Winches - Chrome or Alloy ?

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homa

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I'm confused...

I want to increase the size of my primary genoa sheet ST winches and notice that like for like, alloy are cheaper than the chrome. Why ?

Anyone care to give pro/con for either type ?

Cheers
Homa
 
Aluminum is a lot cheaper than bronze!

Aluminum is lighter, but bronze will last forever, rechroming accepted. Pay your money and take your choice.
 
Alloy is significantly cheaper - has anyone had to replace/repair a worn out/corroded alloy winch ?

Can't imagine an alloy winch failing in my lifetime, or does someone out there know different ?

NB I'm a cruising man so whatever I have it will get light use.

Cheers
 
Just replaced the aluminum winches on my boat for larger Crome ones. No wear visable on the outside of the drum. More importantly no wear on the gear ring on the inside.

Steve
 
[ QUOTE ]
Alloy is significantly cheaper - has anyone had to replace/repair a worn out/corroded alloy winch ?

Can't imagine an alloy winch failing in my lifetime, or does someone out there know different ?

NB I'm a cruising man so whatever I have it will get light use.

Cheers

[/ QUOTE ]

1/ yes on my Co32 (managed to sell them, 20 yrs old for 1/2 price of new chrome)

2/ the new chrome are not as good ( lewmar ) as the older ones /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

3/ if you want some good 40s that need re chroming Im yer man /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Alloy is significantly cheaper - has anyone had to replace/repair a worn out/corroded alloy winch ?

Can't imagine an alloy winch failing in my lifetime, or does someone out there know different ?

NB I'm a cruising man so whatever I have it will get light use.

Cheers

[/ QUOTE ]Yes I have/'ought to' have. Sadler 25 many years ago - alloy drums had worn out and were not available as replacement parts.

I sold the boat before investing 10% of the capital value on a pair of new winches!
 
Yes, I went through two sets of alloy winches on my last boat (Elizabethan 29). These were mounted on the outside of the cockpit coaming and regularly got a good dunk in salty water which then mixed with the grease in the winch and so you can imagine the result. The third set of winches were of composite construction and much better but I can't remember the make. I think that if you use alloy winches it might be best not to use grease at all, just a light spray with WD40 or similar.

Ted
 
Yes I have replaced my sheet winches I think #16 largish single speed winches on 21ft trailer sailer. They had alloy drums. I did not mind the slight wear of the drum outer surface anodising but the inside bearing surface wore such that the drum could be cocked sideways with load. This led to the pauls failing to grip the ratchet on the inside correctly. The result being a winch that occasionally wouldn't hold.
Yes they were serviced often with grease. My kind of sailing involves about 30 tacks every Sunday for half of the year in racing conditions so they got a real work out after about 18 years.
The replacements have a composite plastic type drum and perhaps won't last so long but are OK after about 5 years hard going. olewill
 
My Liz 29 is still using her original 1963 tufnol ones, with bronze innards, does anyone know why they no longer make them? Is it fashion or were they too long-lasting?
 
Looks like the Chrome it is then...

Anyone have a pair of 40 or 44 ST chrome winches they want to sell me ??

Tx
Homa
 
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