Catalina - Capri - 25s International Assocaition Logo(2006)  
Assn Members Area · Join
h.jpg Home.
a.jpg Association Forum
s.jpg Ships Store
c.jpg Cruising
r.jpg Racing
t.jpg Technical Tips
g.jpg Photo Gallery - New
o.jpg Boat Search - Updated
m.jpg Manuals & Brochures
3rdrpt.jpg Swap Meet
l.jpg Links
f.jpg Officer Flag Line & Staff
b.jpg Bylaws & Constitution
 
1.jpg Members Area
1.jpg Join the Association
 
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.
 
Association Forum
Association Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Forum Users | Search | FAQ
Username:
 Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 25 Specific Forum
 Self tailing winch		  New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

Brian King
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
73 Posts
Initially Posted - 08/25/2004 :  13:23:57  Show Profile
My Lewmar #16 ST winches don't seem to hold the sheets in the self tailing groove all the way around. Is this something to do with wear on the winch or is it possibly wear on the sheets?
Luna, Ericson 32-200, Fair Haven, Lake Ontario, NY
Edited by - on

Brian King
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
73 Posts
Response Posted - 08/25/2004 :  13:25:28  Show Profile
Sorry, it's a 1989 C-25 WK.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts
Response Posted - 08/25/2004 :  23:48:14  Show Profile
What size are the sheets, 5/16" or 3/8"? Or are they bigger even than 3/8"? I bought 60 feet of 7/16" Sta-Set last year to use as genoa sheet, only to discover that it would not feed correctly in my Lewmar 14ST's . So now that line is my main sheet, and the former 3/8" main sheet is the genoa sheet. My point is that self-tailers are made to work with only one or two specific rope diameters, and your sheet line may be outside of that size. Lewmar 16ST's are probably made for 3/8" and 7/16", and your sheets might be 5/16", which would explain why the top gripper won't hold properly.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Brooke Willson
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
983 Posts
Response Posted - 08/26/2004 :  08:02:22  Show Profile
Exactly, Larry. My 16STs wouldn't hold the 3/8 line I bought this spring, so I put the old 7/16 sheets back on.

Brooke
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Brian King
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
73 Posts
Response Posted - 05/16/2005 :  17:39:44  Show Profile
Continuing on from last year,,,, I checked the specs on the Lewmar 16 ST winch and 3/8" is right in the middle of the range of line that it handles. I bought new 3/8" sheets this winter and just launched last Thursday. They look great but no improvement in line holding as you wind it in. I can't be the only one who has had this problem. Again, any suggestions??

1989 WK/SR #5931
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Dave Laux
Captain

Members Avatar

318 Posts
Response Posted - 05/16/2005 :  19:47:53  Show Profile
Self tailing winches are a pain, in my opinion. I do not understand why you would pay extra to have something that works much less well than what they replace. If you have a regular winch and a cam cleat you have it about as good as it gets. Every time I use one I curse it. Dave
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts
Response Posted - 05/16/2005 :  20:20:54  Show Profile
The first (and only time) I used a self tailing winch (on a friend's H28) I experienced a very wicked override!
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1009 Posts
Response Posted - 05/17/2005 :  04:37:46  Show Profile
I have been using mine for a couple of years and love them. I suspect I have the same 16st as mine is an 88. The 5/16 spin sheet does not hold all that great but the genoa sheet, works perfectly. I am not sure what size it is.

I think the jaw clearance is fixed and cannot be adjusted. You may want to check to see if you have any play in the winch itself a the PO may have left something out of the winch. A call to Lewmar may be in order as well to see if there is a recommended line brand or style that is preferred.

Tom.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

matsche
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
280 Posts
Response Posted - 05/17/2005 :  06:12:26  Show Profile
Brian:

Just brain-stormin...

How are you loading your winch? I'm sure you already know this, but just in case... You should have at least 2 turns, preferably 3 on the drum before tailing it over the feeder arm then onto the tailer.

Type of rope? Some of the higher strength rope make great halyards, but can be a bit too stiff in my opinion for control lines. Maybe not ideal in a self tailer either.

Size of rope... obviously, you're already considering that. I have Lewmar 16ST winches as well. I'm unsure of the sheet size, but I'm guessing 7/16. I'll check next time I'm up there.

In my opinion the self-tailers are great for cruising, especially single handed. So, keep working the problem. Maybe you could buy a short piece of 7/16 just to test the size theory!
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Brian King
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
73 Posts
Response Posted - 05/17/2005 :  12:12:58  Show Profile
John, I'm loading the winch with 2 turns, I'll try 3 and see if that makes any difference. The line is Sta-set I think. I did send an email to Lewmar but have not heard back yet. Maybe I'll pick up a piece of 7/16 and see if that helps. Thanks all.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts
Response Posted - 05/20/2005 :  03:21:41  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 Dave Laux</i>
<br />Self tailing winches are a pain, in my opinion...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

For a single-hander like myself, the self-tailers are a "must-have". I spent one afternoon in the summer of 2003 on a friend's C-25 who had Lewmar 16ST's and was sold on the spot. I can keep one hand on the tiller and crank the winch with the other. Granted, they have some disadvantages: They ONLY work properly with 3 or 4 turns of line, and in light winds it's unnecessary to have that much on the drum. It takes more time to release the sheet in a tack, gybe, or knockdown situation, and they are mechanically more complex, so there's more that can go wrong with them. And of course the "self tailing" feature only works with the narrow range of line sizes and types the winch was design for. But for ease of jib sheet trimming when you are all alone in the cockpit, they're wonderful. I haven't had any problems with mine yet, although they are only a year old. Let's hope they stay reliable. Folsom Lake is of course fresh water, so none of the boat's equipment, including the winches, is being exposed to salt.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Association Forum © since 1999 Catalina Capri 25s International Association Go To Top Of Page
Powered By: Snitz Forums 2000 Version 3.4.06
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.