Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 photo

Introducing the Rewind™
The only electric deck winch that trims sails in both directions. Mount control buttons where you sit, not at the winch—you'll never have to grind from the low side again!

The Rewind operates just like a 2-speed winch—fast trimming in first gear and more power in second. Turn the red knob to engage the Rewind function, and you can trim in and ease out remotely without going to the winch and unwrapping the sheet.

Perfect for yachts 10.6 to 14.6 m (35 to 50 ft).

Rewind Electric Winches Q&A


General Rewind™ Information

Why are Rewind winches better for my primary winch than a normal electric?
Rewind primaries mean your jib man doesn't have to sit on or crawl down to low side every time you want to ease the sheet. Install a set of buttons on the high side or at the helm to avoid the hassle and keep weight where it's needed.

Rewind Winch ModesWhat modes does a Rewind have? 
The Rewind winch has 3 modes of operation: 1-speed electric with Rewind, 2-speed electric (trim only), and 2-speed manual (trim only). A red knob on the winch switches between 2-speed and Rewind. The insertion of a winch handle toggles between manual and electric.

Can I use a hydraulic motor?
The Rewind is only available for electric motors at this time.

Can I use a UniPower™ motor?
No. These special motors are only available for UniPower winches. UniPower motors are designed so they can be partially embedded in the drum of a UniPower. The UniPower winch has special gearing to accommodate them.

Does the Rewind take up more space or require a second motor?
The Rewind uses only one motor but includes an automatic safety brake that extends an additional 53 mm horizontally.

Does the Rewind function work in manual mode? 
No. The benefit to a winch that goes in reverse is that use with a motor allows totally hands-off sail adjustment. While we included a 2-speed manual mode for racers, this 2-speed mode is non-reversible because in racing conditions it's faster and less work to ease the sheet by hand than to grind.

How do I optimize my Rewind winches for shorthanded sailing?
Rewind winches make shorthanded sailing much easier because you don't need anyone to physically ease the sheet. The best way to take advantage of this is to put controls near shorthanded crew positions such as the helm.

How do I optimize my Rewind winches for cruising?
With remote button controls, sails can be adjusted without even interrupting conversation. Simply install an additional set of buttons near the helm, on the high side, and in other convenient locations.

Electric Winch Manual OverrideHow do I optimize my Rewind winches for racing?
You may leave the Rewind in the Forward/Rewind mode while racing, but many racers prefer the speed of manually easing the winch. Simply turn the red knob on the side of the winch to the right to engage 2-speed mode, then insert the handle for manual operation.

Where do I position the self-tailing arm?
Rotate it until it guides the stripped line into the cockpit. Test it to make sure there isn't anything for the sheet to get wrapped around, as you want the tailed end free when you engage the Rewind function.

Rewind Winch Self-Tailing JawsThe self-tailing jaws look crooked—should the bottom jaw be at an angle to the top?
Yes. This patented design grips the line from the back to allow the sheet free movement at the front when changing directions. The line must be free to move so it doesn't jam.

General Radial® Information

Is there a racing disconnect for powered Radial winches?
No. Permanent racing disconnect rods are not available for Radials at this time. However, all Harken electric winches automatically disconnect the motor when a handle is inserted. The main difference is the handle disconnect is easier to release. The only thing to be careful of is that the winch handle is properly locked so the pin doesn't push the handle out of the socket.

Radial winch serial numbersHow do I find the serial number on my Radial winch?
The serial number should be apparent when you take off the drum. It is on the drum support, just below the lower red roller bearing cage.

Do all winches have part numbers?
No, only the Radial and Performa™ lines, which includes the electric, hydraulic, UniPower, and Rewind models.

Why is the drum narrower at the bottom?
This shape combined with the surface grip keeps the line low on the drum, providing efficient and trouble-free operation.

How to Operate

How many wraps should I put on the drum?
Four wraps. The sheet load should be held by the components designed for the highest loads, not just the self-tailer. The load also assists in reversing drum direction. You should not need to take the wraps off in electric mode, so you only need to do this once.

Remote buttons for electric winchesDo I need separate remote buttons for the Rewind and electric 2-speed modes?
No. Turning the knob will toggle the function of the buttons. In Rewind the two buttons are for forward and backward, and in 2-speed the buttons are for 1st and 2nd speed.

Can I turn off the Rewind function?
Yes. The winch has 3 modes: electric 2-speed, Rewind mode, and manual 2-speed. A red knob on the winch switches the 2 control buttons to correlate to 1st/2nd speeds instead of forward/Rewind. Insert a handle to use it as a 2-speed manual winch.

What if the tailed line gets wrapped around something?
The automatic safety brake for operation in the reverse direction greatly reduces—but does not eliminate—the risk of the tailed line in the cockpit getting caught on people or hardware. Before touching any buttons, it is critical to visually check that the winch and tailed line in the cockpit can run freely.

Rewind self-tailer operates in both directionsDo I need to take the line out of the self-tailer or do anything to use the rewind function?
No, just press the button. The self-tailing arm is specially designed to operate in both directions. Do note that, the same as when you are hand-easing the sheet, there must be some tension on the loaded side of the sheet to strip the eased sheet away from the drum.

How do I use the 2-way self-tailing arm? 
The self-tailing arm is very easy to use. After making 4 wraps on the drum, pass the line over the stripper arm and then continue to wrap between the jaws. The movable part of the jaw will automatically open from the line's pressure and snap shut after the line slides into place. To remove the line from the jaw, open the movable part with your hand and unwrap.

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