I know this sounds like dumb question for you experienced sailors but who else better to answer.....can you explain how a self tailing winch works and if it's a good idea for a solo sailor? Thanks, Bill
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Jeff
Self tailing
Bill, The self tailing winch has a metal lip and slotted ring on top of the winch.The lip guides line into the slotted ring and the ring holds the line in the winch.You do not need another person to tail the line or a cleat to hold the line in place. This makes it alot easier for single handing.. Jeff
Bill, The self tailing winch has a metal lip and slotted ring on top of the winch.The lip guides line into the slotted ring and the ring holds the line in the winch.You do not need another person to tail the line or a cleat to hold the line in place. This makes it alot easier for single handing.. Jeff
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Bill
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Henry
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Jeff
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neil walters
I sail mostly solo. A few months ago I changed my winches to self tailing,it has been the best move I've made on the boat. They are expensive but well worth it. Mine are two speed Anderson #28 larger than the old ones. Unbelivable nice. I have an O'Day 26.
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Bill
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Geof
Releasing the line
I'm not sure if there is one way or another to release a line from a winch. In my experience, both with self-tailing and the traditional variety, what we normally do when tacking/gybing is to: For this exampe, let's pretend we're on a starboard tack and will be tacking to a port tack. 1 - Prepare the unused starboard (windward) sheet on it's winch, typically I do this by wrapping the drum and taking up what slack there is in the sheet 2 - Release the port (leeward) sheet from either the cleat (traditional winch) or the capture device (self-tailing winch) leave it wrapped around the winch drum and hold the line in your hand. 3 - Begin to tack, (Helm to port/leeward ). As the bow swings over and the sheet needs to come off the leeward winch, rapidly unwrap the sheet and let it run free. Simultaneaoulsy trim the starboard sheet. Note: Though I've listed these as steps 2 & 3 they really are intertwined and depending on the conditions, happen simultaneously - get's interesting sometimes, especially if one or both of the sheets foul on something on deck. 4 - Find your new course/heading 5 - Trim the new sheet (starboard) for the new tack 6 - Either cleat the sheet or leave it in the self-tailer The biggest advantage to the self-tailing winches is that they don't need two folks to operate them under load. Hope this wasn't too confusing. I found that though I've done this thousands of times, I still needed to draw a diagram and mentally picture it. I guess we really are in the middle of the winter around here! Geof s/v Day-O
I'm not sure if there is one way or another to release a line from a winch. In my experience, both with self-tailing and the traditional variety, what we normally do when tacking/gybing is to: For this exampe, let's pretend we're on a starboard tack and will be tacking to a port tack. 1 - Prepare the unused starboard (windward) sheet on it's winch, typically I do this by wrapping the drum and taking up what slack there is in the sheet 2 - Release the port (leeward) sheet from either the cleat (traditional winch) or the capture device (self-tailing winch) leave it wrapped around the winch drum and hold the line in your hand. 3 - Begin to tack, (Helm to port/leeward ). As the bow swings over and the sheet needs to come off the leeward winch, rapidly unwrap the sheet and let it run free. Simultaneaoulsy trim the starboard sheet. Note: Though I've listed these as steps 2 & 3 they really are intertwined and depending on the conditions, happen simultaneously - get's interesting sometimes, especially if one or both of the sheets foul on something on deck. 4 - Find your new course/heading 5 - Trim the new sheet (starboard) for the new tack 6 - Either cleat the sheet or leave it in the self-tailer The biggest advantage to the self-tailing winches is that they don't need two folks to operate them under load. Hope this wasn't too confusing. I found that though I've done this thousands of times, I still needed to draw a diagram and mentally picture it. I guess we really are in the middle of the winter around here! Geof s/v Day-O
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Bill
Releasing the line
Thanks...I'm familure with the proceedure for the standard winch....just didn't know how different it would be using the self-tailing ..... guess it's just one of those things you have to use or see used to understand....thanks for your reply....Bill
Thanks...I'm familure with the proceedure for the standard winch....just didn't know how different it would be using the self-tailing ..... guess it's just one of those things you have to use or see used to understand....thanks for your reply....Bill
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