What is a yacht winch?

What is a yacht winch?

A sailboat winch is a mechanical winding device that allows you to tighten and loosen lines. Winches ratchet in either direction. Sailboat winches are present on nearly every sailing vessel above twenty feet in length. Winches allow you to wind your sheets and halyards using a crank instead of pulling them in by hand.

How does a yacht winch work?

A winch works by applying friction to a rope, gripping it tight in the process. If possible it is best for two crew members to operate a winch. One person works the winch and the other pulls on the end of the rope, known as tailing. Some winches have a jaw-like device called a self-tailer.

Why are sailboat winches so expensive?

They’re all expensive, because they are well-made precision equipment. They’re also among the most frequently retrofitted items; it’s worth repeating here that an oft-heard saying aboard a lot of sailboats is that the winches they came with are not big enough.

What does a self tailing winch do?

Self tailing winches are winches that wrap the tail in a round jam cleat that is located on the top of the drum. When you crank the drum, the winch will pull the tail simultaneously eliminating the need for a crew member to pull your tail for you.

How do I know what size winch I need?

Winch sizes The heavier the vehicle, the more powerful winch you’ll need. Your winch should be able to pull at least 1.5 times the weight of your vehicle. You can calculate it by taking the gross vehicle weight and multiply it by 1.5.

What is a snubber winch?

Snubber winches Neat, lightweight units which are ideal for use on larger dinghies and dayboats. Manufactured from glass fibre reinforced nylon with anodised aluminium ribs.

How do I choose a sailboat winch?

This is based on a number of factors, including the type of boat that you have and the jobs for which you will use the winch. The one basic rule is that the larger a winch, the better it will function. Technically, this means that a winch with a 10:1 power ratio will produce 100 lbs. of pulling power for every 10 lbs.

What is a snubbing winch?

The snubbing winch rotates when the rope is pulled and gains rope from the loaded end. When the tension is eased this allows the turns to slip on the drum, so that the loaded rope is paid out. With control it can be stopped again (snubbed) by restoring the tail tension.

What does the number on a sailboat winch mean?

Winch numbering relates to the power ratio of the winch. That is the highest gear ratio multiplied by the length of the winch handle over the radius of the drum plus half the rope diameter. That means that on a size 48 winch turning a winch handle through 48 inches of arc will pull the rope in by 1 inch.

What are the best winches?

Opt for winches that can pull a minimum of 1.5-times your vehicle’s gross weight.

How to wire a boat trailer winch?

Recommended for light- to medium-duty winching on a regular basis

What is a boat winch?

The term “boat winch ” can refer to a few different types of devices. The most common boat winch is the type used on a trailer that hauls a boat; the winch is mounted at the front of the trailer, closest to the towing vehicle, and it is used to help haul the vessel onto the trailer. Other winches can be used on board a vessel to feed the sails or otherwise move rope rapidly to help ease the function of some boat components.

How to size a boat trailer winch?

Towing capacity: a tow vehicle must be rated for the full GVWR of the trailer being towed.