Spinnaker winches and midship cleat on 280

[tparrent]

I am thinking about installing spinnaker winches on my new-to-me Hunter 280. I don't actually plan to fly a spinnaker but the location of the winch pads looks ideal for at-the-helm trimming of the jib. It appears the sheets would come back cleanly without need for fairleads.

Has anyone done this? Are teh winch pad locations accessible from below? Is there already a backing plate glassed in?

I would also like to install a midship docking cleat for a spring line but cannot find a good place to put it. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Phil Herring]

Hi Tom!

- winch pads have aluminum backing plates glassed in

- I've always liked the adjustable cleats that use the genoa track. they can be moved a bit to accommodate different docking situations.

 

[tparrent]

280 winch

Hi Tom!

- winch pads have aluminum backing plates glassed in

- I've always liked the adjustable cleats that use the genoa track. they can be moved a bit to accommodate different docking situations.

Do you know if the backing plates are threaded? I am wondering if I need to take off the liner and put nuts on the bolts or if the plates simply hold them as is.

 

[Alan]

Hunter builds the reinforcement into the coamings and all areas where stoppers and winches might be installed. The aluminum plates are glassed in and will need to be tapped after drilling eliminating the need for access from below. Be sure to use anti-seize compound on the threads of the installation bolts.

 

[andrewt41]

midship cleat alternative

I have a 1996 280 and replaced the pin on both of the clevis pins at the chainplate with a stainless clevis. This allows for spring lines with stainless snap hooks to be clipped in to the clevis opening. Easy...cheap...and it places the springlines out at the rub rail.

 

[Clark]

Be careful of the lead from the jib track-block back to the coaming. If the line arrives at the winch from above, you'll never get it to work properly. This is of course assuming that your track is on the roof near the handrails.