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 Catalina 25 Specific Forum
 winch holder placement		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts
Response Posted - 03/04/2011 :  17:23:51  Show Profile
I may be showing my stupid side here but I have never needed a winch to trim my sails yet. I have one lock in type that I keep mounted in my starboard cabin top winch and is used just to tighten up my mainsail halyard after running it up by hand. As far as the Genoa sheets, I can get them as tight as needed with just hands and gloves. My winches are clean and greased ( I'm a maintenance fanatic) but I don't think that has any bearing on this topic. To me these sails are just not that big to require winch handles.And by the way, At 60 yrs old I'm no gorilla so am I missing something here? Oh yea when not in use it goes in the coaming box.
Edited by - islander on 03/04/2011 17:25:54
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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5906 Posts
Response Posted - 03/04/2011 :  18:18:09  Show Profile
You can usually get by just using your bare hands, but when you're carrying too much sail area in too much wind, it becomes a struggle. Sometimes you can't get the sheet in enough with bare hands to really flatten the sail. Also, using a winch handle in strong winds makes it easier on the hands, so you don't rub them sore. When the wind is gusting, I constantly make small sail trim adjustments with every gust and lull, and using a winch handle makes it much easier. It's fairly easy to make big sail trim adjustments, bare-handed, but it's much more difficult to make fine adjustments bare-handed.

Whether you use a winch handle is entirely a matter of personal preference, and doing what works for you, but if you sail in big winds for long periods of time, you'll probably want the help of a winch handle.
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calden
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts
Response Posted - 03/04/2011 :  19:51:59  Show Profile
Scott-

I hear ya. Most of the time I don't bother with the winch handle, especially if I'm just out toodling around by myself or with just my wife. But my sailing buds like to use the handle when we race, and if I have a crew that likes to be really actively involved with trimming and sailing, I like having the winch handle when the genoa is up. It's just a lot, lot easier to dial in the right sheet tension.

Carlos
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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts
Response Posted - 03/05/2011 :  07:45:48  Show Profile  Visit Prospector's Homepage
Agree with teh last 2 posts - 80% of the time we are fine, but when we go out in heavy wind, we definately need teh handle. I have been out in 35+ knots under storm jib and been thankful for the handle.

We will cross sheet and use our legs for leverage, but sometimes when the boat is really rocking and rolling, the handle is a better option.
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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts
Response Posted - 03/05/2011 :  08:08:48  Show Profile  Visit DaveR's Homepage
When you're racing to weather with 20 knot winds and you're heeled 35/40 degrees the last 3 cranks on that winch allow you to point quite a bit higher. Gotta have the winch handle! For casual sailing I've never used one. And I've never reefed for casual sailing.
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calden
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts
Response Posted - 03/06/2011 :  11:15:31  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Prospector</i>
<br />Agree with teh last 2 posts - 80% of the time we are fine, but when we go out in heavy wind, we definately need teh handle. I have been out in 35+ knots under storm jib and been thankful for the handle.

We will cross sheet and use our legs for leverage, but sometimes when the boat is really rocking and rolling, the handle is a better option.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That's me - using my legs and cross-sheeting. But if I have several people in the cockpit it's harder to do those gymnastics, and that's when it's nice to have the winch handle to crank in tight and people can still sit in their respective places.

Carlos
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.