2-speed sailboat winches

A winch is a fitting designed to increase mechanical advantage when hauling in a line. The line is wound around a drum with internal gearing and is operated using a removable handle. Two-speed winches can be turned in either direction. In one direction, the gear ratio is low, but it can be turned quickly. In the other, the higher gear ratio provides more mechanical advantage, but operation is slower.

These devices become indispensable once the size of the vessel and sail area reach certain dimensions. At that point, the force required to tighten lines becomes too great for unassisted manual operation. Winches are used to control headsail sheets, halyards, rigging at the foot of the mast, running backstays and other lines.

Most winches are aluminum, though there are also bronze and stainless steel models. High-tech boats have winches with carbon drums. The internal mechanism is designed to facilitate sheeting in, slowly with less effort in one direction, quickly but with more effort in the other.

On self-tailing models, the free end of the line is held by a notched groove, or jaw at the top of the drum. This eliminates the need for a second crew to keep tension on the line while the first turns the winch handle. Winches can be one-, two-, three- or even four-speed.

Sail area and vessel size and weight will determine the maximum load the winch will have to withstand. Self-tailing models offer advantages when sailing with a small crew.