Bi-Directional Winch

[delmarrey]

Has anyone out there seen any bi-directional winches that lock in place? I'm considering an install at the back-center of the cockpit to operate the mainsheet traveller. It already has a 4:1 purchase but it is still a job to traverse across when on the lee.

I usually move the car to the otherside before a tack but sometimes there are situations where I still have to haul it across.

I'll have to pull out the cam-locks and install rollers at each end of the traveller. I may even have to build my own winch if I can't find one.

Any Ideas?......................................._/)

[S/V Elusive]

humm... now this wench that I knew, you could turn any which way you ... huh?? ohhhhhhhhhhh... wInch! sorrry ... no comment ...

[hellosailor]

AFAIK by the very nature of a winch, it turns in only one direction. If you want to turn in both directions you'd need to reverse the ratcheting ring and mechanism. Sounds more like you want a motorcycle chain and a gear drive for it, to drive it "in" and "out".

Sometimes you don't need more leverage--you just need to ease the main for a moment while hauling on it. (Boat strong, skipper weak. Skipper must cheat!<G>) And a thorough cleaning of the track and car, and the balls in it (it is ball bearing, yes?) can do wonders.

[colemj]

Antal Line Driver.

Used one on an Island Spirit 37 and it works very well.

Good luck finding one, though.

Mark

[Gallivanters]

Have a look at the way it's done on the AMEL SUPER MARAMU. It's an ingenious & simple traveler system used on their genoa cars.

And while you're at it - please tell me what you think the horizontal piece of stainless tubing attached to the cap & lower shrouds on all Amels are used for.

To Life!

Kirk

[colemj]

I had more time to google it:

http://www.marineware.com/pdf/antal/...LineDriver.pdf

https://www.svb.de/html/Travellersys...ferMarine.html

The newer model looks more compact. Isn't cheap, though.

Mark

[By Invitation]

What a great thread - just this morning I started to look for just such an item for my main sheet traveller. Last night I finished installing my new cabin top mounted traveller and thought that such an item would be a great solution. This morning I started a search and checked this site and here it is. Thanks!!!

If I find any other source I will post it.

[Alan Wheeler]

Hey that would be a great thing for moving the genoa cars back and forth as well.
It looks a great idea, so I guess it must be expensive...????

[By Invitation]

"It must be expensive???'

Of course it is . I checked into it today - goes for around 650.00 each. The dealer did offer me an immediate discount which brought it down some.

[delmarrey]

Everytime I want to invent something, someone has already done it

[kimberlite]

the bi directional main sheet traveler car on the amel is made by anderson.
it works great.
Fair winds,
eric

[kimberlite]

The horizontal rods in the rigging are to support the short end of a 2 piece down wind pole. The other end fits into a collar in the mast. the outboard end has a bell shaped housing that the long pole snaps into. you can make up the pole while it is attached to the rail ( hook up the topping lift , foreguy, aft guy, and downhaul ) and then just pull on the foreguy and tighten the topping lift and your pole is rock solid.

Being that the Spinnaker is rigged in the starboard track of the headstay and dis-connects from the halyard you can run both the genoa to port and the spinnaker to starboard at the same time from the headstay . The best part is that you can furl the genoa and spinnaker if the wind pipes up.
fair winds,
eric