How long is the stock winch handle for a Hunter 26? I'm wanting to purchase a little longer handle to crank up the mast. I don't live near my boat so I can measure it.
Length of stock winch handle
- Thread starter Larry O
- Start date
Either 8" or 10" are standard, depending on your tradeoff between speed and force. While I always advocate having an extra handle aboard, for when you throw one to Neptune, perhaps for a single purpose activity like mast raising you should consider other mechanical advantages. Consider replacing your single line with a doubled line and block at the mast to make it half as hard (but twice as long). Solving these little problems by using different lines is the essence of sailing.
I'm using factory provided winch handle so I suspect it's 8". I was looking for a longer handle to raise mast and I did really want to double length of line.
And that 1st post should of read "I can measure it" as I sail the boat on the great lakes in the summer but live in Arizona.
I assume you know you can easily calculate how much (read - how little) mechanical advantage that extra 2" gets you over an 8" handle??
Bigger winch time...
Bigger winch time...
Uh ... 25% more? I don't think I've ever used an 8" handle, but I'm a weak office worker, not a real brawny sailor-man.
It's always advisable to have a couple winch handles of each size 8" and 10" I prefer the palm grip type. If your winches feel underpowered, then moving up to a 10" handle will help a lot. If you still have trouble, it might be time to upgrade to larger winches.
When I added a dodger to my boat, and upgraded its winches. My new fave handle is the Lewmar one-touch palm grip. A lot easier on the shoulder.
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When I added a dodger to my boat, and upgraded its winches. My new fave handle is the Lewmar one-touch palm grip. A lot easier on the shoulder.
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I think the OP's original question was that he could not measure anything as he is more than 1,000 miles from boat. That said, most larger waste marines carry a selection of winch handles, and Amazon will have one on your doorstep in a couple days, both returnable. Perhaps the best advice is to wait and buy when you arrive at the boat. It's not like you're going to use it in Arizona.
Are you raising the mast right? The H26 system is designed to not need a winch, let alone a bigger winch/longer winch handle.
It’s not for everybody and it’s not speedy, but I haven’t felt the need for a winch.
It’s not for everybody and it’s not speedy, but I haven’t felt the need for a winch.
Actually, it’s closer to 5% more. But perception is everythingUh ... 25% more? I don't think I've ever used an 8" handle, but I'm a weak office worker, not a real brawny sailor-man.
Don't think so. Mechanical advantage is the ratio of the distance from the fulcrum for a lever. 10"/8" = 1.25 = 25% increase in mechanical advantage. (Lever - Wikipedia) In the immortal words of that famous Greek sailor, Archimedes "Give me a place to stand and with a lever I raise my mast" (This has been misquoted in other places)Actually, it’s closer to 5% more. But perception is everything
Well thank you all for the input. I'm thinking longer handle will do the trick. The stock winch works but it would be nice to use a less effort and I think that may translate in to more control when raising the mast.
The factory Hunter 19/23.5/26 manual I have does not use any winches in the mast raising/lowering procedure.