Replacement Winches Macwester 26

[Davydine]

Dear all,

I think that the old bottom handle winches on my Macwester 26 are coming to the end of their life and I intend to replace them this winter.

I am considering replacing with Antal 16 Self tailers does anyone know if these are OK.

I intend to put a marine ply Backing plate inside the base to spread the loads which is fine on the port side as I can access the inside of the winch mounting via the quarter berth but does anyone know how I can get at the Starboard one?
The bulkhead abaft the Dinette seems very securely fixed and I don't want this to become a serious deconstruction job!!

Many thanks for your help,

David

 

[Kathryn]

Look at Barton winches (www.bartonmarine.co.uk) they supply backing plates with their winches, and are very helpful people there. Prices extreemly competative too.

 

[ccscott49]

Know nothing about your boat, but antal winches are very good, well made of good materials, I have four onboard. Chromed bronze ones.

 

[BOBBIN]

If I remember correctly, empty the Stbd cockpit locker half fill it with fenders, climb in and lie on your back you should be able to see and reach the base of the winch platform.

I also seem to remember that because the base part of a modern st winch is deeper than the old Tufnell ones, you will need to increase the height of the sheet leads.

 

[SimonD]

I replaced my seized bottom action winches with Antal 16STs. They seem well made and certainly work fine. There is also a very informative website : http://www.antal.it/inglese/index_en.htm.

Simon

 

[dickh]

Or, alternatively you can put the winch on an angled wooden pad and orientate the winch to suit. I did this when I putted Anderson ST40's to replace small Lewmar 25's.

dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[paulrossall]

I replaced the genoa sheet winches on my Macwester 30 with Barton winches. They are definately adequate for the job and are much cheaper than other winches. It is a waste of money putting expensive winches suitable for very high tension sheets on a cruising boat like ours, in my opinion. I bought two Barton Nautilus G16 2 speed which should have been list price £100 each and only paid £95 for two (ie £47.5 each). at the London boat show 2000. On reflection I ddefinately did not need 2 speed winches and would now buy Barton Nautilus G8 single speed which are listed at about £70 each. They come with backing plates and I am well pleased with mine.

 

[Davydine]

Thanks Bobbin, I will check it out this weekend. I am a little nervous though, someone I know got stuck in the cockipit locker of a centaur when doing this as the fenders rolled round him and wedged him solid, now do I take someone with me just in case or is it less embarrasing to struggle and get yourself out!?!

The current winches have a wooden plate between the plinth and the winch so hopefully removing this will keep the sheet lead at the correct height (to be honest it is the state of this piece of woodwork that worries me more than the condition of the winch...)

As there are a couple of votes for Barton winches I will take a look at them before I do buy anything else.

Regards,

David

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by david_walkerdine on 20/11/2002 08:21 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[BOBBIN]

Hi David

There is always the possibility of getting stuck, you could substitute a rolled up inflatable for the fenders, or even better find a gullible slim assistant.

I changed to Lewmar 16st's, and even without the pads, they where to tall, a long shackel on the sheet block cured the problem. As I remmember it, the hardest part was removing the old winches, and those wooden blocks. Even with the bolts removed, they took a considerable amount of force to remove.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Hi!
I put Antal 16ST's on my Centaur around three years ago. As has been said elsewhere, they are very well made. Servicing requires no tools whatsoever - well, just something, anything, that will catch the end of a flat coiled washer. Mine have given no trouble at all and are more than man enough for a 223 sq.ft. genoa. I would say that at their price they are extremely good value for money.
Fair Winds!.

Wally

 

[vyv_cox]

Antal sizing

Check all the ratios, speeds, etc against the opposition before you make your decision. An Antal 16 was about equivalent to a Lewmar 14 when I last checked.

 

[dave_gibsea]

Re: Antal sizing

A pal of mine completed the (stormy) Round Britain and Ireland race this year, his boat fitted out ith Antal winches from which he had good reliability/no problems. I bought one last winter for my reefing gear and am very pleased. Give Heron Yacht Services a call on 01206 303693, they were doing these winches at good discounts last winter.

 

[charles_reed]

I've had an Antal 16 self-tailer on the reefing winches for the last 4 years and very successful it has been too.

I do agree with Vyv - Antal sizes are exactly the same as Harken and considerably smaller than a Lewmar of the same number.

I'd consider the Anatal 16 far too small for a sheet-winch on anything over 7m.

 

[charles_reed]

I've had an Antal 16 self-tailer as the reefing winch for the last 4 years and very successful it has been too.

I do agree with Vyv - Antal sizes are exactly the same as Harken and considerably smaller than a Lewmar of the same number.

I'd consider the Anatal 16 far too small for a sheet-winch on anything over 7m.

 

[gd7hej]

dave what sort of wiches on your mac at present,i have 2 old lewmar winches with round handle at base,would buy yours if they are the same as spares for mine..regards graham crusha@manx.net