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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Is 10" too much

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cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/09/2007 : 10:24:35

Now that I have your attention, I am questioning how large a winch handle I need. We are sailing a 1985 C25 SR/FK and are replacing the winch handle that I dropped overboard a week and a half ago. I am looking at the sizes and was wondering if 10" handles would put too much strain on the halyards. Not that we are that strong, but I am considering getting the 10" for more leverage.

Oh.. and we are sailing a 150 genoa on a furler, if that makes a difference.

Mike
Grand Lake, OK
N.O. Catalina 25 #4849
In my opinion 75% of the earth is water for a reason. That's why I sail.

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 11:05:10

Hi Mike, it all depends on the type of sailing you do. I did not race last year and NEVER ONCE did I use a handle. If I wanted to tighten up the jib, I'd put it into the wind a little and pull it in. I do remember on day in a very stiff wind, I wanted to tighten the jib and my knee was almost gone and I did not trust standing on it so I wrapped the jib sheet around the leeward winch then crossed the cockpit and wrapped the jib sheet around the windward winch then pulled back on the middle. When I let loose, I pulled in the slack with the windward winch. This was all single handed and by that time in the season, I was having a hard time standing on my right leg on solid ground. Cheers.

Edited by - on

cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 12:29:52

Dennis, that is essentially what we did on the day that I dropped it overboard. The wind was only 5-8mph and it was quite easy to set the jib. However, there have been times that a winch handle has been a great help. I just don't want to get a handle that would put too much strain on the equipment when using it.

Edited by - cat1951 on 05/09/2007 12:31:18

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 19:35:56

You probably want two anyway... so get a long and short one.
I typically use the shorter handle on on the cabintop winch for the halyards and the longer one with the 150 genny.

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 20:31:46

I have 3 - 2 x 10" for the genoa winches and a 10" for the cabin top winch.

Edited by - on

Andy_334
Navigator

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USA
206 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 21:07:49

I was was always told, its not how big it is, its what you do with it that counts.

Anyway, I race on a Capri-25. We use two 8" handles. Sure, on windy days they can be tough to turn. However, you need to balance leverage with the fact that the longer the handle, the further you have to reach to make the full turn. Also, the size of the winch is a consideration. The owner upgraded from Lewmar 16's to Harken 40's (I think). The difference is amazing.

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cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2007 : 08:44:24

I like clambeach's assessment, and I had considered it already. Buy one small one for light wind, and the longer one for days with heavier wind.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2007 : 10:45:13

West Marine markets a "[url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/143225/0/0/winch%20handle/All_2/mode+matchallpartial/0/0"]two speed[/url]" winch handle. It's adjustable from 8" to 10", and they say it's an easy one-handed manuever to do so. They're also on sale right now.

I'm leery of it's strength, but WM has a really good return policy if you break it. I'm tempted to get one, we've only got one winch handle right now.

Edited by - on

HeelinPatrick
Navigator

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USA
102 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2009 : 08:39:34

Digging up old topic...

I unexpectedly decided to check to see if my winch handle floats, it doesn't

So, reading on the forum, seems 8 or 10 is ok, might get one of each. And one that is plastic and won't scratch the fiberglass. And one that floats, with easily visible color.

BUT, what I don't know about is the locking part of things. My old one didn't have a lock. I have what I assume are standard Lewmar 7's, do they accept a locking handle? Is it better to have locking, non-locking??

I normally don't even bother with the handle, but racing single handed, pretty much have to. Hadn't raced it single handed before, it stinks, but cruising single handed is no prob.

Thanks!

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2009 : 09:10:39

A handle without a lock is a nice gift to King Neptune.

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2009 : 10:49:07

Whenever I get a new locking handle, the first thing I do is knock off the lock! Makes it much easier and quicker to release.
(The only time one went overboard it dropped out of the crew's hand...)

Edited by - on

crcalhoon
Captain

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USA
303 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2009 : 12:23:16

A couple of weeks ago several of us (7, to be precise) were out on a Cal 33 and somebody dropped a floating winch handle overboard. Wonder of wonders, it floated and, after the typical MOB (WHOB?) fiasco, we actually rescued it. By hand. Would have been a LOT easier with a dip net.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2009 : 14:25:02

I quit using a winch handle on the mast-mounted winch on my C25 after I ripped the grommet out of the head of the genoa. (It turned out that the grommet was defectively installed, but the use of the winch handle wasn't necessary.) I found that, even in strong winds, I could use the winch and sweat the halyard by hand as much as needed.

I also don't like locking winch handles because of their tendency to jam in the winch, but, if you use one on a mast-mounted winch, you really need it to be locking. For my primary winches, I used non-locking ones for years and only lost one cheap floating one. (It went overboard during a race, and I didn't go back for it.) However, the new Lewmar winch handles with the one-handed releasing mechanism work great, and would be a good choice for either a mast-mounted winch or for primaries.

On the primary winches on my C25, when singlehanding, there were times that I really needed 10" winch handles for leverage, even though my primary winches were two-speed. A good racing tailer can haul in all but the last little bit of jib sheet on a 25' boat before the sail is loaded, using only the winch and his hands, so that all he needs the winch handle for is the final trim.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2009 : 19:49:50

I just bought the WM "2 speed". I haven't sailed it yet, but it seems pretty solid and the extension lock seems adequate. We normally use a 10", and Chris would probably not be happy with an eight in 15 - 20's.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2009 : 20:21:56

If you buy the floating plastic shaft winch handles, be sure to write your phone number on them with a Sharpie. Who knows, if one goes for a swim, someone may find it and call you.

Edited by - on

Deltarat
1st Mate

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USA
69 Posts

Response Posted - 06/05/2009 : 08:00:02

I just lost my winch handle over the side last week, and got a floating 10" winch handle from e-bay. I'm hopefully using it for the first time today I will let you know how it works. I have test floated it in the Jacuzzi and while yes it does float, only about 1" of the winch end of the handle actually breaks the surface of the water. I can imagine this being a problem if it is lost while actually sailing.
BTW a lock would have saved the old handle, one of the crew hooked a line under the handle when we were rafting up to another boat and when the line was tightened, it lifted the handle out of the Jib winch and kerplunk right into King Neptune's waiting hands.

Edited by - on

Ericson33
Admiral

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USA
892 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2009 : 22:02:17

I say if you dont break it, your not trying hard enough. Grand Lake 10", winds Saturday 18 to 20 gust at 31

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