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I keep mine (when not in use) in a pocket on my head door. Very handy.

My 26M didn't come with one. Should I buy 2 or 1? Where is the best place to mount it?

To be honest, I've never used my winch handle. Mine is stored down below someplace.

I luff the sails, pull them in, and then fall off. Simple and fast.

IF I were to use it, I would mount a holder next to the companionway close to the winches.

There are times when I use a winch handle. I just leave them in the winches. They have never been in my way.

It seems that there are a couple of schools of thought…. It depends….

Some never use a winch handle preferring to just strong arm it and use the winch as a brake of sorts. No handle, no problem.

Some of those who are seeming to try and push every bit of speed out of their sailing experience use one to two winch handles as there tends to be a lot of strain on the lines when the wind is up and keeping sail shape is important. The winch handles tend to stay locked into the winches while sailing or racing.

Some just occasionally use a winch handle on a sporadic need basis. They tend to have a pocket or cup to sore the handle in the cockpit or companionway entrance.

So it depends… on what type of sailing you do and how strong you are that day….

Overeasy said:

Some just occasionally use a winch handle on a sporadic need basis. They tend to have a pocket or cup to sore the handle in the cockpit or companionway entrance.

Nope Rich, I just Leave them on the winch for when I need their services. They don’t get in the way.

I store mine inside the companionway. There's a circular hold behind the speaker that is not covered. It came that way from the previous owner.

I've noticed that in almost all conditions I can sheet in the jib / genoa without a winch handle just by pulling the tail of the line and then taking the other hand and pull the sheet toward the boat then release it. The tailing hand will pull up slack before the sheet goes taut. The place on the sheet I pull is between the turning block / pully on the side rail and the clew of the sail. A few tug & release cycles and it's sheeted where I want it.

I have bought a lot of these:

https://www.organizedobie.com/10-x-12-g ... nizer.html

and have one a few mounted in my cockpit that are great for a number of things, winch handle storage being one of them.

Don’t know about the best place, but here’s where I put mine.

Sometimes I use the winch to raise the dagger board. Very heavy and I like having the winch handle near by for it.

I use the winch handle on the occasions listed above for the jib halyards. I also use it for tightening the main halyard that goes through turning blocks and a rope clutch mounted on the deck to get the last few wrinkles out of the luff. I have the same winch holder as pictured above, but have it mounted just inside and to the starboard side of the companionway. I can reach it without looking or going into the cabin there and there's nothing there that gets in the way. My elec panel, fire extinguisher, and VHF are on the port side.

v/r

Dang, I didnt know I had winches on my X, I thought they were bollards.