Mast Winch E27

[SteveS]

Does anyone know the purpose of the winch on the mast of an E27 and what size rigging wire is appropriate? Thanks in advance.

http://www.cool-ink.com/Boat/Mast_Winch.jpg

[Loren Beach]

Like many other boats, smaller and larger, yours appears to have a mast mounted winch for the main halyard. Is there a winch or cleat on the other side for the jib halyard? (or vise versa)

A wire to rope halyard seems to terminating at the winch in the photo. (?)

Loren

[SteveS]

Thanks for your help. Apparently you can raise the main on the other side of the mast with a rope halyard. The jib is a roller furling. There are 2 lines going to the top of the mast. 1 from the winch, the other from a cleat on the opposite side from the winch.


http://www.cool-ink.com/Boat/Mast_Opposite_Winch.JPG

http://www.cool-ink.com/Boat/Top_Of_Mast.JPG

[Gary Schroeder]

Steve
The "Specifications & Std Equip List" elswhere in this site sez that a jib halyard winch was standard equpment on this boat. They are usually mounted on the port side, with main halyards & winchs on the starboard side. My halyards are dimensioned so that the wire/rope joint is just short of the winch at full hoist - the ss wire does not reach the winch to keep it from filing away the softer winch metal. I think the wire on mine is 5/32" 7x19.

[SteveS]

So the winch on the port side of the mast must somehow be holding the Seafurl roller furling system?

[Gary Schroeder]

The halyard is probably still attached to the top of the jib. The furler is installed around the headstay, then the sail is installed on the furler by raising it up a grooved track. When you're through sailing, you roll up the jib instead of lowering it. The halyard stays attached to the top of the sail.

BTW, my wife thinks this is the best invention since the boat itself.

[SteveS]

Thanks for the input.

Steve

[Morgan Stinemetz]

Guys,
I have been looking at the photos of the E-27 port side winch. A winch on the port side is customarily for the jib halyard. I notice that the wire has apparently stretched and is now being loaded onto the winch. This is (a) bad for the wire and (b) bad for the winch barrel. Suggest that you get the wire shortened at the top end so that you have only rope on the winch. The other option, which I went to some 20 years ago, is a low-stretch jib halyard. Wire-to-rope splices are virtually a lost art and expensive. Low-stretch is, in my opinion, the best way to go. It is lighter than metal and easier to use.
Secondarily, though they didn't come standard, an E-27 can benefiit with a main halyard winch added. I have done this and never looked back.
Hope this helps.
Morgan Stinemetz