I have a problem that I have lived with for about a year, but would like to correct. The previous owner(s) added a dodger to my boat and then must have realized that they could no longer use the winch handle on the starboard side because it was too close to the dodger. They moved the winch closer to the companion way; now the clutch no longer aligns with the winch and lines must turn up to 45 degrees to be used on the winch. This added friction obviously makes it much harder to raise the main. Rather than trying to move the clutch (much more drilling and filling added to a previously poorly done job) I was thinking of adding a small deck organizer, with just two sheaves that are stacked behind the clutch. Lines would turn 90 degrees to go to the winch. Am curious if there would be a downside to this or has anyone handled this problem differently?
Paul Meyers
1986 Catalina 36
Hull #615
Ventura, California
check out the below websites. Good luck!
[url]http://www.c36ia.com/node/754[/url]
[url]http://julandra.shutterfly.com/23[/url]
Jack Bahen
Kinera - 1985 C36 Mk I Tall Rig
Hull # 422
Annapolis, MD
Thank you Jack,
I obviously did a poor job searching the site; this is exactly what I was looking for!
Paul Meyers
1986 Catalina 36
Hull #615
Ventura, California
That's ([url]http://julandra.shutterfly.com/116[/url]) a great idea. On our boat the winches were placed inboard like that, but I still can't get the winch handle to turn 360 degrees. But before you do all that work, consider: it's a two speed winch, so I'm not sure why it's important to go all the way around. For both our port side winch for the reefing lines and for the starboard side mainsheet, I just go back and forth about half way and it works just fine. Maybe it's 'cuz our clutches are lined up and not that far off a fair lead. In looking at that picture again, I can see that the outboard clutches were led to the original winch position. Our outboard lines don't go to clutches, but rather to swiveling cam cleats which don't require the winch for the cunningham and rigid vang to port and the lazy jack to starboard. OK, I've just had an AHA moment! :)
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)