To prevent a sheet from getting stuck under coils when using a winch, what should you do?

• A. Use another block to ensure sheet enters going up into the winch rather than from a downward angle
• B. Loosen the winch
• C. Tie off the sheet with a knot
• D. Move to a different winch

Answer: (A)

Keeping the sheet fed into the winch at the correct angle is essential. The winch drum wraps the line as you haul, and if the sheet approaches from a downward angle, it can ride under a coil and jam against the drum. Introducing another block redirects the sheet so it travels upward into the winch, aligning with the drum and feeding smoothly onto it. This prevents the line from slipping under coils and getting stuck, making the winch pull cleanly. Loosening the winch won’t fix the routing issue and could cause other problems; tying a knot would jam the drum; moving to a different winch doesn’t address the misrouting. So using a turning block to ensure the sheet enters going up into the winch is the best approach.