Converting Winches to self tailing

[maliere]

Does anyone know any company that does conversions for winches to self tailing for a Lewmar? I know winchmate do but not for Lewmars

 

[Rivers & creeks]

Fit a Wincher. It costs about £30 for a pair and I have never spent £30 better. They just work, honest! The rope needs 3 or 4 turns and then the rubber stops the rope running off, it doesn't have to be jammed between the rubber 'jaws'. I know that boaty stuff is supposed to be more effective when it costs more than it should, these break that rule.

for example

 

[pandos]

Despite being told otherwise, these things do work. they were fitted on my last boat and they worked a treat.

Was never able to figure out how they are put on?

 

[Rivers & creeks]

Fairy liquid and elbow greese. Took about 20 minutes to get one on. But I guess that means it won't come off by accident?

 

[bumblefish]

Using a variety of bondage techniques in my case, took me about 3 hours to get two onto a couple of barton sheet winches!

 

[Malcb]

they were fitted on my boat when I bought it. I couldn't get used to them, so cut them off, haven't regretted it. And I sail single handed.

 

[Vara]

Winchers are like marmite,no half way house.I think the things are a waste of time and money.

 

[mflynn1971]

Hi
I am thinking of similar for Sadler 26 as well. I was looking at sheet lead from turning block to winch and it seems low. How important is sheet lead to the functioning of wincher. If lead is low will it prevent the genoa sheet from riding up the winch body to underside of the wincher. I have Lewmar 24's on mine.

Mike

 

[Appleyard]

It's the tail of the sheet which rides up the winch body,so a low lead will have no effect. The winchers work .

 

[Rivers & creeks]

You don't get a lower lead angle than on a Heavenly Twins and it works a treat.

 

[Dave99]

Winchers are fine for locking off as opposed to using a cleat but they do not work as a full self tailing winch does.

I would imagine that Lewmar sell a conversion kit, I definitely know harken do a conversion, although you have to send the winches off to have it done

 

[Captain Haddock]

Mine were pretty old and I bit the bullet and bought replacement Lewmars.

I wan't comfortable relying on conversions as there would always be a nagging doubt they would fail when I needed them most. I've not seen anything that say conversions fail, I just wanted to be sure.

Yes replacements stung the wallet a bit but it was worth it,they look and perform greate and I've got peace of mind.

IMO this is one area of the boat that shouldn't be skimped on besides, I've always thought the rubber winchers look a bit ummm cheap and lets a boats appearance down.

 

[Stork_III]

As far as I know, Lewmar do not market a conversion kit. Though externally similar looking, internally totally different, Would need to change everything but the fixing bolts.

 

[dulcibella]

Another vote for Winchers, which made single-handed tacking on my old Halmatic 30 a piece of cake.