Winches

[SailingLoto]

My South Coast 22 has winches on the sides and tracks with blocks for a head sail. I assume these have been added as I see very few pictures out there with the same boat with winches.

My question is why? The jib sheets run through fairleads to cam cleats on the cabin roof. I have also never found a time that the jib couldn't be trimmed by hand.

Would these be for long lost Genoa or huge jib? It seems overkill, and I've never used winches. Am I missing something?

Pics should show winches and how my sheets run.

 

[rgranger]

I see what you mean. It seems like the winch should be where the red arrow is and your cam should be where the blue arrow is..

Also, your fairlead is going to take a lot of stress and IMHO is not designed for that. The fairlead should be a standing block like this

 

[Dave Groshong]

It's a tortured lead for sure, needs to be remounted as a RGRANGER pointed out it needs a proper lead block.

 

[Justin_NSA]

My South Coast 22 has winches on the sides and tracks with blocks for a head sail. I assume these have been added as I see very few pictures out there with the same boat with winches.

Would these be for long lost Genoa or huge jib? It seems overkill, and I've never used winches. Am I missing something?

That would have been a very large genoa. PO probably found out it was too much.
I agree with the previous posts. That fairlead/cleat combo could be improved. Make sure it has a good backing plate or large washers.

 

[rgranger]

My South Coast 22 has winches on the sides and tracks with blocks for a head sail

Maybe you could repurpose those tracks. Move the tracks up onto the cabin top and run your jib sheet through the block and to the repositioned winch????

 

[SailingLoto]

I can't imagine what they were used for. The tracks run aft of the winches right now. It is an odd set up for sure. I may just relocate them to the cabin roof with new jib sheet blocks. Or I may just keep sailing it as it is.

 

[rgranger]

I can't imagine what they were used for.

I think @Justin_NSA guessed right. I imagine the sheet of a large genoa being run to the block on the track and then back to the winch... BUT... that could make a nice set up if you relocated the track and winch to the cabin top.

My present boat has a fixed block on the cabin for the jib sheet and I'm not a fan. It would be nice to be able to move the lead. If you decide to move the track up onto the cabin top, angle it a little so that the lead is more outboard as you move the car forward and more inboard as you bring the car aft. You generally want a flatter jib when pointing and moving the car aft flattens the jib... and you can point a little higher if your jib is more inboard when pointing. Conversly you want a fuller jib when on a reach or running and having the lead more outboard will let you catch more air.