Hello Robin, My M17 Flushdeck, by design, has only one winch mounted on a barney post in the center of the cockpit. I never need it for hoisting the main, and I rarely use it for headsail trim. In fact I'm switching to port and starboard cam cleat fiddle blocks on a two purchase continuous jib sheet, so the center winch may just end up being a good place for a cup holder :) Main Halyard set-up: I have a stand-up turning block at the mast base which leads the halyard to a deck organizer block, then back to the cam cleat (my Jib sheet and my primary spin halyard run through the same deck organizer) The set up is arranged to run the line fair through the cam cleat to the winch because I thought I would use the winch to hoist the main. But I find that if I put my weight into it, I way approx 165-170, and if I just lean back I can get good tension in the main halyard. Then I use the Cunningham to do the fine tuning. So I guess what I'm saying is save yourself the expense and work of installing the winch. Just my two dollars worth Mark E M17F/D #103 AMY P.S. Shopping list- Main sail halyard lead aft to cockpit Harken stand-up turning block (Bullet?) or equivalent Harken Cheek block (use as a deck organizer for single line lead) Harken Cam Cleat Adjust block sizes to the halyard diameter used :) ----- Original Message ---- From: robbin roddewig <robbin.roddewig@verizon.net> To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Sunday, November 9, 2008 9:29:00 AM Subject: M_Boats: Main halyard winch?? I am doing modifications to my boat this fall which include leading both halyards to the cockpit and the topping lift as well. I have the hardware on the starboard for the topping lift and jib halyard but have a question about the main halyard. Unlike later models my 1975 has no winch on the port cabin top for the main halyard. What advice can you all give me as far as adding one? Nice to have, necessary? Thanks in advance! Robbin M-17 #056, '75 model "Miss Take" (no it was not a mistake but it is an inside joke with my wife on my life rehabbing boats) _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats