Boat Winch Instructions

If a captain invites you onto a large sailboat and says "I have a beautiful new boat winch I want to show you!" and your likely reply would be "No thank you sir, I'm happily married, I don't need a wench." Then don't go near the winches without some basic knowledge because you could lose a finger or two. The larger the sailboat, the more dangerous the winch can be. Anchor winches must also be treated with respect. Even before the winch instructions, the all-important sailing terms must be understood in order to understand the captain.

Things You'll Need

  • List of sailing terms
  • Sailing gloves
  • Sailboat
  • Winch handles
  • Boating knife
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Instructions

  1. Using Sail Winches

    • 1

      Grab the sail's sheet ( the rope or line) and run it through your hands to remove any kinks. Wrap it clockwise around the spool of the winch until you have three wraps, keeping your hand above the winch at a safe distance as you wrap so there's no danger of getting your fingers caught in the winch. Make sure there are no overlaps or knots in the wrapped sheet.

    • 2

      Wrap the line one last time into the top notch if is a self-tailing winch so you may use the winch handle with both hands. If the winch has no top notch, hold the line taut and free of slack with one hand as you apply the winch handle on the top and begin cranking the sail tighter with the other hand. When finished, coil the extra line neatly nearby.

    • 3

      Ease the line first by checking to make sure the extra coiled line is free from obstruction, remove the rope from the top notch keeping the tension and gradually release tension allowing the sheet to unwind. Release the line off the winch by pulling upward unwinding in a counter-clockwise motion.

    Using Anchor Winches

    • 4

      Open the winch hatch (some may be free standing) and make sure the anchor chain and line are free and unobstructed. It is then safe to switch the motor on to gradually release the anchor. When the anchor has hit the bottom of the ocean continue to release line until there is enough to properly "set the anchor." An anchor is set when it grabs into the ocean's floor. You will know it has done this when you feel a halting jerk of the boat.

    • 5

      To raise the anchor, gradually motor towards the anchor location as you switch on the winch to raise the rope. It is not recommended to use the winch to draw the boat closer to the anchor as this is an additional stress on the winch.

    • 6

      Stowe the gathered anchor line neatly by checking to make sure it is free to be used again and cover the winch line storage hatch.