Winch lubricants

[charles_reed]

Has anyone tried silicon-based PTFE grease for sheet winches?

I've found PTFE bike-spray fantastic for pawls. Lithium-base greases have the advantage of low price, the specialist products from Lewmar are expensive (IMHO) and no better than outboard grease.

I've just lubricated my reefing winch - to my horror for the first time for 12 years - it needed it - but I do hate those circlips when @ anchor.

 

[prof pat pending]

Personally I wouldn't take silicone in any form anywhere near a boat, it's horrible stuff

It migrates along surfaces at will, it can make it pretty much impossible to paint, varnish or bond anything

 

[ghostlymoron]

Tbh you need such small amounts of grease that you might as well use the lewmar stuff even at crazy prices. I personally use Morris lubricants waterproof grease because I already have a large tin of it.

 

[Mrnotming]

I was told to use only light lube oil on the pawls as grease congeals, with the danger of consequent slippage.This advice, from memory,came from Lewmar themselves.Those in hot climates may not notice, as the grease may just flow out anyway!

 

[Bilgediver]

I was told to use only light lube oil on the pawls as grease congeals, with the danger of consequent slippage.This advice, from memory,came from Lewmar themselves.Those in hot climates may not notice, as the grease may just flow out anyway!

That is what Mr Harkin told us recently at a talk.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Yes, I was referring to lubricating the bearings in my last post. I use 3 in 1 on the pawls. BTW only use the lightest smear of grease on the bearings.

 

[Topcat47]

I use PTFE geese on my sheet winch bearings. I also use it on the pawls but I brush it on with a LIDL 6mm stiff brush and direct a heat gun at it to get it to flow where it's needed and ensure there's not too much around. I use to use waterproof grease but I found it looked like marzipan by the end of the year.

 

[macd]

Personally I wouldn't take silicone in any form anywhere near a boat, it's horrible stuff

It migrates along surfaces at will, it can make it pretty much impossible to paint, varnish or bond anything

In general I'm 100% in agreement, but silicone grease is the lubricant of choice for several boaty applications, especially around 0-rings (which can swell and/or be damaged by hydrocarbon greases).

To Charles: assuming you mean the large circlips/spiral rings at the top of the winch, if you insert the winch handle before teasing them off, they're less likely to end in the drink.

 

[Trop Cher]

I bought the Lewmar tube of grease, so okay it cost a tenner but it will probably last me at least ten years for all that you use each time. Sometimes it's easier in the longterm just to use the right stuff from the start