A question was posted last summer concerning the need or desire for a
power winch on the F35.
We can strongly, positively report that after 2 plus years of
attempting to do without a power winch on our F35, we had one
installed (Harken 44) this summer.
Our view of Suzee has changed radically. We can now easily handle the
boat, not only when raising the main but jib and a variety of sail
trimming efforts.
This was a lot of money but well worth the expense to make the F35
something that us “alpha geezers” (see Washinton Post) can easily
handle.
If you are struggling with sail handling on your beautiful Pedrick F35
time to bite the bullet and install the electric winch.
I have been thinking about this expensive addition to my
1997 F35 Peter Duck. Can you provide some details on what is
involved. My halyard winch is located right above the shower compartment,
so when you add the electric drive does it protrude into the shower, and if so
how do you keep it waterproof? Did the new winch base match the existing
bolt holes in the cabin top, or did you have to patch the top and drill new
holes? Where did you locate the operating switch? Any other
pointers or “snags”?
Thanks
Malcolm Jarvis
Peter Duck
I’ll second the power winch perspective. Without it on Glory (albeit
a 45 with the ‘tall’ rig), I think Pam and I would have to take a nap
after getting the main up. Our current routine is to, with the engine
running, raise the main and the jib using the power winch. Once the
sail is up, we put the main sheet on the starboard (power) winch with
the line clutch open and the jib sheet on the port side. Winch
handles are locked in place on top of each.
I’ve found that the winch draws enough power that trimming using it
is overkill except in extreme circumstances.
The switches (highspeed and high torque) are mounted in the
companionway frame. it is very simple to press the top switch with
your toe and tail the line as the sail goes up.
A question was posted last summer concerning the need or desire for
a
power winch on the F35.
We can strongly, positively report that after 2 plus years of
attempting to do without a power winch on our F35, we had one
installed (Harken 44) this summer.
Our view of Suzee has changed radically. We can now easily handle
the
boat, not only when raising the main but jib and a variety of sail
trimming efforts.
This was a lot of money but well worth the expense to make the F35
something that us “alpha geezers” (see Washinton Post) can easily
handle.
If you are struggling with sail handling on your beautiful Pedrick
F35
time to bite the bullet and install the electric winch.
I have an electric winch and electric windlass on my 35 but if for
any reason I could only have one, it would be the windlass. On our
previous 35 we had neither and I did not consider it a terrible chore
to raise the main with the armstrong winch.
Where I really like the power winch is for getting someone, usually
me. up the mast on the rare occasions when that is done.
Of course if you seldom anchor that would change the viewpoint.
I have been thinking about this expensive addition to my 1997 F35
Peter
Duck. Can you provide some details on what is involved. My
halyard winch
is located right above the shower compartment, so when you add the
electric
drive does it protrude into the shower, and if so how do you keep it
waterproof? Did the new winch base match the existing bolt holes
in the
cabin top, or did you have to patch the top and drill new holes?
Where did
you locate the operating switch? Any other pointers or “snags”?
First, benefited significantly from input from this group, including
photo that show how Freedom did the installation originally.
Specific things we took into account:
First, we have a really outstanding rigger here in the Chesapeake who
actually did the work. I know, more money but it was done quickly and
accurately.
We chose to use the Harken 2-speed to match the other winch.
Expensive kit but includes pretty much every thing that is needed.
If you have not yet replaced any of the sensor transducers (We have
replaced all of them!) trace how the wires run. That is the route we
selected to run the heavy duty cables (there was pretty penny!).
After an exchange with this group and good thinking from our rigger,
we selected to install the two activation buttons (low, high speed)on
the starboard cockpit coaming, just below the line locker. Freedom
installed on floor which is not ideal, particularly if you have a
large dodger, which we do. This location lets us stand or sit,in or
out of the cockpit to watch the main sail being raised. Also keeps
the handler out of direct contact with the winch which can be a
problem according to our colleagues.
Our rigger discovered that the B&G instruments were installed a bit
too high on the bulkhead. He therefore had to position the new winch
about 1-2 inches forward from the old winich. Fortunately there is a
really good gelcoat person nearby. Can no longer tell that this happened.
In the shower, Sketch owner provided us a photo of his istallation,
which showed a simple piece of bent plastic (or similar) capped on the
end with a nice piece of cherry. Our rigger was able to fine-tune this
installation to minimize loss of head room. We also had he original
hansgrohe shower and shower bar. Once this was removed I concluded we
did not want it reinstalled. I went to Lowe’s a and found a simple
shower head bracket and a $10 hand shower head. Looks and works
better than ever. Curiously, getting rid of the bar seems to have
given more visual room than lost with the winch moter enclosure.
*One of the nice things at least with the Harken is the enclosure does
not need to be water “proof” as the moter is pretty well protected
without the enclosure. The enclosure does make things look better.
So, probably more details than you may has wanted but hopefully will
make the process easier for you, if you decide to take it on. Despite
the costs, which were considerable, we have not regrets, We can now
get much more out of the boat without the hesitancy we previously faced.
I have been thinking about this expensive addition to my 1997 F35 Peter
Duck. Can you provide some details on what is involved. My halyard
winch
is located right above the shower compartment, so when you add the
electric
drive does it protrude into the shower, and if so how do you keep it
waterproof? Did the new winch base match the existing bolt holes in the
cabin top, or did you have to patch the top and drill new holes?
Where did
you locate the operating switch? Any other pointers or “snags”?
Posted by Sailor (ketch_sailor@…>)
Lance Based on your response below and your present perspective, would you have retrofitted an electric winch on your ex F’40 CK Bright Star, knowing what you know now? Thanks for sharing your insights. Rick Wright s/v ANNIE Davis Creek, MDlance_ryley <lance_ryley@…> wrote: I’ll second the power winch perspective. Without it on Glory (albeit a 45 with the ‘tall’ rig), I think Pam and I would have to take a nap after getting the main
up. Our current routine is to, with the engine running, raise the main and the jib using the power winch. Once the sail is up, we put the main sheet on the starboard (power) winch with the line clutch open and the jib sheet on the port side. Winch handles are locked in place on top of each.I’ve found that the winch draws enough power that trimming using it is overkill except in extreme circumstances.The switches (highspeed and high torque) are mounted in the companionway frame. it is very simple to press the top switch with your toe and tail the line as the sail goes up.Lance— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, “f35sail” <s.goward@…> wrote:>> All:> > A question was posted last summer concerning the need or desire for a> power winch on the F35. > > We can strongly,
positively report that after 2 plus years of> attempting to do without a power winch on our F35, we had one> installed (Harken 44) this summer.> > Our view of Suzee has changed radically. We can now easily handle the> boat, not only when raising the main but jib and a variety of sail> trimming efforts. > > This was a lot of money but well worth the expense to make the F35> something that us “alpha geezers” (see Washinton Post) can easily> handle. > > If you are struggling with sail handling on your beautiful Pedrick F35> time to bite the bullet and install the electric winch.> > F35 Suzee> Chesapeake Bay>
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Rick,
I don’t know if I would have put an electric winch on Bright Star. We
had a pretty good routine for ‘jumping’ the halyard at the mast while
the other end was tailed in the cockpit. It took about 5 minutes to get
both sails up with a little bit of fine-tuning at the winch once the
sail was up. I single-handed Bright Star a number of times with both
sails up, and it wasn’t as big a chore to get them up as I would have
expected. Granted, the masts were much shorter and each sail less area,
but it wasn’t really that bad. I looked at where the electric winch
would have to go, and it would have really protruded into the cabin
over the double berth. I wasn’t sure I wanted to cut that many holes in
the deck I would have probably invested in a good angle drill and
bitwinch, though.
‘Jumping’ the halyard on the 45 is harder to do effectively because the
halyards are internal, so you don’t get the good purchase or an
effective angle. And I’m sure I could crank the main up manually, but
it’s 62’ mast (Bright Star’s were about 52’ I believe) and even under
power, it takes a good 2-3 minutes for the sail to reach the top.
That’s a lot of revs.
Lance
Based on your response below and your present perspective, would
you have retrofitted an electric winch on your ex F’40 CK Bright Star,
knowing what you know now? Thanks for sharing your insights.
I would have probably invested in a good angle drill and