I have a 1980 Catalina 30. These boats have two small winches mounted on the mast, one on each side, about 3 feet above the deck. These winches are used for the main and jib halyards. Raising these sails would be much simplified if I could replace the winches with the newer, self-tailing type. Does anyone know if self-tailing winches will work properly if mounted horizontally? Bob Boller Benicia, CA
Horizontally mounted self-tailing winches
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Sounds a bit risky
Just my humble opinion... It seems like, even if they would work, it would be risky. If the halyard comes loose from the wench, the main or jib will drop - suddenly. I feel better knowing that my halyards are cleated in securely.
Just my humble opinion... It seems like, even if they would work, it would be risky. If the halyard comes loose from the wench, the main or jib will drop - suddenly. I feel better knowing that my halyards are cleated in securely.
Should work
I can see no reason why they wouldn't work. Of course the halyards must be cleated off after raising. I am also with TimR. If your going to that much work and expense, run the halyards to the cockpit. I would much rather not have to get up on deck, than have a self tailer on deck.
I can see no reason why they wouldn't work. Of course the halyards must be cleated off after raising. I am also with TimR. If your going to that much work and expense, run the halyards to the cockpit. I would much rather not have to get up on deck, than have a self tailer on deck.
How would things be simplified?
1. Most folks we've heard of remove the winches from the mast and run the lines to the cockpit. 2. Of those that do use mast winches, they either retain or install winches using non-self tailers because the halyards have to be cleated off, and never left in the jaws of a self tailing winch, regardless of thr position. 3. I suggest you look around your marina and find one more boat that has a self tailing winch on the mast. It's doubtful that you'd find more than a half dozen who have mast winches at all, especially C30s. It's not a good investment, either - have you seen the cost of self tailing winches? Have you considered Winchers on the old ones?
1. Most folks we've heard of remove the winches from the mast and run the lines to the cockpit. 2. Of those that do use mast winches, they either retain or install winches using non-self tailers because the halyards have to be cleated off, and never left in the jaws of a self tailing winch, regardless of thr position. 3. I suggest you look around your marina and find one more boat that has a self tailing winch on the mast. It's doubtful that you'd find more than a half dozen who have mast winches at all, especially C30s. It's not a good investment, either - have you seen the cost of self tailing winches? Have you considered Winchers on the old ones?
I would like to make a clarification.
A halyard lines ending at the mast needs to be cleated but it has to be done in such a way that the sails can be dropped quickly in an emergency. I was taught many years ago that cleating the halyards did not mean making a tie like we do for docklines. It is much safer just wrapping the halyard lines a couple of times around the cleat and then pinching the line in between the previous wraps. As long as the halyard is tight there will be no strech to allow the line to slip and if needs to be loosened in a hurry then all you have to do is give a lateral pull and unwrap the line. Never had a problem with lines accidentally coming loose. It must be remembered there is a time factor between realizing sails must be dropped and steping from the cockpit to the mast to do it. It will usually have to be done under adverse conditions so the easier it is made the better. I was a little reluctant at first with lines fed to the cockpit but now I would not change them both for safety and convenience. We used to raise the sails by grabbing the halyards above our head and flexing the knees to let our weight do the pulling. A mast mounted winch would be used for a final tightening or for getting someone up the mast. In answer to your question I would not recommend adding self tailers to the mast as their usefulness would be mainly wasted.
A halyard lines ending at the mast needs to be cleated but it has to be done in such a way that the sails can be dropped quickly in an emergency. I was taught many years ago that cleating the halyards did not mean making a tie like we do for docklines. It is much safer just wrapping the halyard lines a couple of times around the cleat and then pinching the line in between the previous wraps. As long as the halyard is tight there will be no strech to allow the line to slip and if needs to be loosened in a hurry then all you have to do is give a lateral pull and unwrap the line. Never had a problem with lines accidentally coming loose. It must be remembered there is a time factor between realizing sails must be dropped and steping from the cockpit to the mast to do it. It will usually have to be done under adverse conditions so the easier it is made the better. I was a little reluctant at first with lines fed to the cockpit but now I would not change them both for safety and convenience. We used to raise the sails by grabbing the halyards above our head and flexing the knees to let our weight do the pulling. A mast mounted winch would be used for a final tightening or for getting someone up the mast. In answer to your question I would not recommend adding self tailers to the mast as their usefulness would be mainly wasted.
i've got one of those old style winches on my mast as well
and it comes in real handy when single handing the boat to raise the main but its not worth replacing with anything else cause usually the halyards are run to the cocpit where theres a cabin mounted winch with cleats for all the halyards
and it comes in real handy when single handing the boat to raise the main but its not worth replacing with anything else cause usually the halyards are run to the cocpit where theres a cabin mounted winch with cleats for all the halyards
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