Condensed version: Elevate the forward end of the winch. See photos
Longer version:
When I first started sailing this boat I did not use the winches. Even when I started racing, my crew's timing was good enough that they were rarely used. Until, that is, we couldn't release a jib sheet because of the excess tension it was under and got ourselves disqualified in a race. I decided then we needed to use the winches as a matter of habit.
We immediately ran into problems with the winches fouling. Nothing I could do seemed to be working. Nothing suggested online seemed viable for my situation. I was entertaining the idea of mounting a fairlead at the base of the winch to control the angle of the sheet as it entered the winch. Then my sailing coach/guru suggested using slanted shims under the winches, and sent me some sketches showing how and why that might help. He even made some wood wedges for testing purposes, and all it cost me was a bottle of Fireball!
The test went well, and I installed and tested the final product made from HDPE today. Absolute success. No fouling whatsoever.
I was fortunate that I had the spacers made and all my "guru" had to do was grind them into wedges. He has this massive machine shop. Rebuilding an Aston Martin. that kind of stuff. No matter. There are lot's of ways to skin that cat.
Port side. Shim about 1/2" at forward edge, slanting to 1/8"". Note mods at cleat and fairlead, done before this. Did not help.
Starboard side. Shim a little over 1/2" at forward edge, slanting to 1/16". It will be interesting to see which one fouls first.
