MacGregorSailors.com

Today I took the Trailer Winch back to my Dealer where I made my purchase. Showed him my Broken Tooth, Bent, Stripped Winch. He just asked me what happened, and I explained, all I did was to crank it up about two feet up the trailer while it was still in the water. So he looked at it, and said, no problem, let me order you a replacement. So the customer service is much better than the quality of the winch. I started this thread as a Winch Rant, then alot of people hijacked it and went into a rant on the Boat. I have no problem with the Boat, I'm enjoying it very much. And I pulled this Boat for 13 hrs from Atlanta to the Chesapeake Bay for a 6 day Sailing trip, and we had a blast. How many boats can you do that with? it's just the winch it sucks.

Well.....

Any way you cut it, it's a better deal for a Mac than ANY use of Gov't Bailout money you can think of......

So I guess it's time to change to a different kind of Winch Rant...

***************

I have a few rants about my Wench - but this may not be the place to post them. Next time I fall in the water (after all), I have to rely on the Wench to swing the boat around and pick me up.

--jerry

Which winch does your wHench want???

I've changed my Mac trailer winch every few years.
It's a consumable, like toner or brake pads.
No big deal.

The root cause, is the geometry of the thing. At the ramp, with the Mac completely forward into the rubber "Y" bowstop, there is of course still space between the hull and the rear bunks.
Upon pulling out, the hull settles and the boat pivots around some mystery point in the forward third. From the driver's point of view the bow has retreated back, leaving an undesireable gap.
This is bad for towing. - See many threads on the "Mac Bump"

The real destroyer of winches (IMHO) is when after a long haul, the Mac does slip slightly backwards, putting excessive strain on the winch cable or strap.
Now you have to force the winch mechanism into the reverse ratchet position. This is often difficult, and stressful at a busy ramp.
Hammers, crowbars and tire-irons have all been deployed, while the ramp onlookers hover, ask questions, "how much longer?" etc.

I started chaining the bow to the trailer ladder, adding an anchor shackle, a few years ago. Now I release tension on the winch strap a little, the stress on the gears is releaved.
If the Mac creeps back on the highway, then I can safely remove the shackle pin with hammer.


wrt to Wenches - The statement about consumable toner or brake pads, likely does not apply.

Catigale wrote:Ive been really happy with my 2002

At least the trailer winch is relatively easily to switch out. The boat winches are much harder.

On/about 2008, Macgregor changed from Lewmars to the cheaper marelon winches which suck imho.

My first thought on seeing this thread too was that of the boat winches!
I know the MAC is a small boat but winching in the sheet on the genny can be tough work in a blow when short handing.... for the few extra quid self tailers would have been nice (I know - I hear you about price points and profit margins... the cost of replacing them wholesale after purchase is massively different though to making the small change at production)

sbods wrote:I know the MAC is a small boat but winching in the sheet on the genny can be tough work in a blow when short handing.... for the few extra quid self tailers would have been nice (I know - I hear you about price points and profit margins... the cost of replacing them wholesale after purchase is massively different though to making the small change at production)

I guess I've never been out in that much wind. Plus I only have the standard jib; wish I had gone for the genny.
But honestly, I have never used the winches (Lewmar). For the life of me I don't even know where the handle is. The cam cleats on my jib sheets work very well.
On my 34' I DEFINITELY used the self tailing winches though.


--Russ

For the life of me I don't even know where the handle i

Yours have handles?? That would make them a lot easier to use...

I don't understand......not using winches.....how can you possible achieve sail trim without the use of winches even for a standard jib

bartmac wrote:I don't understand......not using winches.....how can you possible achieve sail trim without the use of winches even for a standard jib

How? Head up into the wind to ease the pressure and then adjust your sail. Or, cut so close to the wind that the sail starts flapping. You would never win a race, but it works.

Phil M

....and a lot of people inland here in NA sail in 5-10 knot breezes unike Oceania!!

Interesting......never thought of that....intentially slow down to adjust your sails,given the mac's known sailing qualities not something I'd consider.We don't race but sailing only on rivers at the moment complete with sand banks & shallows etc further hampered by tidal flows requires at times an attempt to maximise the amount of "ground" gained.I'm looking forward where the direction we sail in is largely determined by whim and wind direction ie wide and open spaces.Ho yes we do at time get winds of more than 5-10 knots

Phil M wrote:

bartmac wrote:I don't understand......not using winches.....how can you possible achieve sail trim without the use of winches even for a standard jib

How? Head up into the wind to ease the pressure and then adjust your sail. Or, cut so close to the wind that the sail starts flapping. You would never win a race, but it works.

Phil M

Exactly!
Or set the sheets while tacking.
If I need to tighten up...2 seconds of heading up into the wind is much easier than digging out the winch handle.

Again, I only have the standard jib. A bigger Jenny might need more effort. And of course a "real" man doesn't need no stinkin' winch handle.


--Russ

RussMT wrote:..... For the life of me I don't even know where the (winch) handle is. --Russ

Russ you might want to find a handle. It just might save the day sometime and I'm not talking sail trim. When I was hurt on Lake Powell and was pretty much useless for a couple days Ruth used the winch to reposition the boat on the shore lines and to also pull the anchor up when we finally left. She couldn't of done it without the winch and I was in no shape to do it without the winch either.

Also if you are ever grounded taking the anchor out and winching off might save the day there also. I even bought a second handle....



http://www.duckworksbbs.com/hardware/mi ... /index.htm

....as a spare since they aren't that expensive at $27.00.

As to sail trim we honestly haven't used it much there either , but need to pay more attention to sail shape in the future,

Sum

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Sumner, Have you tested it to see if your winch handle really floats?

-Mike

Sumner wrote:

RussMT wrote:..... For the life of me I don't even know where the (winch) handle is. --Russ

Russ you might want to find a handle. It just might save the day sometime and I'm not talking sail trim. When I was hurt on Lake Powell and was pretty much useless for a couple days Ruth used the winch to reposition the boat on the shore lines and to also pull the anchor up when we finally left. She couldn't of done it without the winch and I was in no shape to do it without the winch either.

Also if you are ever grounded taking the anchor out and winching off might save the day there also. I even bought a second handle....



http://www.duckworksbbs.com/hardware/mi ... /index.htm

....as a spare since they aren't that expensive at $27.00.

Sum,
You make a good point. I totally agree that the winch is a valuable tool for stuff besides sail trim as you have mentioned above.
I'm joking about the handle. I know it's down below in the spare parts box if I need it. I just haven't needed it.

The handle in your link looks good. I would strongly suggest a locking handle (like the one above) as on my old boat I watched a $50 handle slide down the deck and plop into the water when a crew person accidentally knocked it out (and it promptly sank).

--Russ