Mast winch question...

[JustStartin]

My mast winch on my CP-19 is on the port side but my main halyard is on the starboard side.  Is this correct?  I would think the winch would be for the main halyard b/c of load reasons.  I installed a roller furler last summer and I'm thinking about changing my main halyard from starboard to port so I can use the mast winch.

Thoughts??

[Billy]

sounds about right to me. My 19 does not have the winch, I have cheek blocks on the base of the mast to run the lines aft.

Could you just change the jib halyard to the main and switch the shakels?

[Bob23]

   My main halyard is on the starboard side. I prefer that because I do all my reefing work when on a starboard tack thus the boom is to port. I have no winches on the cabintop of my 23. I use my starboard side winch to raise the main.
   I think a lot of guys have no winch at all to raise the main. Just yank it up and cleat it off. I prefer to use a winch for 2 reasons: First, I had rotator cuff surgeries in the past so it helped in that respect. Second, I like the sound of the winch...give's me a big boat feel!
Bob23