A self-tailing winch grips the line automatically in a spring-loaded jaw at the top of the drum, so one sailor can grind and hold a sheet or halyard without a second crew member tailing the tail end by hand. MAURIPRO stocks self-tailing winches from Lewmar, Harken, Andersen, and Antal, sized to fit sheet and halyard loads on almost any 30-45 ft cruiser.
Self-tailing winches at a glance
| Winch | Line diameter | Power ratio | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewmar Ocean Size 14, One-Speed | 1/4-3/8 in (6-10 mm) | 15.8:1 | 11.24 lb (5.10 kg) | $650.00 |
| Harken Radial Size 20, One-Speed | 1/4-1/2 in (6-12 mm) | 19.2:1 | 5.3 lb (2.4 kg) | $690.95 |
| Antal XT Size 16, One-Speed | 1/4-2/5 in (6-10 mm) | 14:1 | 6.84 lb (3.10 kg) | $665.00 |
| Andersen 34 ST FS, Two-Speed | 5/16-9/16 in (8-14 mm) | 9.5:1 / 33.8:1 | 9.0 lb (4.1 kg) | $1,150.95 |
Specifications per each manufacturer's published data, checked against MAURIPRO's live listings.
Shop all self-tailing winches →
This is written for the cruiser sailing short-handed on a ~30-45 ft boat, standing at the mast or cockpit wondering why a "self-tailing" winch costs more than a plain drum and whether it's worth it. Every self-tailing winch on the market, from an entry-level Lewmar Ocean to a race-bred Harken Radial, solves the same problem: normally, cranking a sheet or halyard onto a winch takes two hands and, ideally, two people — one to grind the handle, one to "tail" (pull tension on) the loose end of the line so it doesn't slip. A self-tailing winch does the tailing job mechanically, freeing the second pair of hands.
That matters most exactly when you don't have a second pair of hands — short-handed cruising, doublehanded racing, or simply not wanting to wake the person sleeping below to grind a sheet home. MAURIPRO carries self-tailing winches across Lewmar, Harken, Andersen, and Antal, and the mechanism, sizing logic, and buying decision are largely the same across brands once you understand how the self-tailing jaw works.
What makes a winch "self-tailing"?
A self-tailing winch adds two parts to an ordinary winch drum: a grooved, spring-loaded jaw (also called the self-tailing ring) fitted around the top of the drum, and a stripper arm that guides the line into that jaw and back out again. On a plain (non-self-tailing) winch, the drum is just a smooth or ribbed barrel — the line wraps around it, but nothing holds the tail; a crew member has to pull tension on it by hand the whole time the winch is turning. Every self-tailing model MAURIPRO sells, regardless of brand, adds this jaw-and-arm assembly on top of an otherwise ordinary winch drum, gearbox, and pawls.
How does the jaw grip the line without a crew member tailing it?
As the handle turns the drum, the line feeds up off the drum and into the self-tailing jaw's groove, which is sized to clamp a specific range of line diameters between its two spring-loaded halves. The stripper arm — the curved metal finger you see angled off to one side — guides the line into that groove and peels it back out on the far side, keeping a continuous loop of tension without any manual pulling. Because the jaw only clamps within a set diameter range (each model in the table above lists its own), the line has to be sized to the winch — too thin and it can slip through the jaw under load; too thick and it won't seat in the groove at all.
Does self-tailing change the winch's power or gear ratio?
No — power ratio and gear ratio are a function of the drum, gearbox, and handle length, not the self-tailing jaw. A self-tailing and a plain-top winch of the same size, from the same manufacturer, generally share the same internal gearing; the jaw only changes how the tail end of the line is held, not the mechanical advantage the winch delivers. That's why the table above shows power ratio climbing with winch size and speed count (the Andersen 34's second speed, at 33.8:1, delivers more than three times the mechanical advantage of its first speed at 9.5:1) rather than with self-tailing versus plain-top — both configurations of the same-size winch pull the same load per turn of the handle.
Self-tailing vs. plain-top: which one does your sailboat actually need?
If you regularly sail short-handed — singlehanded, doublehanded, or with a crew that's often below or forward — a self-tailing winch is close to essential on primary sheet winches, since there's rarely a spare hand free to tail. If you race with a full crew where a dedicated tailer is standard practice, a plain-top winch can actually be faster to work, since an experienced tailer can dump slack and re-grip faster than a self-tailing jaw allows, which is why some racing sailors still spec plain-top winches on primary sheets. For a deeper side-by-side on load-holding and control between the two configurations, see MAURIPRO's own comparison of self-tailing vs. plain-top winches.
What line diameter fits a self-tailing winch's stripper arm?
Each self-tailing jaw is built to clamp a specific line-diameter range, and it's a narrower window than the winch's drum can physically hold — a Lewmar Ocean 14, for example, self-tails lines from 1/4 to 3/8 in (6-10 mm), while the larger Andersen 34 ST FS self-tails a thicker 5/16 to 9/16 in (8-14 mm) range, per Andersen's published specifications. Running a sheet thinner than the jaw's minimum is the single most common cause of a self-tailing winch "not holding" — the line simply isn't thick enough for the spring-loaded jaw to clamp it securely, and it can slip under load even though the winch itself is functioning correctly.
Which should I choose?
Match the winch to the job it does most, not the biggest sheet on the boat. A primary sheet winch on a 32-38 ft cruiser typically lands in the Harken Radial 20 to Antal XT 16 range shown above (one-speed, roughly 14:1-19:1 power ratio) for genoa or jib sheets; a two-speed model like the Andersen 34 ST FS is worth the step up once you're trimming a larger genoa or a mainsheet on a 40+ ft boat, where the second, higher-power gear earns its keep grinding in the final few inches under load. Halyard winches, which see less frequent but often higher-tension pulls, generally favor the same sizing logic — check your sheet or halyard's working diameter against the line-diameter column first, since a winch that's otherwise the right power ratio still won't self-tail a line outside its jaw's range.
Expert notes
From our rigging bench: the most common self-tailing complaint we hear isn't a broken jaw — it's a sheet or halyard that was replaced with a slightly thinner line (often to save weight or cost) that now falls below the winch's minimum self-tailing diameter. Always check the new line against the winch's spec before assuming the winch needs service.
We also see sailors assume a bigger number always means a better winch. Brand size numbers (Lewmar's "14," Harken's "20," Andersen's "34") are not directly comparable across manufacturers — always compare by power ratio and line diameter, not the model number alone.
Common mistakes
- Sizing by boat length alone. Sail area, sheet loads, and whether the boat is often sailed short-handed matter more than LOA on its own.
- Running a line thinner than the jaw's minimum diameter. This is the leading cause of a self-tailing winch appearing to "slip" when the mechanism itself is fine.
- Comparing model numbers across brands. A Harken 20 and an Antal 16 are not "20% bigger or smaller" than each other just because of the number — compare the actual power ratio and line range.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a self-tailing and a non-self-tailing winch?
A self-tailing winch adds a spring-loaded jaw and stripper arm above the drum that grips and holds the line automatically, so one person can grind and hold tension without a second crew member. A non-self-tailing (plain-top) winch has a bare drum, and someone has to pull tension on the line by hand the whole time it's being wound in.
Does a self-tailing winch have less power than a plain-top winch?
No. Power ratio comes from the gearbox and drum, not the self-tailing jaw, so a self-tailing and plain-top winch of the same size and speed count from the same manufacturer generally share the same mechanical advantage.
What line size works with a self-tailing winch?
It depends on the specific winch — each model's self-tailing jaw clamps a defined diameter range, for example 1/4-3/8 in (6-10 mm) on a Lewmar Ocean 14 or 5/16-9/16 in (8-14 mm) on an Andersen 34 ST FS. Check your sheet or halyard's actual diameter against the winch's published range before buying.
Do I need a self-tailing winch if I sail with a full crew?
Not necessarily. If you always have a dedicated crew member tailing the line, a plain-top winch can be quicker to work in racing conditions. Self-tailing winches earn their keep most clearly when you're short-handed and don't have a spare hand to tail.
Where can I buy a self-tailing winch for my sailboat?
MAURIPRO carries self-tailing winches from Lewmar, Harken, Andersen, and Antal across a wide range of sizes and power ratios — see the models above or shop the full collection to match one to your sheet and halyard diameters.
Recommended gear
Lewmar Self Tailing Winch Ocean Size 14 — a compact, entry-level self-tailing winch for smaller sheets on a 28-34 ft cruiser.
Harken Self Tailing Winch Radial Size 20 — a common primary-sheet size for mid-size cruisers, with a 19.2:1 power ratio.
Antal Self Tailing Winch XT Size 16, Chrome — a compact one-speed option in a polished chrome finish.
Andersen 34 ST FS Two-Speed Self Tailing Winch — a full-stainless, two-speed step up for heavier primary sheet or mainsheet loads.
Shop all self-tailing winches →
You may also be interested in
- Antal Self-Tailing vs. Plain Top Winches: Which Does Your Sailboat Need?
- Two-Speed vs Three-Speed Winches: Which Does Your Sailboat Need?
- How to Choose a Sailboat Winch: Size, Power Ratio & Placement
Last updated: September 5, 2026.