Thinking of adding and replacing sail handling winches. Will add two small ones for the jib, another small one for the halyards led aft, and two larger ones for the genoa/spinnaker. Question, what brand of those currently available new do you favor and why? Harken, Lewmar, or Andersen? I favor Harken for other items, but Lewmar has great ads and Andersen's I hear good things about. Cost appears to be similar. Boat is not raced, inland waters primarily.
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Big Article in latest Practical Sailor
If you don't subscribe, you might be able to get a summary on-line. Excellent article covers all major brands.
If you don't subscribe, you might be able to get a summary on-line. Excellent article covers all major brands.
I suppose that you could buy new
if you wanted but I don't think there are any more worn out winches than there are worn out paper clips. Buy for the size you need and if you can get them second hand you will save a lot of cash (which is just as good as money). You may have to take them apart and lubricate them but my old two speed Barent winches that cost 100 dollars the pair work just fine.
if you wanted but I don't think there are any more worn out winches than there are worn out paper clips. Buy for the size you need and if you can get them second hand you will save a lot of cash (which is just as good as money). You may have to take them apart and lubricate them but my old two speed Barent winches that cost 100 dollars the pair work just fine.
Ross needs to see some of my old maxwells.
What a p.o.s. they are! the ones that work work for a few months and then freeze up.. wrong metals, all hubs slip like mad. Ive used some new andersons and they are wonderful and take little effort to tail.
What a p.o.s. they are! the ones that work work for a few months and then freeze up.. wrong metals, all hubs slip like mad. Ive used some new andersons and they are wonderful and take little effort to tail.
Ed, I won't give you any grief on that.
But when did you last take them completely apart? Some things die naturally and some things die early because of poor health care. Some things are genetically predisposed to die young. I don't know who predisposes or predestines these things but us mere mortals must live with the results.
But when did you last take them completely apart? Some things die naturally and some things die early because of poor health care. Some things are genetically predisposed to die young. I don't know who predisposes or predestines these things but us mere mortals must live with the results.
Do you currently use 5 winchs on this boat ?
Is it a cutter that requires the 2 headsail winchs ? And if halyards are lead aft can the jib winchs do double duty ? Been real happy with Lewmar 2 speed self tailers, never had a problem, readily available maintenance parts.
Is it a cutter that requires the 2 headsail winchs ? And if halyards are lead aft can the jib winchs do double duty ? Been real happy with Lewmar 2 speed self tailers, never had a problem, readily available maintenance parts.
They will all work for you.
This is a case where knowing what boat you have helps determine what reply to send. I see you have a Mac 25. great boat, i learned to sail on one. The Mac 25 being a fairly light boat without having overwhelming canvas will do fine with just about any winch size and make. Someone suggested buying used winches, great idea, but only buy one in good condition. I never used a spinnaker on my Mac 25 so i cant speak from experience as to what you need. I will tell you that i never picked up a winch handle as long as i had my Mac 25(2 years). I would head up, pull in my sheets wrapped around the winch but not with the handle, fall off and let the sheets out to where they ought to be. Keep in mind that i was new and i didnt race so i wasnt always after that extra 1/10th of a knot. I coastal cruised the Mac 25 from Gulfport, Ms to Panama city , Fl. several times.
This is a case where knowing what boat you have helps determine what reply to send. I see you have a Mac 25. great boat, i learned to sail on one. The Mac 25 being a fairly light boat without having overwhelming canvas will do fine with just about any winch size and make. Someone suggested buying used winches, great idea, but only buy one in good condition. I never used a spinnaker on my Mac 25 so i cant speak from experience as to what you need. I will tell you that i never picked up a winch handle as long as i had my Mac 25(2 years). I would head up, pull in my sheets wrapped around the winch but not with the handle, fall off and let the sheets out to where they ought to be. Keep in mind that i was new and i didnt race so i wasnt always after that extra 1/10th of a knot. I coastal cruised the Mac 25 from Gulfport, Ms to Panama city , Fl. several times.
Winches
I agree with Ross. If I were buying/replacing winches on a 25 ft boat, I'b be looking at eBay and the consignment stores. You will not need big, powerful and expensive winches for the needd describe. Barient No. 10's or the equivalent would do fine. As it turns out, I have some old Maxwell 23ST's and a 20 two-speed on my boat. IMHO, these winches are really well made and only need some basic lube and maintenance to last forever. I love them.
I agree with Ross. If I were buying/replacing winches on a 25 ft boat, I'b be looking at eBay and the consignment stores. You will not need big, powerful and expensive winches for the needd describe. Barient No. 10's or the equivalent would do fine. As it turns out, I have some old Maxwell 23ST's and a 20 two-speed on my boat. IMHO, these winches are really well made and only need some basic lube and maintenance to last forever. I love them.
size
Since you can use small winches, the next question is self tailing or not. I just replaced my Lewmar non ST #8 in-mast furling winch with a #14 Lewmar ST. Number 14 is the smallest ST Lewmar I believe. I think Harkin has a #12 st but that's about as small as they get. I bought my lewmar on e-bay new. Saved about $40 over the best prices I could find anywhere else. I sold my old lewmar #8 for about $100 (included my labor for installation) so the overall cost of the upgrade was pretty reasonable. Have fun
Since you can use small winches, the next question is self tailing or not. I just replaced my Lewmar non ST #8 in-mast furling winch with a #14 Lewmar ST. Number 14 is the smallest ST Lewmar I believe. I think Harkin has a #12 st but that's about as small as they get. I bought my lewmar on e-bay new. Saved about $40 over the best prices I could find anywhere else. I sold my old lewmar #8 for about $100 (included my labor for installation) so the overall cost of the upgrade was pretty reasonable. Have fun
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