Harken Lewmar Ronstan

[aitchem]

Which is your preference.
Are some better suited to specific applications.?
I am about to re-build the whole rig.
To me cost isn't a factor (within reason) I tend to go for the most compact components
which generally tend to be the best materials.

thx
Howard

 

[rudolph_hart]

Harken

 

[Baku]

Harken

+1

 

[savageseadog]

Lewmar winches, rest Harken

 

[TradewindSailor]

Lewmar or Ronstan. Harken for tracks and batt cars but definitely not for furlers.

 

[maxcampbell]

Ronstan. Their little BB blocks are just lovely. If size is your main worry, then Ronstan do seem to love to go small.

 

[gardenshed]

Depends on the application and what your plans are, I.e. no compromise racing, long life/ reliability offshore cruising, access for maintenance and repairs.......
Harken, Lexmar & rontsan all make brilliant gear. Harken the the most high performance but it is more important to get the size right and use the right type of bearing for the application.

Plain bearing blocks, Barton are good value
Clutches: Spinlock
A good all round compromise: Selden

 

[mocruising]

Depends on the application and what your plans are, I.e. no compromise racing, long life/ reliability offshore cruising, access for maintenance and repairs.......
Harken, Lexmar & rontsan all make brilliant gear. Harken the the most high performance but it is more important to get the size right and use the right type of bearing for the application.

Plain bearing blocks, Barton are good value
Clutches: Spinlock
A good all round compromise: Selden

I think Lewmar gear is generally very good but recently they have had big problems with their quality control. We have has to return gear because it goes rusty when left out in a marine environment. We purchased half a dozen large snap shackles and they were shiny and looked great but were only marginally better than mild steel. Manufacturing shifted to China I suspect. They replaced them without question and the same thing happened. In the end I chucked them out and bought some French ones.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

I'd go for Harmar, and if that wasn't suitable, then Lewstan, but on no account Ronken.
I think.

 

[aitchem]

Thanks folks.
Just from a touchy feely point of view you confirm my thoughts.
I will do some more fondling on Monday, before ordering.

thx
Howard

 

[GeorgeLlewellin]

My current boat has Harken 2 speed self tailing winches. The only problem I have is that the winch has to be removed from the deck in order to service the inner bearings.