch (otherwise you'll be in override hell). All of this will entail longer jib sheets - I've measured. I'll report back after I try it on his boat. When I single hand I just lean back on the pedestal and steer by reaching back to the autopilot. Very easy and relaxed and gives an excellent view of sails even when bimini is up. Nonetheless I like Wally's idea of "snapping" the windward sheet out of the lock when tacking. I'll try it tonight.
I have a twin 320 just down the dock from me and he has the spinnaker winches. Next time I see him I am going to ask to try the jib sheets on them. It looks to me like you would NOT lead them through the lock but rather straight back from the fairlead to a turning block attached to the arch (there is a welded on do-hickey there to attach a block). You need the turning block in order to lead the sheet UP to the winch (otherwise you'll be in override hell). All of this will entail longer jib sheets - I've measured. I'll report back after I try it on his boat. When I single hand I just lean back on the pedestal and steer by reaching back to the autopilot. Very easy and relaxed and gives an excellent view of sails even when bimini is up. Nonetheless I like Wally's idea of "snapping" the windward sheet out of the lock when tacking. I'll try it tonight.
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