Adding Winches to the Mast

[ahmetb]

I deceded to move my lines back to the mast. I installed clutches aboyut 5 inches below the exit of the internal halyards, and will be installing a winch on each side, as close to the ground, (probably 2 feet off)
THe Winches are a pair of Lewmar ST 30. I will be using teak blocks. The boat is a Catalina 36 MKI and the mast is fairly flat. I'll be sanding the center of the teak blocks to create the necessary curvature, probably 1/2 inches deep in total. The teak blocks are 1 1/4 inches thick. So the meat at the thinnest section will be about 3/4 inches, more around the edges.

Question: Should I attach the winch to the teak block (5/16-20 machine screws with washers and locknuts) and then attach the block separately with perhaps heftier screws onto the mast, or should I just drill through the block and attach the winch directly to the mast.
It is all drilled and tapped of course.

Thank You

Ahmet

[sailingdog]

I would recommend drilling through the block, as the teak might be a weak link in the attachment process if you've drilled into it and attached the winch to it. However, I would attach the teak block to the mast first, so that it doesn't move and then drill through for the winch attachment.

If you attach the winch to the teak and then the teak to the mast, you'll also have to detach both to remove the winch for servicing or repair. By attaching the winch through the teak block, directly to the mast, you can leave the teak blocks in place even if you have to remove the winch at any point.

[max-on]

Originally Posted by ahmetb

Iand will be installing a winch on each side, as close to the ground, (probably 2 feet off)

Why do you want the winches so low to the deck?

[soulesailor]

my opinion is 3/4" teak at its thinnest is a pretty strong weak link, especially sandwiched between a mast and a winch. If you attach only the block to the mast you'll have the ability to switch winches out in the future and not have to drill all new holes in your mast to attach them.

either way, though, I think will be plenty strong.

[ahmetb]

Originally Posted by max-on

Why do you want the winches so low to the deck?

Well, at this point, I can actually handle the lines without the winches, and I would like to have enough space between the exit hole/clutch, which are about 5 ft and 7 ft respectively, and the winch. Also, I would like to minimize the exit angle of the line from the clutch.

Ahmet
S/V Nomad 1984 Catalina MKI #300
Winthrop, MA

[knothead]

Originally Posted by ahmetb

I deceded to move my lines back to the mast. I installed clutches aboyut 5 inches below the exit of the internal halyards, and will be installing a winch on each side, as close to the ground, (probably 2 feet off)
THe Winches are a pair of Lewmar ST 30. I will be using teak blocks. The boat is a Catalina 36 MKI and the mast is fairly flat. I'll be sanding the center of the teak blocks to create the necessary curvature, probably 1/2 inches deep in total. The teak blocks are 1 1/4 inches thick. So the meat at the thinnest section will be about 3/4 inches, more around the edges.

Question: Should I attach the winch to the teak block (5/16-20 machine screws with washers and locknuts) and then attach the block separately with perhaps heftier screws onto the mast, or should I just drill through the block and attach the winch directly to the mast.
It is all drilled and tapped of course.

Thank You

Ahmet

Drill through the block and attach the winch directly to the mast.