Mast winch or not

[Skipperdan]

Should I put a mast winch on my mast while I am redoing it? Or better yet should I use one of the light duty Jib winches there and get better bigger self trailing winches for the jib? I was thinking to use the other light duty one forward for the anchor. This is a 26' Chrysler.

Dan

 

[kloudie1]

Wouldn't think you'd need a winch on the anchor..

 

[Westcoaster]

Assuming your halyards are cleated on the mast and not run aft.......Boat that small has simple options. You can put a cheek block on the mast a bit under the mast cleat for halyards, then you run the halyard under the block pulling up to the cleat. Much easier to pull up than down on a halyard. That's good for both main and jib halyards. I can't imagine you'd need a winch for the anchor unless you have health problems.

 

[thinwater]

No. Although they have their uses on large boats, what it will try to do is snag genoa sheets when you tack. They're good at that.

 

[jssailem]

Skipper Dan. The challenge as a boat owner is to decide what is needed and what is eye candy. Your sails are not that heavy to lift by your self, is that correct? If so then you should not need a winch on the mast. Recommend you assure that the luff tracks on the main, and or the jib/genoa are clean and if you want lubed with something like SailKote. (http://www.mclubemarine.com/sailkote/index.php?c=recapps). So your sail moves smoothly through the track/bolt rope channel.

If you can lift the sail with ease when on the dock you can haul it up the mast with out a winch.

If you want to assure it is to the top and "stretched" run the halyard beneath the mast cleat and pull up (tension the mast halyard) with one hand. Grab the halyard running along the mast and lean back pulling the halyard down and out. Take up any slack you create using the cleat as an aide. The cleat will help to stop any slip. You will be able to tighten the luff enough to put a wrinkle in the sail. Let it off a bit and then tie off on the mast cleat.

I believe the only reason for a winch on the mast is if the sail is heavier then you can lift (pick up and carry) My boat is 35 feet and the sail area is just on the verge of getting too big to handle. So I installed a 17 ST Barient winch on the mast. It allows me to do the work of raising a sail solo. But until I get to old to haul it up I still prefer to haul the sail up by hand. It lets me know if I have a problem aloft before I rip the sail trying to winch it up.

As always it is your boat and you get to decide what to spend your money on.

 

[Skipperdan]

Thanks Guys, leaving it as is. since I have to take it down every year it is not a big deal. I will sail it the first year and see how it goes. Ice is breaking up on the lake so it will not be long now.

 

[AXEL]

Skipperdan, my last C30 had a winch on the mast and I found it very useful. I used it all the time to crank that last couple of inches to get the main up all the way and tight. In addition I would use it at the end of every weekend to haul up my dinghy for a hose down. There would be other uses as well from time to time. A time or two I had to run my anchor line to it when I was single handed. The new C30 has my halyards running to the cockpit. I use the winches there now but I do miss that mast winch.
On my old C30 I also mounted a small winch on deck just aft of the anchor locker. This one was very handy when I would be single handling the boat and trying to retrieve the anchor on a windy day. Also very helpful at anchor when the wind picked up and I wanted to pay out some more scope. I could just ease it out rather than struggle trying to hold the line against a 15+ knot wind. This spring I am mounting a winch in the anchor locker of the new C30 for these reasons (don't need a windless).