Winch grease

[mocruising]

Just purchased a tub of Lewmar winch grease and had to take out a second mortgage. With the six Lewmar electric 64's and 44's on the boat I get through a tub a season. Can anyone advise the specification of the stuff as I am sure the equivalent will be available at a fraction of the cost away from the Yachting Industry.

 

[sarabande]

Castrol have products to cover lots of specialist applications

http://www.castrol.com/castrol/subsection.do?categoryId=82958713&contentId=6005585

 

[charles_reed]

I'm afraid you'll find any of the specialist lubricants, suitable for boat winches, pretty expensive. Look for a high-shear, lithium-based grease like Castrol Optipit. Price about £8 for 200 gms.

 

[jeremyshaw]

I did a 'split test' with Lewmar grease vs. another brand (sbd vs port winches) I found in the Caribbean somewhere. After 12 months I noticed no difference whatsoever in the condition of the greases, so much as I love my Lewmar winches I think one is paying over the odds for the brand name when it comes to the grease.

Does encourage one to be frugal with it though, and it's surprising how little you need when you are.

 

[davidbains]

I've started using the synthetic grease sold in cycle shops for a few pounds.
Seems to work fine.

 

[temptress]

I use a good quality bearing grease (usually bought from a local Hw store or Halfords or a motro factors in the UK) on my Winches. So far 10 years on this boat (2 x Harken 68s, 4 x Harken 48s, 2 x 64s) and well as on my previous boat(s). I find this work well as long as you service them regularly.

IMO Lewmar/Harken etc grease has a better specification but is too expensive when a quality bearing grease will do. BTW - the same is true for engine oil and many othe rparts as well. Lewmar don't make the grease anyway they buy it in, brand it and then charge you extra for the brand. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Oldhand]

BP OG grease, OG stands for "open gear" and it is used in copious quantities on ship's anchor windlasses. As a result it is only sold in large drums which is a great shame because it is proabably less than £1 a kilo! Used it for many years on yacht winches until my supply ran out, just as good if not better than the expensive proprietry tubes. The white grease now sold in UK chandelries in plastic tubs looks to be the same stuff but I haven't tried it.