Where to find old winch handles?

[brokeboatersclub]

Hi, I'm Sam and I'm new to the forum. I bought a '74 Venture 25 a couple of years ago and my brother and I have been working on refitting it. We finally took it out this past weekend for it's maiden voyage (since we've owned it of course) and all the rigging worked beautifully! We of course discovered some kinks to work out, but we have a great starting place now.

One of the problems that we encountered was with the foresail winches... I dropped our only handle off the boat. Happily it was downwind sailing back to the dock so we didn't need to make use of it but for beating hard it's indispensable.

I tried looking around online for a replacement and was unsuccessful. It's the original winches, and they're in fantastic shape all things considered. But they don't make those handles anymore. Anyone know where I can find one? Maybe someone is parting out their boat? Maybe there's an aftermarket version? Attached is a photo of the winch for reference on the shape of the handle. My failsafe is to make one out of soft wood and cover it in epoxy or something to make it waterproof.

Thanks!

[Stickinthemud57]

Welcome to the forum, and congrats on your maiden-to-you voyage.

Wood is not going to hack it for a winch handle (although at least it would float).

It would take a little doing, but with a proper sized drill bit, a hacksaw, and a bench grinder you could fashion one out of a piece of regular metal, stainless steel, or aircraft grade aluminum.

[Russ]

I've never seen a winch like that before.

Did you remove it?
What did the handle look like? I can't picture how it works.

You could simply replace the winch with one you can get a handle for.

Honestly, I've never used my winches. The handle is still in the box someplace. When sheeting in the jib, just luff up the sail and I pull it in tighter.

[kmclemore]

Do you know the brand of winch? Or is there anything written on the winch? Also, what did the end of the handle look like? Was it slotted like this one?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/295605187614

[brokeboatersclub]

This rather comic illustration is a top-down view of the handle. The black is the winch drum, the red is the raised center and two half semicircular ridges, the gray is that which so longs for the sea, and which I cannot find, and that whitish brown spot near the bottom is supposed to delineate the wooden handle. I'm a natural born artist.

It ought to fit over and across the whole center of the winch, holding the center post bit and contained within those ridges.

It came with the boat which is rather old, so as far as I can tell they might be factory and mine just happen to be in good condition. I think the boat saw a lot more trailer than water. There's no brand name that I can find. I suppose I could cough up the cash for new winches but they work so beautifully my dutch heritage keeps me from throwing them out!

I'm tending toward making some but if anyone knows where to source them, please let me know!

[NiceAft]

That illustration clarifies and makes perfect sense; now, if I only had an answer for you.

[Be Free]

Did it look something like this?

[NiceAft]

Wow!

Where did dig that up from?

[brokeboatersclub]

Did it look something like this?

That's the one!! Do you know if they still sell them anywhere? I'd like to buy some extras too at this point

[Be Free]

Did it look something like this?

That's the one!! Do you know if they still sell them anywhere? I'd like to buy some extras too at this point

I've not found a source or a brand, but I was pretty sure that was the handle.

[brokeboatersclub]

Spent about an hour out there today cutting up an aluminum trial test. It's a start! Fits pretty tight

[Stickinthemud57]

That is awesome! Good work! Before you fit it with a handle, slide a section of pool noodle on the strap.

[brokeboatersclub]

Good idea!

[dlandersson]

One of the first things I did was get a floating winch.

Hi, I'm Sam and I'm new to the forum. I bought a '74 Venture 25 a couple of years ago and my brother and I have been working on refitting it. We finally took it out this past weekend for it's maiden voyage (since we've owned it of course) and all the rigging worked beautifully! We of course discovered some kinks to work out, but we have a great starting place now.

One of the problems that we encountered was with the foresail winches... I dropped our only handle off the boat. Happily it was downwind sailing back to the dock so we didn't need to make use of it but for beating hard it's indispensable.

I tried looking around online for a replacement and was unsuccessful. It's the original winches, and they're in fantastic shape all things considered. But they don't make those handles anymore. Anyone know where I can find one? Maybe someone is parting out their boat? Maybe there's an aftermarket version? Attached is a photo of the winch for reference on the shape of the handle. My failsafe is to make one out of soft wood and cover it in epoxy or something to make it waterproof.

Thanks!

[Russ]

Spent about an hour out there today cutting up an aluminum trial test. It's a start! Fits pretty tight

Awesome!