The Best and Cheapest Winch Grease

[westernman]

A spray on lithium grease will do the job.
You don't want much, and the spray variety will stop you getting too much on and unwanted build up.

Something like this:-
https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Professional-White-Lithium-Grease/dp/B0032NIWHK/ref=sr_1_13?crid=3CQQSHOFOFMXY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.i230LlnncQvdF5C6G9fbW7olA1rSUsghjRYrq6h3p11aU7EQENQW51zB8qJv8urnGAiYolb8Cdm5ZGWU5We_GJIhaSIBfugV_Fw4JwSCsNv6uGQIHh9qhoA7ZCES730PHI82SLGii8hpLIIIXDNs1kq9tGSi47OD_neRzQ4U-mMir2_05B9il5kKM1nsIetSAKVlRuFkiXz4Ly68rGLWtjTjig70oG3CNpIpSQu-7a1xMVaWrtLGX6Cl7omXzKjgi94dTosLcxaM0zo9eA8SijkHvN1SrER53VREDYag__w.hiLBlbBp8w1dRxWcakZKEC81kD8TJHQ4pibW6A71atQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=lithium+grease&qid=1768519787&sprefix=lithium+grease,aps,141&sr=8-13&th=1

Lidl had some on offer for 2.50 euros a while back.

But a normal sized tube will outlast your lifetime - so why skimp.
Get the manufacturers stuff and sleep at night.

PS. Don't drop any bits over the side.

 

[wonkywinch]

reduce the risk of dropping expensive parts in the sea

An open top cardboard box with taped up bottom edges and a hole cut in it the same size as your winch base diameter.

Pop that over the winch and it'll catch any parts.

For any bowsprit, roller, furler type jobs, an open umbrella hanging under the bowsprit works too.

 

[BobnLesley]

... maintenance instructions are pretty clear about what you _must_ do, and removing the baseplate isn’t on the list.

That said, I would recommend (and have done myself) doing so the first time that you service the winches on an older, but new-to-you boat:
When replacing the thirty year old winches on our first yacht I was surprised by the poor condition of the securing bolts - corrosion, severe deformation, cracking, three bolts were actually snapped off. Recalling that, when we bought another 30 year old boat with the intention of crossing oceans in it, besides servicing all the winches, I also pulled all the base plate bolts and found those to be in an even worse condition.

 

[MikeBz]

I had a gift voucher and couldn't think what to buy for the boat.

I settled for those canvas "tea cosy" covers for my four winches. This was some years ago and I have never serviced
the winches since. I can't believe that they do anything. Could they ?

I’ve always views the covers as being for UV protection but perhaps they also stop heavy rain from slowly washing the lube out.

 

[johnalison]

Ah: now I know about reversing “Installation Procedure 2”. But while you can still do that, why would you? The only reason I can think of is to reduce the risk of dropping expensive parts in the sea. That has to be weighed against the extra hassle of headlining, sealant, and perhaps needing a helper. The maintenance instructions are pretty clear about what you _must_ do, and removing the baseplate isn’t on the list.

Reversing installation procedure makes sense, but only works, at least on Lewmar winches, if you notice the tiny drop in the centre column when you remove the lugs. I have watched people struggling for ever trying to get the lugs back in without raising the column.

 

[wonkywinch]

I think the covers are very valuable. Two of my winches are exposed near the helm, the other on the coachroof under the sprayhood. When I serviced them, there was a marked difference in the internal condition so I bought covers for all of them.

I found an Ebay seller that makes them up at a reasonable price - Winch Covers by Waterchild on eBay

 

[ashtead]

On topic of covers we had oversize halyard bags made which when moored contain the rope plus cover the winches under sprayhood . Tend to try to service 2 manual ones annually but leave the electric ones alone and they seem to continue working. As an aside any thoughts on lubricating the windlass ?

 

[thinwater]

Seen that way, the rest is like discussing which specific molecular compositions of poliester is needed for safety belts

No, it is like discussing what specification a seat belt (width, strength, and UV resistance are all specified) and it's fixings should meet, if someone were considering making their own. Those things matter. No one described the details of grease formulation, including base materials and additives, only performance attributes.

 

[thinwater]

... I settled for those canvas "tea cosy" covers for my four winches. This was some years ago and I have never serviced
the winches since. I can't believe that they do anything. Could they ?

• Reduce grease wash-out. Also internal corrosion. Water that falls in the socket drains through the winch.
• Keep UV off the plastic parts on the self-tailor.
• Reduce fading of black anodizing, although that is only cosmetic
• Keep bird shit and dirt out of the handle socket. Again, water and dirt that drain go through the winch.
• I'm guessing no effect on external corrosion.

The self-tailers are the ones I cover.

---

Covers can be ...

• Purchased.
• Small worn out fenders from the skip cut in half.
• My current set was from the recycle skip.