HELP -Winches not working

[Tom Kolaski]

We are the new proud owners of a 1976 Hunter 30.We are using winches for the first time and are having problems - paritally us we are sure and partially old equipment we think.The sheets are slipping on the winches - we have tried different approaches, and either get jammed, or the sheets just slip. Any ideas or advice?

 

[Henry Weber]

sheet winches

Tom -- to prevent the sheet from slipping on the winch hub, make sure that you have at least 3 turns of the line around the hub. Second, it is necessary to maintain a bit of tension on the tail of the line. This produces the needed friction to prevent slip. If your line is very slick, try 4 turns.Henry

 

[Roger Mummah]

Cleat the Sheet

Tom, are these self-tailing winches? If not, they aren't going to hold unless you cleat the sheet (rhymes doesn't it?). You can buy some blue rubber thingies that fit on the top of the winches that make them a poor-man's self tailing winch. We have them on our non-self-tailing jib sheets aboard Endless Summer and they work fine for us. Good tailing. Roger Mummah