Ronstan innovates with revolutionary self

Australian winch-maker Ronstan owns, among others, the Andersen winch brand. This Danish brand is renowned for the quality of its products and for its Power Grip system, which does not wear the ropes. The Ronstan winch is based on this patented and recognized system, which other competing brands try to copy.

But to avoid competing internally with Andersen, Ronstan winches are made entirely of aluminum. As a result, they are very light, and are particularly well suited to a clientele of regatta sailors, who are sensitive to this argument. The Ronstan 20 weighs just 1.7 kg, compared with 2.4 kg for a Harken winch and 3.2 kg for an Andersen. This technical prowess is due not only to the aluminum drum, but also to gears made of the same material. No bronze or stainless steel, just aluminum and a few plastic parts. What's more, Ronstan winches deliver high torque and superior power.

But it's above all the self-tailing system, patented under the name QuickTrim, that breaks new ground. While the rope is locked in the traditional way, when it's time to shock, the crew member doesn't need to free the rope from the self-tailing. The large knob on top of the winch naturally releases the rope. The crew member operates it with his free hand, and holds the sheet or halyard in the other. Watch the video at the foot of this article to see how it works. You can then release a few centimetres of sheet without difficulty, even if you leave the crank in place. All you have to do is let go of your hand, and a spring will make the blocking effective again. This is particularly useful when managing a spinnaker that's being furled and eased non-stop. To top it all off, this winch can be dismantled without tools for easy maintenance.

At present, but things should evolve rapidly, the range starts with a small 1-speed 20 model, without the QuickTrim system, and two larger 2-speed 30 and 40 models. These winches can be adapted from Mini 6.50 to Figaro 3 or to the secondary winches of a Class40. Already available, prices range from 559 euros ex-VAT for the 20 to 1040 euros ex-VAT for the 40 - an aggressive price positioning that clearly demonstrates Ronstan's determination to penetrate even more boatyards.