Is size important

[Capt Jim24025]

How are winches sized? I wanted to add a winch on my cabin top (O'Day 27) to assist raising the sails. I had two Lewmar #8 spinaker winches that I don't use (don't have a spinaker) but wanted something a little bigger. I bought a Barient #10 winch on eBay but when it came, it is smaller than the Lewmar #8. I had assumed that sizes are standard but was apparently wrong.Does the size # reflect a gear ratio or what? I realize that within a brand, the bigger the number means a physically bigger winch. Is there any standardization across different brands?Thanks,

 

[s sauer]

Winch Speed and Power

Check out the gear ratio(s) and consider what you want to achieve. Presumably you can raise the main or Genoa on a 27 footer by hand most, if not all the way up, then use the power of a single speed winch for the last several feet. However, If your physical styrength or stamina requires more assistance or more speed, consider a two speed winch so you have both speed and power. Look carefully at self tailing winches as adding a self tailing function may result in a one speed winch in the smaller sizes. For instance the Harken 16.2 ia a two speed (7.2:1power ratio and 16:1 non-self tailing) while the 16 self tailing is a single speed 16:1 power ratio. Check the speed and power differences between your cabintop winch(s) and your primary Genoa winches so you are familiar with their power and speed diferences, particularly for self tailing.

 

[NewportVic]

You are looking for an "8"

Probably a used barient or barlow? Great to use when you don't have a cunningham to tighten up the luff.V

 

[Gord May]

Yes

YES - Size matters. Lewmar has winch a selection guide at http://www.lewmar.com/webcat/index.aspNO - There is no standardized numbering system for winches of different manufacturers, but see the Winch Equivalency Chart at:http://www.bitwrangler.com/wt/winches.shtmlA Lewmar 8 is roughly equivalent to: Barient 10, Barlow 16, Harken 8, and Meissner 10-7

 

[NewportVic]

Barient 8P is what is used on the

Oday 272 cabin top. works fine. They seem to last 30 years or so just lifting the main. Generally the halyard winch is smaller that the spin winches noticeably. Are you trying to over-engineer?Vic