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Winches - ratchet vs 2 speed

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Keelboat classes
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URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2719
Printed Date: 13 May 25 at 10:11pm
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Topic: Winches - ratchet vs 2 speed

Posted By: tearinghairout
Subject: Winches - ratchet vs 2 speed
Date Posted: 27 Feb 07 at 9:12am

Hi all
I'm not sure if this is the right place to pose this question, but I couldn't find anywhere else.

Which is better. Single speed ratchet winches or 2 speed winches?

Originally I would have said 2-speed, but then I sailed on a yacht with 2-speed winches and always had trouble when the handle was in an odd direction like facing directly away etc.

Since then I have sailed on a boat that had 1 speed ratchet winches, and they showed me how to crank the handle through a 45 degree arc on the left side by basically leaning on it then pulling it back toward me.

I found I was able to get much more purchase using the single speed ratchet technique.

Now I am thinking about upgrading the winches on my own yacht with self tailing winches, but all the winches available in the size/power I want seem to be 2 speed.

Should I stuck with a 1-speed ratchet?

Thanks
Kevin

Replies:

Posted By: Stefan Lloyd
Date Posted: 27 Feb 07 at 9:52am

What's the boat and are you racing or cruising?

The best technique for winching is to get your body crouching over the winch and use mostly leg and abdominal muscles. So the position of the handle doesn't actually matter. Using only arm muscles is slow. If you are cruising, that doesn't really matter but if racing it does.

If you were using the correct technique, you would probably find 2 speed faster and more convenient.

Posted By: foaminatthedeck
Date Posted: 27 Feb 07 at 11:41am

Pumping a winchs is not the best thing for the internal bits of the wintch, what you choise depends on what you what to do sailing or racing and where on the boat you want the wintch to go. I have two speed for sheets and one speed for hayard winches.

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Lark 2170