Are canvas winch covers a bit naff

[LONG_KEELER]

I seem to want to own some.

Do most winches need protection ?

I've recently made a basic cover for a hatch which has stopped condensation drips and I have some material over.

 

[pvb]

Winches do not need covers!

 

[dslittle]

My winches are eleven years old. They look like they did when new. They’ve always had a cover on them when not sailing.

 

[pvb]

My winches are eleven years old. They look like they did when new. They’ve always had a cover on them when not sailing.

Mine are 6 years old; they look like new. They've never been covered, and never will be.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Can't see the point of them. My winches are twenty years old and don't seem to have suffered from not being covered in that time. There are more important ways to spent money or effort on a boat.

 

[lustyd]

The elements are evil so most things will benefit from a cover, especially so anything with plastic involved. The real question is how many covers you can be bothered to move on each visit. My new boat has covers for the hatches to prevent UV damage and that’s about my limit. I like the idea of winch covers but it’s a step too far for me in terms of effort to benefit ratio.

 

[johnalison]

My 20-yr old winches come up brightly with their annual polish but some of the chrome has gone dull before that. I don't know if keeping rain off would make any difference since I can't believe that U/V has an effect. In retrospect, I would like to have covered my two hatches since they are fairly crazed now, but then so are some of the side windows, and covering them is hardly an option.

 

[Boathook]

Winches do not need covers!

Mine are 45 years old and looked a bit faded in places but still work OK. They are never covered as I feel that the rain removes salt so reduces wear from salt. I might be wrong but after 45 years .....??

 

[cherod]

A few cheap buckets from Homebargain keep the winter elements off of mine

 

[xyachtdave]

Don't muck about OP, just make a full winter cover for the boat!

 

[Amlov]

As someone sad enough to have winch covers, here are my observations.

1 There doesn't seem to be any benefit with regards to keeping the chrome shiny.
2 Water doesn't collect in the hole for the winch handle, so you don't get splashed when you put the winch handle in.
3 The grease in the winch doesn't become emulsified with water and the insides seem to be happier without water making its way down through the winch - I like to convince myself that this is a reasonable reason for the covers.
4 Other owners seem to develop 'winch cover envy'.

In my view, marginal benefit but they do look nice.

Andy

 

[ashtead]

Could just have a cockpit cover even if a tad more pricey or are we considering mastlocated winches ? Never bothered in the summer though as winch bodies can be polished by the crew if needed

 

[[2574]]

As someone sad enough to have winch covers, here are my observations.

1 There doesn't seem to be any benefit with regards to keeping the chrome shiny.
2 Water doesn't collect in the hole for the winch handle, so you don't get splashed when you put the winch handle in.
3 The grease in the winch doesn't become emulsified with water and the insides seem to be happier without water making its way down through the winch - I like to convince myself that this is a reasonable reason for the covers.
4 Other owners seem to develop 'winch cover envy'.

In my view, marginal benefit but they do look nice.

Andy

I share your obsession. Thanks for the justifications, that must have taken some thinking up. I think we all know it’s nonsense but hey, that true of sailing generally. I have a friend who is on his third Pacific circumnavigation and he still maintains that “sailing is a ridiculous way to travel”. He’s right of course, so winch hats are just fine!

 

[Norman_E]

In Marmaris they are a definite benefit as rains in winter in particular bring down fine abrasive dust from the Sahara which otherwise gets into the winches to form an abrasive paste with the grease.

 

[[2574]]

In Marmaris they are a definite benefit as rains in winter in particular bring down fine abrasive dust from the Sahara which otherwise gets into the winches to form an abrasive paste with the grease.

We sail in Scotland. Winches are more likely to be dissolved by the rainwater.......

 

[Stemar]

A mobo I saw recently had a windlass cover, that being the closest he had to a winch on board, but he also had covers on the guardrails, which are presumably varnished. I can't help wondering if taking them off before going out and putting them back on when you get back isn't more faff than revarnishing every couple of years.

 

[Fantasie 19]

A few cheap buckets from Homebargain keep the winter elements off of mine

..yep - or just chop the bottom off a 4 pint milk container/2 ltr Coke bottle..

 

[LONG_KEELER]

..yep - or just chop the bottom off a 4 pint milk container/2 ltr Coke bottle..

Now we're talking real PBO.

BTW . Who invented the spray hood and did he get a ribbing from his mates.

 

[Wansworth]

It’s a first world problem

 

[Blueboatman]

I do recall seeing sunfaded self tailer ‘ tops’ on one of the major brands winches some years ago . Wasn’t this an early plastics /UV known ‘thing’??
I have a full set of unused winch covers that came with the boat and sit in the attic. They will probably go with the boat too, eventually ?

I do cover the windlass though in winter! Being alloy with stainless bolts and full of electricery and all...