Just moving the sail bag around takes a lot of effort. I’m considering an electric halyard winch for the 36. I’d appreciate any recommendations, cautions, and where to buy one.
Thank You,
Larry Deering
If I had a 36 I’d definitely want some mechanical assistance with the halyard, maybe the sheet too. Have you considered a Winch Rite? You could use one of those for both and much less expensive too.
David Young
Bay Cat, 30U #402
Traverse City / Suttons Bay, MI
I have one on my 30u and also a new Winchrite. I find I am using the Whichrite more for all winches including hoisting sail. I can move around more while hoisting and get a better view of the sail going up. No more snags and it doesn’t impact on the house batteries. I would go with the Winchrite.
Brian
262
WHITBY
I have a MAxwell Vertical Capstan mounted in proximity to my manual halyard winch. It has been there, on my 33, from the outset )1988.
Strongly recommended.
I can take a photo for you, if that would help.
Mark FAgelman
Mark, yes a photo would be helpful. How would you describe the controls, the speed of operation, and does it get warm in operation?
The Winchrite is an attractive option, but I wonder if it has the power to pull up about 200 sq.ft. more sail area. Comments?
Larry
Another Larry and another Nonsuch36. On my boat, Cracker Jack, I have a Harken 900 Electric Unipower Winch. It works perfectly for our mainsail. The nice thing about this model is that the motor is mounted vertically, and is positioned partially into the drum. This means there is less intrusion of the motor and gearbox below the cabintop.
I have attempted to attach a picture. If you want more information, email me off the forum.
Larry Smith
I have an electric Lewmar 40 with buttons at the helm (between my legs) and 18 inches away from the Lewmar on the cabin top. I caution all that when heading into the wind when raising the sail, to not only look at the sail going up the mast, clearance between the hangar lines and wishboom, BUT look at free sail clearance at the clew reef blocks. Bob Horne, N26C #249, ENCORE, Pocasset, MA.
The Winchrite has forward and reverse. Best used on a two speed self tailing winch. As long as your nose to wind and raised your wishbone with the topping lift, I don’t think the unit would even notice the larger sail.
When hauling up the sail, the halyard runs directly to the powered winch.
Once it is up,I transfer it to the manual winch. I’m not sure why😇
Button is inside the companionway, out of the weather
It goes up quickly.
Does not get warm
Also can be used for the main sheet
A word of caution about using a power winch, at least based on my experience.
We purchased SaSeaCat (NS30) about 4 seasons ago, which is equipped with an Anderson S28 motor above deck power halyard winch.
On one occasion, a few months after buying the boat, I was hoisting the sail and looked up the mast to see how close the head of the sail was to the black line. To my surprise the sail was not going up but the motor was running and the halyard not slipping on the drum. That’s when I noticed the cabin roof was sinking! Of course I immediately took my finger off the winch power control button, released the line and the cabin roof popped back up. The line formed a bind at the turning block at the mast collar. Had I not noticed what was happening there could have been some damage. Nothing happened in this case but as a result I use the power winch sparingly and carefully. The motor didn’t sound or show any sign if strain, there is no clutch on my unit. When raising the sail manually you can feel the load and therefore have a clue that everything is normal.
So my advice, use the winch but keep an eye open to ensure the sail is moving.
…..Ed
Ed and Marlene Brost
SaSeaCat N30U 322
Sarnia Ontario
A word of caution about using a power winch, at least based on my experience.
We purchased SaSeaCat (NS30) about 4 seasons ago, which is equipped with an Anderson S28 motor above deck power halyard winch.
On one occasion, a few months after buying the boat, I was hoisting the sail and looked up the mast to see how close the head of the sail was to the black line. To my surprise the sail was not going up but the motor was running and the halyard not slipping on the drum. That’s when I noticed the cabin roof was sinking! Of course I immediately took my finger off the winch power control button, released the line and the cabin roof popped back up. The line formed a bind at the turning block at the mast collar. Had I not noticed what was happening there could have been some damage. Nothing happened in this case but as a result I use the power winch sparingly and carefully. The motor didn’t sound or show any sign if strain, there is no clutch on my unit. When raising the sail manually you can feel the load and therefore have a clue that everything is normal.
So my advice, use the winch but keep an eye open to ensure the sail is moving.
…..Ed
Ed and Marlene Brost
SaSeaCat N30U 322
Sarnia Ontario
There have been many discussions about electric halyard and sheet winches in the various sailing periodicals. The one I remember most is the one that said do not use self tailing electric winches due to the many fingers that have been lost. There was also an instance of a woman getting her hair caught up in one. I have an electric halyard windless but it definitely is not self tailing.
Joe Valinoti
S/V IL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ (_ ~ (_ ~ (_~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ (_ ~ (_ ~ (_~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A word of caution about using a power winch, at least based on my experience.
We purchased SaSeaCat (NS30) about 4 seasons ago, which is equipped with an Anderson S28 motor above deck power halyard winch.
On one occasion, a few months after buying the boat, I was hoisting the sail and looked up the mast to see how close the head of the sail was to the black line. To my surprise the sail was not going up but the motor was running and the halyard not slipping on the drum. That’s when I noticed the cabin roof was sinking! Of course I immediately took my finger off the winch power control button, released the line and the cabin roof popped back up. The line formed a bind at the turning block at the mast collar. Had I not noticed what was happening there could have been some damage. Nothing happened in this case but as a result I use the power winch sparingly and carefully. The motor didn’t sound or show any sign if strain, there is no clutch on my unit. When raising the sail manually you can feel the load and therefore have a clue that everything is normal.
So my advice, use the winch but keep an eye open to ensure the sail is moving.
…..Ed
Ed and Marlene Brost
SaSeaCat N30U 322
Sarnia Ontario
I’m a new owner of a NS30C with an electric halyard winch. I want to be able to raise the sail manually if necessary, but the winch will not turn using a winch handle. The drum will spin, but it’s locked tight when I lock in the winch handle. Any suggestions?
Try turning the handle in the other dorection.
(Just kidding)
It sounds like the winch needs to be taken apart and checked. There may be a broken pawl or some other broken, and hopefully replacable, piece.
Ed Collis
ORION VII
Toronto
Thanks. I just wanted to confirm that the winch should operate manually.
Apparently it needs repaired.
Harry
Windsong
Could the winch handle be a clutch like on the windlass?
Hi Harry;
Taking the winch apart is easy. Usually you just remove a split ring at the top and the whole thing slides apart. Just be sure not to lose any ball bearings or other small parts. I like to do this job when my boat is hauled out so that nothing drops overboard.
Good luck.
“Fasten your courage to the sticking place” (Macbeth)
Ed Collis
ORION VII
Toronto