INTRODUCING QUICKTRIM™
The innovative QuickTrim™ self tailer allows sailors to easily and safely ease line tension to make minor sail trim adjustments without having to remove the winch handle or take the line out of the self-tailer. Racing sailors can react and respond instantly to minor changes in wind direction or steering, providing an unmatched advantage when frequent sail trim adjustments are required. It’s also a nice convenience for cruising sailors.
On the water, using QuickTrim™ is intuitive and quickly becomes second nature. With one hand on the tail of the sheet, rotating the top cover of the winch anti-clockwise against spring pressure allows the self tailer to turn beneath it like a sheave as the rope is eased out, with smooth grip and control assured by the drum surface and Power Ribs™. When the top cover is allowed to spring back, the self-tailer locks again and grips the line to resume normal use. This simple, reliable feature is a real advantage when making frequent minor adjustments to sheet and halyard tension.
As delivered from the factory, the Orbit 50-3QT operates as a traditional three-speed self-tailing winch. The QuickTrim™ feature is enabled by the user, simply by removing a single screw located within the self tailer. Step-by-step instructions are included in the Quick Reference Guide provided with the winch, and in the product manual available from the Support section of the website.
POWER RIBS™
Inspired by the distinctive drum profile of Andersen winches, Power Ribs™ have been incorporated into the fully machined drums of Ronstan’s Orbit Winches™ to deliver the same impressive line handling with maximum grip and minimal rope wear. The exceptional grip provided by the Power Ribs™ offers a multitude of benefits: requiring fewer wraps around the drum, reducing the load held in the self tailer, and encouraging the line to slide easily upward on the drum to avoid riding turns. The nonabrasive drum surface extends the service life of running rigging and allows for smooth and controlled easing, even under high loads.
THREE SPEED MODE
Featuring the fastest line speeds in our range, Ronstan three-speed Orbit Winches™ offer significant advantages in many racing and cruising situations that require rapid line retrieval. In the initial stages of trimming or hoisting sails, the high-speed first gear reduces the time and effort required to adjust sails efficiently. After quick initial line recovery at low load, the winch can be shifted to the slower second and third gears as load increases, using their greater mechanical advantage for precise control of heavy loads.
The added versatility provided by the extra gear results in improved performance and safety on the water.
To engage the first gear with a fast 1.4:1 gear ratio, push the button on top of the winch and turn the winch handle clockwise. When the load becomes too heavy, turn the handle anti-clockwise to switch to the second gear. The winch will now operate as a two-speed winch, shifting between second and third gear with changes in handle direction. To return to the first gear for extra speed, simply push the button again.
