Winch Buyer’s Guide: A Look at 7 Brands and 76 Self-Tailing Models

Here are all the specs, dimensions, and power ratios you’ll need to choose shiny new manual, self-tailing winches from size 12 to 52 for sailboats in the 20- to 50-foot range.

By
Doug Henschen
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Our 2026 winch buyer’s guide details how construction choices affect weight, grip, and long‑term serviceability.

Beyond the shape of the hull and the presence of a mast, nothing distinguishes a sailboat from a powerboat more than the sight and sound of a sailor cranking on a winch. While powerboaters get underway by moving the throttle forward a few clicks, sailors hoist sail, typically with the aid of a winch. Then once the “canvas” (these days more typically Dacron) is aloft, the leeward sheet is trimmed, again with the aid of a winch.

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Doug Henschen
Doug Henschen has been sailing in and around the waters of the lower Hudson River, New York Harbor, and the Long Island Sound since the 1980s. A career editor and journalist, Doug served as associate editor and managing editor of The Waterway Guide from 1984 until 1987 and as executive editor of Boating Industry magazine from 1990 to 1996. Doug is a member of Sail America and is American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) certified on Marine Systems, Marine Electrical, Corrosion Mitigation, Disaster Avoidance, Outboard Repowering Considerations, and Boatyard Basics.

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