I read the other day that most winches have a strong direction. Didn't know this. My understanding of this is that they are designed to be mounted such that the loaded line comes from a particular direction. Can anyone elaborate on this? Does the winch work better, turn more easily, etc, when mounted correctly in this way? My boat as Maxwell 25ST's (Hunter 34). Do these have a strong direction?
Winch Strong Direction
- Thread starter markwbird
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Although winches can be mounted incorrectly, I'm assuming no one moved yours and they are located where the mfg intended them to be for correct placement.
Perhaps you are referring to two speed winches which are geared to crank in either direction but at different ratio.
Perhaps you are referring to two speed winches which are geared to crank in either direction but at different ratio.
I'm not sure I would want one like that. They've all looked pretty symmetrical to me.
It is fairly normal to use a winch for the genoa sheet (forward), spinnaker sheet (one the quarter) or kedging (aft or forward). My mast-mounted winches pull down (hoist and tension halyard), up (pull in single-line reefs) and to the side (outhaul).
It is fairly normal to use a winch for the genoa sheet (forward), spinnaker sheet (one the quarter) or kedging (aft or forward). My mast-mounted winches pull down (hoist and tension halyard), up (pull in single-line reefs) and to the side (outhaul).
Markwbird, you are correct about mounting winches so they are oriented in a particular direction to the expected load. I don't believe that all winches have that requirement. I remember reading some very specific directions about how a particular gear cluster was to be oriented when mounting the winch. Don't remember the brand or model though.
When I installed my winches, I recall that the instruction sheet specified that the winch base be oriented specific to the directoin of pull on the line. The reference item was a part of the internal gear mechanism. Failure to orient correctly was cited as leading to premature wear on the gears. You should be able to find instructions for your winch on line.
It is not so much that the winch runs better. It is about handling the load. Certain directions are designed to support more load without breaking so mounting it in a "weak" configuration will lower the max load the housing/gearbox can take without breaking. As mentioned not all winches/windlasses have this issue.
from 12-15-08
Re the winch installation be sure to note in the instructionns that the winches should be oriented so that the side which has the internal gears is on the side that has the load from the sheet. I mention because although I picked this up on the intructions and got it correct for the first install on the starboard side, my thought process fouled up for the port side. I figured that since the gears were facing outside on the starboard, then face them outside for the port side as well. Only occured after I had drilled the holes for the port side that since the sheet is wound clockwise on both sides, that the port side gear orientation needs to be on the inside. Unfortunately two of the holes wouldn't line up when the winch base was roated ... so lots of extra work. I even called Harken to ask how important the orientation was. The customer service engineer confirmed that if not oriented right, the service life of the winch likely would be shortened.
Re the winch installation be sure to note in the instructionns that the winches should be oriented so that the side which has the internal gears is on the side that has the load from the sheet. I mention because although I picked this up on the intructions and got it correct for the first install on the starboard side, my thought process fouled up for the port side. I figured that since the gears were facing outside on the starboard, then face them outside for the port side as well. Only occured after I had drilled the holes for the port side that since the sheet is wound clockwise on both sides, that the port side gear orientation needs to be on the inside. Unfortunately two of the holes wouldn't line up when the winch base was roated ... so lots of extra work. I even called Harken to ask how important the orientation was. The customer service engineer confirmed that if not oriented right, the service life of the winch likely would be shortened.
Ron: Word-for-word your recount is the very same sequence I experienced when installing my Harken 44st primaries in 2007. Even to the step of calling Harken when I realized my mistake and noticed all the extra work to correct because the base mounting holes wouldn't line up after rotating correctly! I needed Harken to confirm that correcting was in fact necessary. Great minds do think alike!
I added winches to mine and followed the directions. Not only is the orientation of the main winch drive gear important but also the angle at which the line enters the winch drum.
http://beneteau.sailboatowners.com/...d=259&cat_id=182&aid=8032&page=article&mn=352
http://beneteau.sailboatowners.com/...d=259&cat_id=182&aid=8032&page=article&mn=352
So it's a right hander's world ...
If you were ambidextrous, would it make sense to mount the port side for a lefty? You could have mounted the port side to wind counterclockwise, no?
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