location of self tailing winches

[rmilavsky]

Hi. I am looking at buying a Catalina 270. i do alot of solo sailing. A dumb question, but it appears that the location of the self tailing winches is not good if I am solo and behind the wheel and I want to tack. In other words, it looks like you have to leave the wheel unattended to work the genoa and tighten the same during a tack.
Am I right about this?
Would like to hear what experienced 270 owners say.
Thanks

 

[LakeOntario270]

To make it easier to single hand, a deck track and a second set of winches can be added.

http://www.catalina27.org/images/C270win_med.jpg

An autopilot makes tending the main sail sheet a lot easier also.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Get an autopilot and stop being a "Slave Behind the Wheel." I spend all of my time, except for leaving and returning to the slip in FRONT of the wheel. Then the winches are in the right place: the widest part of the cockpit. Good luck.

 

[Doug4bass]

I had a 270. Nice boat with only the cabin top winches. Your boat has a wheel lock on the Edson pedestal.
I learned to be quick while tacking and that could be quite fun. Especially short tacking down a narrow channel. Oh...the humanity!
George is helpful also.
Thought about adding the second set of winches per Catalina's engineering sheet....but decided not to. Part of the problem was access for bolting down the track.
After a while I decided didn't need 'em.

Like Stu, I was hardly ever behind da wheel.

 

[Meriachee]

I added the track and winches. The back winches are very handy for the kite, and with a 155 loaded, the outside track is good. But by far, the commentary about getting in front of the binnacle is the best. Get an autopilot.