When is the last time you serviced your winches?
https://www.practical-sailor.com/blog/simple-tips-on-servicing-your-sailboat-winches?MailingID=1125&sc=BL20230126-ALookAtSails&st=email&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Simple+Tips+on+Servicing+Your+Sailboat+Winches&utm_campaign=BL20230126-ALookAtSails
Mark Powers
I’ve serviced my winches myself, and found it not too hard. This is a good article. I’ve run into pretty much all the problems it talks about.
On the other hand, you can’t have replacement parts ready if they’re not available.
I’ve had no luck finding a replacement pawl spring for a Barient 23. Arco / Hutton, which carries a good many parts for other Barients, didn’t carry the smaller springs found on my particular model. See the righthand pawl in the picture below. The lefthand pawlspring will fit just about every other Barient except mine.
I’ve got a winch I really like which is one pawlspring short of being operable. Anyone know a source for the smaller springs? (I’m in no rush; I’ve got another winch in place where the old one was. I’d just like to see an otherwise perfectly good winch back in service.)
– Bob
Me Gusta
Nonsuch 26U #233
I have… 8 winches. I use three. I serviced one two summers ago (summer of 2021), but the other is an electric winch, and I’m just a little afraid of that one yet.
OTOH, I’ve only been out sailing half a dozen times since servicing the one manual winch I use…
After thinking about this answer a bit, I guess I should qualify it. One electric winch for the main halyard. One manual for the mizzen halyard. One for the main choker. I have a line for the mizzen choker, and I will loop it around the winch before cleating it off; I’ve never had to actually do more than tug it a bit. I have a winch for each sheet, but the mizzen sheet has never been more than a distraction (again, the line is looped around it, but manually pull it in or let it go as needed, and I’ve never had an issue with that. I have a winch for the main sheet, but while the sheet is looped around the winch, I’ve only had to use the winch a couple of times, ever. I normally pull or let out line manually. I am not sure that I’m gaining anything over just cleating strait from the block (bypassing the winch), except the winch is in the path of the line, so it is convenient. And if I ever needed it…
So while the lines are coiled around the various winches, I don’t think I generally use them as winches. Of course, I’m a (very) fair weather sailor…
Brian
SV Serenity
Nonsuch Nereus #003
Pax River, MD
I grease mine every couple of years. A few years ago I had a spring pop out of my halyard self tailer, bounce on the deck, onto the dock, and slowly roll into a crack and disappear forever. I was able to find a replacement at a very reasonable price at Hutton Winches in Australia. http://www.huttonwinches.com They make winches similar to our old Barients and have parts that fit most.
Paul M
NS30U #211, Sandpiper
Cowichan Bay, B.C.
Brian,
You have two masts and 8 winches. I have one mast and 4 winches so the ratios are the same. My sail is close to the same size as one of your sails. I regularly use the halyard winch. The lines are wrapped around the small cabin top winches but I almost never use the winch handle. The mainsheet is also wrapped around the coaming winch but I generally don’t use the winch handle. IN strong winds if I am trying beating to windward and trying to keep up to Thor, Ray or Paul I will use the winch handle so I don’t loose any time by heading up to take the pressure off the the sail. When puttering I simply head up a bit and heave on the line.
I have had to replace the pawl springs on the mainsheet winch.
If I under stand the article correctly the grease in the winch can dry out even if the winch is not being used regularly. I think my winches are over due for a service.
Mark
Mark -
I think that it would be nice gesture, on the part of Paul, if he re-did your winches. Your boat is smaller than his.
Ernie A. in Toronto
I agree with you Ernie.
Mark Powers
Is this before or after the vinyl Mark?
Definitely before. Don’t want to risk any damage to the vinyl.
Mark Powers
Thanks, Mark. I feel better about not using the winches to their full capacity, and not servicing them all annually. 
I probably need to get on a cycle of servicing them every few years, though. IIRC mine are all Lewmar except for the electric winch, so parts and service kits aren’t hard to come by.
Brian
SV Serenity
Nonsuch Nereus #003
Pax River, MD
Now that Mark has disclosed his secret trimming technique we’ll all be having a much better sailing season next summer , won’t we boys and girls..
When I lived in MI I had this fellow make up a spring for my lawn tractor seat. He makes every kind of spring known to man. IEmail him and see what he says.
