A hot windlass for main halyard

[Lunita]

Many catamarans in the 38 to 50' range have an electric anchor windlass near the mast. Does anyone use this little powerhouse to raise the mainsail? It seems like a simple and efficient alternate to an electric halyard winch. As the windlass would not be self tailing, you would need a foot switch I suspect.

[rgesner]

That's how I was shown to do it by the PO on my recently purchased boat, but he hand-cranked the last bit to avoid overdoing it. The winch drum on our Maxwell windlass is easily switched into manual mode to operate with a winch handle.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Lunita.

[rancher44]

I have used this method and it is very effective . How ever I did buy an electric winch and that is incredible. A little pricey but doing a lot of solo sailing it takes a lot of the work out of raising the main.

When raising the main it is hard to keep from fouling the battens on the lazy jacks. I found that dropping off the wind by 2or 5 degrees drop the leeward side of the lazy jacks and the main is a lot easier to raise.

[MNLandLoc]

We use the windlass on our Leopard 46 to raise the mainsail. Works great.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Lunita]

Does your halyard pass through a stopper before the windlass? If you are short handed and need to go aft to deal with a batten in your lazy jacks or to make a course correction I guess it needs a stopper.

[Lunita]

Thanks Gordmay

[rancher44]

Well it is a little more involved
First the halyard can run thru a clutch but I usually open it and then run it thru a block at the base of the mast . I have run directly to the windlass but prefer a block. As stated in my earlier post I drop the lazy jack on the leeward side and fall off 2 to 5 degrees . I have an auto pilot and I set it so I am alittle off head to wind . Then I use the windlass with one wrap. Then I can raise the main or lower it,if a batten gets caught, from the windlass
I now have an electric winch and it makes things a lot easier as I seem to single hand quite a bit.
Good luck and happy sailing .

[rancher44]

Just a note if you run directly to windlass with out using a block be sure to run the halyard on the back side of the mast winch. Other wise to much pressure on the clutch

[RRMontgo]

We use a Winchrite to power the mast winch for raising the halyard. First one cost about $500 and lasted about 3 years until the motor burned out. Winchrite gave us a great discount on the newer brushless motor version (about $700 retail) and we're very happy with that. Much less $$ than an electric winch, has two speeds and works great.

[Tayana42]

I also use a WinchRite for raising the main. Works well and we can use it for other winches around the boat.


S/V B'Shert