adding cockpit winches to a jeanneau 34.2

ChuckBuck · #1 03-01-2012

Hi there folks,

I am looking at adding a 2nd set of winches to a 2001 Jeanneau 34.2 - see photo attached.

Most are fitted with only two sets (both under the dodger). I think I'd much prefer a 2nd set closer to the helm exclusively for the genoa and spin. Does anyone know how this is done? is there a kit? Any idea on costs?

Obviously, with all the strain that winches take, I'd love to get it installed properly.

Any insights would be great - many thanks

chuck buck

Faster · #2 03-01-2012

Your problem here is going to be the 'over the top of coaming' hatch lids common on the French boats. Also in many cases these boats have heavily ramped coamings (great seating when heeled and beating) that will require some kind of pedestal fabrication to get the winch sitting at the correct angle.

If there's a convenient spot away from any hatches (and that's available both port and stbd) it could be done, but you'll need to build or have build pedestals to support the winch unless the coaming top is wide and flat enough. If a suitable spot is available it's not rocket science, over drill, epoxy seal the core, re drill and mount the winches with adequate backing plates. If raised pedestals are required now you're looking for VERY long bolts, and matching angled under-deck spacers/backers so that nuts and washer lay flat.

But obviously you wouldn't want to do that on a hatch lid.

olson34 · #3 03-01-2012

I have a large cockpit locker lid on one side, but it stops short of the top of the combing. I did build winch risers due to the stock deck mounting causing overrides, and that's why I can imagine you wanting some sort of base riser for your new winches.
I wrote up my project for a blog enty over at ericsonyachts.org.
It sort of looks like you would need to conture a base 'just so' to enable a solid attachment. I was able to thru-bolt mine, but if raised much higher it would take rather spendy ss bolts due to a custom length.
Look for several blog entries in June and July '11.
EY.o Information Exchange - "Fresh Air" - Blogs

"Faster" has summed it up very well, by the way. He has a habit of doing that!

LB

sailingfool · #4 03-01-2012

I have found secondary winches useful only when racing, setting the spinnaker before furling the jib, unfurling the jib before dousing the spinnaker. This doesn't look like a racing candidate, do you really need secondary winches, or do just want primaries which are next to the wheel. If the second is your intent, then just focus on moving the primaries.

SloopJonB · #5 03-01-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faster

Your problem here is going to be the 'over the top of coaming' hatch lids common on the French boats. Also in many cases these boats have heavily ramped coamings (great seating when heeled and beating) that will require some kind of pedestal fabrication to get the winch sitting at the correct angle.

If there's a convenient spot away from any hatches (and that's available both port and stbd) it could be done, but you'll need to build or have build pedestals to support the winch unless the coaming top is wide and flat enough. If a suitable spot is available it's not rocket science, over drill, epoxy seal the core, re drill and mount the winches with adequate backing plates. If raised pedestals are required now you're looking for VERY long bolts, and matching angled under-deck spacers/backers so that nuts and washer lay flat.

But obviously you wouldn't want to do that on a hatch lid.

Concur with Faster but I'd add one seemingly obvious thing - when you are positioning them, make certain you have enough room to comfortably swing the biggest winch handle you have. It sounds pretty basic but I've seen people forget about it and mount them so they ended up having to pump the handle instead of having full rotation - knuckles and pulpit tubing clash for example.

blt2ski · #6 03-01-2012

Chuck,

have not had time to look, but for the Jeanneau 409, IIRC an aussie company has a "kit" if you will to add a second set of winches as you seem to want to the cockpit area. I think it has been talked about here, probably in the "interesting boat thread" along with on the jeanneau-owners site along the line, where I noticed you also posted teh same question.

If the kit I am talking about does not work, then you would have to do as faster implies, add some kind of wood/fiberglass setup to mount the winch level. Also not knowing how the interior of the aft cabin(s) are, you might have a major interior redo to get to the bolts to add the 2nd winch. I can get you a link on the JO site to how I redid my aft cabin in a bit, but not a lot of time to type/post at the moment.

Marty

SloopJonB · #7 03-01-2012

Re-reading this thread, I noticed that all the references to a mounting pad for the winches only refer to wood or fiberglass. I've seen many boats, particularly old ones with "plank" coamings, that used fabricated metal mounts - sometimes in bronze but also in S/S. I'd be inclined to go that route if any serious "project" work was needed to mount the winches. The brackets bolt to the deck and/or coaming on various types of legs or feet, depending on the application, and the winch bolts to the top pad of the bracket.

You can work out the pattern needed with poster board or doorskin material and take it to a good S/S fabricator. Polished up they'll look great.

blt2ski · #8 03-01-2012

Update December

Found the where....but the link is not working, nor can I google the company. So maybe an easy come, easy go in a few months...........

A metal option as sloop is saying may work too.

marty

blt2ski · #9 03-02-2012

As an fyi for those looking at doing the same thing, here is a cutout for adding some winches in the Jeanneau-owners hints and tips. This was posted in a forum thread to chucks request by the former owner of the boat pictured. I am sure that the idea could be use for ANY brand boat that has combings as this Jeanneau has or mine or __________

This is a better option than the one I showed in my last post. Probably better than a solid wood/fiberglass option. The fellow that showed the link, mentioned for his 34.2 any how, the angles were not correct. BUT like all things great and small.......use it as an idea, template if you will, and fix the angles to work on your boat accordingly.

marty

Faster · #10 03-02-2012

Great link Marty....thx