Tired of bashing my knuckles on the dodger frame - shorter winch handle?

Don S/V ILLusion · Oct 16, 2025

There are none I am aware of. Not helpful I know. Given the reduction in torque you would experience with a reduced handle length, it may not be a wise choice regardless. There are always electric winch options albeit not cheap or simply move the frame arm and re-mount it a bit further forward.

Project_Mayhem · Oct 16, 2025

Can you bend or move the bimini frame?

Richard19068 · Oct 17, 2025

JimHansen77 said:
2002 Hunter 356. The clearance between the end of an 8" winch handle for the jib and the SS dodger frame is approximately half a finger thickness. How have others dealt with this? Can one purchase a 7" handle? I certainly can't find them on the interwebs.

Thanks!

Not what you want to hear but: Just don't make full revolutions?

BigEasy · Oct 17, 2025

Richard19068 said:
Not what you want to hear but: Just don't make full revolutions?

That’s what I was thinking, if you time/plan your tacks, you should be able to haul in the working sheet almost completely by hand, with two wraps on the winch. Then add an additional one or two wraps & with minimal ratcheting the winch until trimmed.

Project_Mayhem · Oct 17, 2025

I think I saw some pricey, folding winch handles that allows for some adjustment in the handle length

Davidasailor26 · Oct 17, 2025

BigEasy said:
That’s what I was thinking, if you time/plan your tacks, you should be able to haul in the working sheet almost completely by hand, with two wraps on the winch. Then add an additional one or two wraps & with minimal ratcheting the winch until trimmed.

I agree I usually don’t need much cranking after a tack, but I think it would still be an issue when trimming up from a reach or reacting to a shift. In those cases I sometimes need to crank quite a few rotations, and on windy days I can’t make those last few cranks in the 1:1 direction. For those situations I wouldn’t want to be limited to ratcheting. Of course on those days having 13% less torque from a handle an inch shorter wouldn’t be great either.

If the clearance is already too small to crank normally maybe the dodger frame could be wrapped in sunbrella or leather? That wouldn’t help the winch functionality but at least it’d be an aesthetically pleasing way of making it hurt less when you do run your hands into the support.

Boiler · Oct 17, 2025

There is an adaptor on the market that allows the use of a rachet to operate your winch. Length of rachet handle is irrelevant as you can use the rachet action to reset. I have one to use on the in mast furling.

I found the one that can be used with an electric drill but not the one for the rachet.

BigEasy · Oct 17, 2025

Have a friend who used a Milwaukee battery powered right angle drill with a special end adaptor to fit the winch socket. That drill was a beast with unbelievable torque; no problems raising the mainsail or trimming. It was somewhat cumbersome to have in the cockpit & expensive. Yet, less expensive than remaking a Bimini/dodger.

Benny17441 · Oct 18, 2025

Take it to a machine shop and I am sure they can cut, weld and drill it into a 7" winch handle.

Joe · Oct 18, 2025

My dodger frame gets in the way of my cabin top, halyard winches. No biggie... that's why winches are also ratchets. Get in the habit of that and you'll save yourself a shoulder surgery later in life. You could always get out the sawsall and drill press to modify and old winch handle yourself.

Project_Mayhem · Oct 18, 2025

These things are pricey but it might just do the trick for you
Flipper™ - Foldable Winch Handle

jssailem · Oct 21, 2025

There is always the question. Can I move the winch to a more appropriate location? You know about two fingers' length from the dodger frame.

Tired of bashing my knuckles on the dodger frame - shorter winch handle?

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John