Abstract: A self-tailing winch for use on a sailboat comprising a rotatable drum and a clamping pulley attached to and axially aligned with the upper end of the drum. The pulley has a rigid upper jaw and a flexible lower jaw formed from elastomeric material. There is a recess under the material of the lower jaw to permit it to flex into the recess and at least partially close it so as to afford an additional degree of flexibility to the lower jaw.

Abstract: A variable speed winch including a uni-directional drum rotatable initially by the clockwise motion of a handle in a clockwise sense only. The winch also includes a gear selector including a control plate rotatable with respect to the drum into an extreme clockwise position wherein a first gear ratio is selected. The gear selector further includes ratchet structure, splined to a shaft rotatable by the handle. The ratchet structure is slidable axially with respect to the shaft under the influence of a cam structure responsive to the relative angular displacements of the handle with respect to the control plate. The control plate has recesses engageable by respective spring-loaded balls captively supported by the ratchet structure. The balls are adapted to enter and lock within the recesses in response to an anti-clockwise rotation of the handle sufficient to cause axial sliding of the ratchet structure, with respect to the shaft, under the influence of the cam structure.