I have a 2001 Hunter 260 and am not satisfied with the winches for the jib. I would like your opinion and perhaps information from personal experience about the pro's and con's of upgrading the winch to a self-tailing versus using a rope clutch. Do you have a recommendation for a self-tailing winch and experience mounting in the spot of the 6 Lewmar?
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Not really a replacement
David: A rope clutch is not a replacement for a winch. The winch is used to give you a mechanical advantage to raise the sail. The clutch or stopper is usually used in place of a cleat. You DO NOT want to remove the winch. You would place a clutch in front of the winch. This allows you to use the winch as the device to raise the sail and the clutch will prevent the line from letting the sail drop. When you are ready to drop your sail, you just release the clutch and down she comes.
David: A rope clutch is not a replacement for a winch. The winch is used to give you a mechanical advantage to raise the sail. The clutch or stopper is usually used in place of a cleat. You DO NOT want to remove the winch. You would place a clutch in front of the winch. This allows you to use the winch as the device to raise the sail and the clutch will prevent the line from letting the sail drop. When you are ready to drop your sail, you just release the clutch and down she comes.
agree with Steve D.
Sounds like your complaint is that the existing winches aren't sef-tailing. You can either replace them with self-tailers (expensive-approx $1000) or buy the little plastic tailing devices that snap on the top of the winch (cheap-$20?) or look around for some used self-tailers.
Sounds like your complaint is that the existing winches aren't sef-tailing. You can either replace them with self-tailers (expensive-approx $1000) or buy the little plastic tailing devices that snap on the top of the winch (cheap-$20?) or look around for some used self-tailers.
Yes to Self tailing
Dave, I installed Lewmar 16ST on my boat this spring and my wife enjoys them. The current Lewmar 6 are mounted with four 1/4" screws in a box pattern. The 16ST have five screws in a pentagon pattern so the holes will not line up. I just caulked in the holes and drilled new ones. Don't try to fill in the old holes with epoxy since this area is double hull. Good Luck. Jim S/V Java
Dave, I installed Lewmar 16ST on my boat this spring and my wife enjoys them. The current Lewmar 6 are mounted with four 1/4" screws in a box pattern. The 16ST have five screws in a pentagon pattern so the holes will not line up. I just caulked in the holes and drilled new ones. Don't try to fill in the old holes with epoxy since this area is double hull. Good Luck. Jim S/V Java
clutches
Weather you go self tailing or not the clutches are a big advantage over the Cam cleats that come with the boat. If you need to reef or move the board while you're sailing, the self tailor would be tied up.
Weather you go self tailing or not the clutches are a big advantage over the Cam cleats that come with the boat. If you need to reef or move the board while you're sailing, the self tailor would be tied up.
I got Winchers
For my 23.5. Got them at west marine, they were cheap and easy to install and I don't think I want expensive rope clutches now.
For my 23.5. Got them at west marine, they were cheap and easy to install and I don't think I want expensive rope clutches now.
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