Page 63 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

Winches take various forms, depending on the
load and application they are designed for, but they
all have two requirements in common:

1. Good lead. Several turns with the hauling
line around the barrel is the winch equivalent
of reeving; the grip of the turns allows force to
be applied. The hauling part should form a 95-
to 100-degree angle with the winch drum, or a
“wrap” (override) may result. Very bad news,
especially if you need to get the line off the
winch in a hurry. When the hauling part’s lead
isn’t fair, or when the lead might interfere with Figure 2-24A. The turning block next to the stan-
crew traffic or other hardware, a turning block chion feeds the line to the winch at a good fair angle.
is added between the load and the winch (Figure Note the shock cord running from the turning block’s
2-24). The tailing part is, well, tailed, either by becket to the lifeline; this arrangement keeps the block
a crewmember or a self-tailing attachment on from falling down and fouling when the line is slack.
the top of the winch (Figure 2-25).

2. Efficiently applied force. These things are
expensive, so you might as well get some
performance out of them. To begin hoisting
or sheeting-in a sail, leave the handle off for
the moment, make your turns (three or four),
and begin taking up slack by hand. Pull with
your palms away from you to get a full range
of motion as you work your arms in alternation
(Figure 2-26). Keep your hands well away
from the winch in case a sudden load slips the
turns. When the slack is out, the person with Figure 2-24B. These are “over-and-under” blocks,
the handle plugs it in and begins cranking while doing what their name says, taking the lead between
you tail, or you can do both jobs yourself, slowly levels. With these blocks, the lead can be taken ver-
and carefully with a normal winch, slick as you tically past a house, or other obstruction. (Margaret
please with a self-tailing model. For maximum Wilson-Briggs)
cranking efficiency, get your weight over the
handle and keep it there. Use both hands when handed high-tension vessels. But winches are also
possible. When you’re running a capstan use unmatched in their combination of high price and
a straight-arm, palms-on-handle technique to maintenance needs, so use as few of them as you
take up slack, then switch to the low and slow can, and lighten their loads whenever possible by
crooked-arm technique as you take a strain. working them in tandem with tackles. As noted
above, sheets can be controlled by blocks alone or by
Winch Size blocks compounded by a winch, depending on how
Winches, unmatched in their combination of speed much strain the weather is giving. Running back-
and power, predominate aboard today’s short- stays and the halyards for full batten or gaff sails

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