SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more!
If you have the fill cap in a corner of the cockpit floor or similar than the winch handle version will not be great...but if it is up on the moulded combing like mine, it could be perfect...providing some guest does not think it is something they need to "adjust" while they already have the winch handle in their hand and as we are sailing along. "I sheeted in the headsail, and I tightened up that other thing a couple of turns as well" "Other thing???"
LOL... I can see that happening... that could be bad... especially, if the crew is larger and stronger than you and decides to tighten it up just a bit. With a 10" winch handle, you could probably screw things up pretty badly.
Caps only, not the fills. And must cover the entire fill, not inset. Now I just need to figure out if they will fit a Capri 26 fills (same as 270 fills).
I have the silly plastic ones (picture) and need stainless.
I am with Saildog, I installed the keyless variety...I prefer not carring a winch handle up the gunwale to offer up to the goddess of the sea...kerplunk. I have lost a few "deck keys" this way.
The other advantage of the keyless kind is they're really hard to over-tighten. A bored deck monkey, without much common sense, might be able to make it almost impossible to open a deck fill, given a 10" winch handle to turn the cap with.
I only open the fills at the dock. Very low danger of an overboard discharge of the winch handle on my boat, if not close to impossible.
It is considersably more likely to loose the handle when running the jib winches.
I am the only one who tightens them, therefore I know how tight they will be.
Even if they are overtightened or stuck for a variety of other reasons, I will absolutely be able to get them unstuck with a winch handle, whereas a key may be useless and painfull.
As someone who opens deck fill caps for a living, I have to say I HATE the caps that can only be opened with a winch handle. No bigger PITA in my business.
He hates them because he doesn't have a winch handle handy.
I do not open fills for a living, I open fills to fill the water or pump the head. IE: about once every 2 months for water and almost never for the head (macerator + 3 miles offshore).
In these applications I want a reliable opening tool that I will always handy and won't ding my knuckles make me cuss with effort.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
SailNet Community
1.7M posts
173.8K members
Since 1990
A forum community dedicated to Sailing, boating, cruising, racing & chartering. Come join the discussion about sailing, destinations, maintenance, repairs, navigation, electronics, classifieds and more