What size of Winch?

underdog

underdog

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I am contemplating renewing my winches. Largest head sail size is 234 sq ft (21.75 sqm).
Can I use size 16 or do I need to go bigger? Boat = 32 ft 3 ton weight 3/4 rig.
 
It depends a bit on your physique. As a youth I used to handle such sails with size 8 winches (and a fair bit of luffing up to get sails hard) but now I find that I can only get that size of sail hard in with 40s. Unfortunately I only have 25s on Wight Dawn.
 
The lewmar winch selector seems to suggest a 30. I have these on my 28ftr and during more energetic beating I could wish they were bigger! Don't forget that the length of the winch handle will change the advantage. I had a couple of offset stanchions made up so I could swing a 10" handle without rapping my knuckles. Also consider that a self tailer allows you to use both hands to grind with.

Rob.
 
I was looking for the same info for my Konsort which has a genoa area of 330sq ft. I found the Harken site ok but didn't understand the Lewmar chart at all :(
 
What size of winch?

Thanks for the input. Current winches are two speed Barlow 23's. As I suspected
I probably need to go up a size rather than down. Would like self tailing . Looking at prices It looks like not much change from £1000.00. Ow!!!!!
 
Size designations vary between different manufacturers so it is best to check what the maker suggests. For example, the Genoa winches that I have on my Centurion 32 (35 square metres of sail) are two-speed and are marked size 26 while those for the spinnaker are size 22...But they were made by Barient, now defunct. They are massive beasts. A size 26 from, say Antal would be nowhere near.

Like you I too would have preferred them to be self-tailing but four winches in those sizes would be serious money...best spent elsewhere if it ever becomes available. :)
 
Our genoa is 250 sq ft, we replaced a pair of single speed Lewmar 28's ST with Harken two speed 40's ST. My wife still struggles to winch the sheet in hard when we are full on it. Just need to luff up a bit to take the strain off, the mainsail is still driving. I wouldn't want anything smaller than a 40. We can only swing 8 inch handles though, which does effecively take a size off the winch. We will re-position the stanchions one day to move up to a 10 inch handle.
 
I made sufficient space to move up to 10 inch handles by fitting a tapered spacer under the stancheon bases. Even now it's hard work with two speed Gibb 28's

Neil
 
I have Self Tailing Andersen 40's on my Moody 33 - are possibly a bit large but work well but my wife does struggle a bit. Go as big as you can afford, they'll be much easier to use.
 
underdog said:
Thanks for the input. Current winches are two speed Barlow 23's. As I suspected
I probably need to go up a size rather than down. Would like self tailing . Looking at prices It looks like not much change from £1000.00. Ow!!!!!
Click to expand...
I wouldn't economise by not having self tailers - so much easier if you sail single handed.
 
ghostlymoron said:
I wouldn't economise by not having self tailers - so much easier if you sail single handed.
Click to expand...

Or even if you don't. :D

I would agree with other posters that it is worth going up a size from the Lewmar chart if the budget can stand it, unless you are young and fit, and especially so if you can only use an 8" handle.

We had Lewmar 30 non STs on our Halmatic 30, replaced with 40STs, what a difference.
 
Have bitten the bullet. 2 x Lewmar Evo 30 self-tailers now installed.
They are very good.
Best deal from my local chandlrey Down Marine in Belfast. 2 day delivery.
 
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