Hello,
Um. I truly want to be kind here, but you are asking some very fundamental questions about installing a very important piece of hardware. And the fact that you are asking those questions is a good thing, of course, but they cause me to wonder what questions you aren't asking. Questions like, "How high up do I place the winch?" "Does the halyard lead fair inside the mast?", or "Is this winch meant to go on port or starboard?", or "Will the stopper provide a good lead, in both planes, the winch?".
Tell you what, let's all see how many such questions we can come up with, to help insure that Sam gets through this with a happy client. Really, it's the kind of thing that could really make a difference. Meanwhile, I can say, in response to the questions you did ask, that the exit plate can be just a foot or two above the stopper, unless there are already other exits at the same height, on either side of the mast, in which case get up into clear air. The winch is likely meant to be mounted off-center, as the line will lead to its 3 o'clock side; if it is on the port side, which is what I'd recommend, 3 will be aft, and the winch will be crowded forward. A line stopper is most needed if other lines will come to the same winch. If none others, do, a cleat will do fine, though you might want to put in a fairlead above the winch, to prevent overrides.
Finally, I have a question of my own: 40 for a halyard winch on a 38-foot boat?
Fair leads,
Brion Toss
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