Choose an Antal XT self-tailing winch if you usually sail short-handed, and an Antal Plain Top (Standard) winch if a dedicated tailer is always on the line — Antal's Standard range (sizes 5-52) and XT Cruise range (sizes 16-66) both scale from small daysailers to 45+ ft cruisers, and MAURIPRO carries the full Antal range factory-direct. The right pick comes down to crew size and sailing style, not boat length alone.
This is written for the cruiser (~30-45 ft) replacing a worn winch or specifying new hardware before a refit, weighing an Antal Plain Top winch against the self-tailing XT Cruise or XT Race line. Get the type wrong and you either pay for a tailing feature you'll never use, or end up short-handed with no way to hold a loaded sheet while you grind.
Antal builds three manual winch families — Standard (Plain Top), XT Cruise (self-tailing), and XT Race (self-tailing, weight-optimized for racing) — plus a matched line of winch handles. Below is how the sizes, gear ratios, and self-tailing mechanism actually differ, and which line fits a given crew.
Antal winches at a glance
| Line | Sizes MAURIPRO carries | Speeds | Best for | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (Plain Top) | 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 30, 42 | 1 or 2 (direct + reduced) | Crews with a dedicated tailer, or budget-focused refits | Plain Top Winch Size 16 |
| XT Cruise (self-tailing) | 16, 30, 40, 44, 48, 52, 62 | 1 or 2 | Short-handed and solo sailors — most 30-45 ft cruisers | Self-Tailing Winch XT Size 30, Chrome |
| XT Race (self-tailing, weight-optimized) | 16-66 | 1-3 | Racing crews who still want self-tailing convenience | Self-Tailing Winch Race XT Size 40 |
| Winch handles | 8 in. & 10 in., aluminum or chrome | — | Sized to your winch's gear ratio and reach | 10 in. Winch Handle, Ball Grip, Locking |
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What's the actual difference between a Plain Top and an XT self-tailing winch?
A Plain Top (Standard) Antal winch is a bare drum: someone has to tail — hold tension on the sheet by hand — while another crew member grinds the handle. An XT self-tailing winch adds a spring-loaded jaw and a self-regulating lower disk above the drum that grips the line automatically, so one person can grind and tail the same sheet solo. The jaw is designed to release the line if the load spikes past what it can safely hold, rather than jamming it. That mechanism is what lets an XT winch replace a second crew member on a loaded sheet.
Plain Top winches stay simpler and lighter for their size because they skip that jaw assembly entirely, which is why racing programs with a full crew and a dedicated tailer often still spec them for headsail sheets that need a fast, clean release.
Which size Antal winch fits your boat length?
Antal's own sizing bands run by winch size, not boat length directly, but the two track closely across the range: sizes 5 and 6 are simple resin snubbing winches (no handle) for very small boats; sizes 7 and 8 are one-speed models suited to boats up to roughly 6-7 m (20-23 ft); sizes 16, 30, and 42 are two-speed (a direct 1:1 gear plus one reduced gear) and cover boats up to roughly 9-10 m (30-33 ft); and sizes 44 through 52 add a second reduced gear for medium-large boats up to roughly 12-13 m (39-43 ft). Most 30-45 ft cruisers end up running a mix — a smaller size on the mainsheet or a secondary, a larger size on the primary genoa or jib sheets.
Because self-tailing XT models start at size 16, a boat small enough for an Antal size 7 or 8 Plain Top doesn't have a direct XT equivalent in that size — the self-tailing line begins where the Standard line's two-speed models do.
How do gear ratios change how a winch feels under load?
A winch's gear ratio sets how much winding effort turns into pulling force, and it's specified per speed on Antal's own two-speed models. On the Plain Top Size 16, first speed is a direct 1:1 (fast recovery, less mechanical advantage) and second speed is 2.1:1 (more advantage, slower recovery) — the Size 30 steps that up to 1.1:1 / 4.2:1, and the Size 42 to 1:1 / 7:1. Self-tailing XT Cruise winches in the sizes MAURIPRO carries run a single reduced speed: the XT16 is geared 2:1, and the XT30 is 4.1:1. In practice, low gear (high ratio) is what you shift into as the sheet load builds — the difference between a 2.1:1 and a 7:1 winch of similar size is the difference between grinding a genoa sheet by hand and needing a winch handle and real leverage.
XT Cruise or XT Race — which self-tailing line fits your sailing style?
Both XT Cruise and XT Race use the same self-tailing jaw mechanism; the difference is finish and weight. XT Cruise winches are built for everyday cruising durability in black anodized aluminum or fully chromed finishes. XT Race versions use weight-optimized components aimed at racing programs where every kilogram aloft or on deck matters, and the Race line extends to larger sizes (up to 66) for boats running bigger headsails and spinnakers under load. For a 30-45 ft cruiser that isn't actively racing, the standard XT Cruise finish carries the same self-tailing mechanism at a lower price than the Race-spec version.
What winch handle length and grip should you pair with it?
Antal winch handles come in 8 in. (200 mm) and 10 in. (250 mm) lengths, in single hand grip, ball grip, or double handle grip, with locking or non-locking bases, in aluminum or chrome. Longer handles (10 in.) give more leverage for a given gear ratio — useful on larger, higher-power winches or for crew with less upper-body strength — while 8 in. handles are faster to crank on smaller winches where leverage is already generous. A locking handle stays seated in the winch top under load instead of popping out mid-grind; that matters more on a self-tailing winch, where you may be cranking one-handed while the jaw tails the line.
Which should I choose?
If you sail short-handed or solo, or you simply don't want to dedicate a crew member to tailing, the XT Cruise self-tailing line is the practical default for a 30-45 ft cruiser. If you race with a full crew and want the fastest possible sheet release on a headsail change, a Plain Top winch on that specific sheet — paired with self-tailing winches elsewhere — is a reasonable trade. Match the size to the sheet load it will actually see (mainsheet and secondaries can usually run smaller than primary genoa sheets), and size the handle to the winch's gear ratio rather than defaulting to whatever handle is already aboard.
Expert notes
From our rigging bench: the self-tailing jaw is the part we see mis-adjusted most often on a used or secondhand Antal winch — if it isn't gripping the line cleanly, check that the jaw is set for the actual line diameter before assuming the winch itself is worn. Antal's XT jaws are designed to accommodate a range of diameters, but they still need to be matched reasonably close to the line you're actually running.
On boats we've re-rigged from Plain Top to self-tailing, the handle is the part owners forget to reassess — a handle sized for a lower-ratio Plain Top winch can feel underpowered on a higher-ratio XT of the same nominal size, since the two lines don't share identical gearing at every size.
Common mistakes
- Sizing the winch to the boat length alone. Sheet load depends on sail area and how the boat is trimmed, not just length overall — a genoa sheet load can call for a larger winch than the boat's length alone would suggest.
- Assuming XT and Plain Top share the same gear ratio at the same size number. They don't always match — check the specific model's ratio rather than assuming.
- Running an 8 in. handle on a high-ratio winch out of habit. A 10 in. handle gives meaningfully more leverage on the higher gear ratios where it counts.
- Ignoring the self-tailing jaw's line-diameter range. A jaw set for the wrong diameter line will slip or won't grip cleanly, which looks like a worn winch but usually isn't.
Frequently asked questions
Can I retrofit a Plain Top Antal winch with a self-tailing arm?
No. Antal's Plain Top and XT self-tailing winches are different product lines with different top assemblies and drum designs — there isn't a bolt-on kit that converts one to the other. Upgrading to self-tailing means replacing the winch itself.
What size Antal winch do I need for a 38-foot cruiser?
Most boats in the 30-45 ft range run Antal's two-speed sizes (16, 30, or 42/XT16-XT40), with the larger sizes on primary genoa sheets and smaller sizes on the mainsheet or secondaries. The right size depends on your actual sail area and sheet loads, so cross-check against your specific sail plan or Antal's own load tables rather than boat length alone.
What's the difference between Antal XT Cruise and XT Race self-tailing winches?
Both share the same self-tailing jaw mechanism. XT Race uses weight-optimized components for racing programs and extends to larger sizes (up to 66); XT Cruise is the standard-weight cruising version in the same self-tailing design.
Do Antal winch handles fit other winch brands?
Antal winch handles are sized to Antal's own winch top fittings. Check the handle spec against your specific winch brand before ordering if you're not replacing a like-for-like Antal unit.
How do I maintain an Antal self-tailing winch?
Antal's XT top assembly is designed to come apart by unscrewing the upper ring for cleaning and regreasing. Rinse with fresh water after saltwater sailing and check the self-tailing jaw and pawls each season as part of routine winch service.
Recommended gear
Antal Self-Tailing Winch XT Size 16, Black Aluminum — the smallest self-tailing size in the XT Cruise line, suited to a mainsheet or secondary on a smaller cruiser.
Antal Self-Tailing Winch XT Size 30, Chrome — a common primary-sheet size for 30-38 ft cruisers, in a corrosion-resistant chrome finish.
Antal Plain Top Winch Size 16, Black Aluminum — a lighter, simpler two-speed option where a dedicated tailer is available.
Antal Winch Handle, 10 in., Aluminum, Ball Grip, Locking — sized for leverage on the larger Standard and XT sizes.
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