Make a Winch Self-Tailing ?

[mrohr]

Hi all ,they are a significant improv on my lewmar 44, but work best with properly sized lines ,even so they are a significant improv at low cost ,but still quite aways short of a self tailing winch which would cost 100x more.

[clockwork orange]

there was a guy that was selling a very good self tailing conversion ,his website is www.solar4u.com,he doesnt have it on his website anymore so you may need to contact him to see if he still makes them.This was a real self tailer that works quite differently to the standard ones .
Steve.

[allanbranch]

Originally Posted by jstevens

There is a home-built alternative to buying the Winchers. Just take some 1/2" ID (or larger) vinyl water hose and cut it to the circumference of the winch drum. Make it into a coit (sew 1/2" rope inside to joint the ends), soften it in hot water and slip it over the top of the winch.
I used this arrangement for several years on a 29' boat and it held the sheet while I cranked the winch. Just like the Wincher, it is a snubber not a tailer. When tacking it was of little value, but when adjusting the sheet under load it allowed me crank in a few inches until the sail trim looked right then take up the tail slack on the cleat.
After a couple of seasons the sun got to the vinyl hose and I cut them off. Although they worked I didn't bother to replace them. The Winchers would probably hold up in the sun much better. Back then (1970s) they wanted about $50 for a pair of Winchers, my alternative came out of my spare parts bin.

John

Hey John, do you have an pictures of this?

[deluxe68]

There used to be a guy in Australia who would refurbish old winches and change them to self-tailing. IIRC the cost savings was 1/2 of buying a new winch. I do not have a name for him though.

[deluxe68]

Now that I think about it I may have gotten the guy's name from this forum:

S&S Swan Association Forum