Winches, Lewmar or Harken?

Bodach na mara

Bodach na mara

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I am about to replace my aged Lewmar 25 winches with more powerful self-tailing ones. I reckon I need something in the 40 region of power and have found that I need to sacrifice an arm or leg or both. Has the panel any views on the relative merits of Lewmar versus Harken winches. Is it worth paying more for Chrome as opposed to Alloy?

Why are the things so expensive anyway? £700 for a lump of metal with a few gears! And why does the price go up so much with power? Surely altering the gearing does not cost much more to make.
 
Wight Dawn said:
I am about to replace my aged Lewmar 25 winches with more powerful self-tailing ones. I reckon I need something in the 40 region of power and have found that I need to sacrifice an arm or leg or both. Has the panel any views on the relative merits of Lewmar versus Harken winches. Is it worth paying more for Chrome as opposed to Alloy?

Why are the things so expensive anyway? £700 for a lump of metal with a few gears! And why does the price go up so much with power? Surely altering the gearing does not cost much more to make.
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I'd go for Harken Radials in black alloy finish. Or, as second choice, Lewmar Evo in black alloy. You can get the Harkens for £560 or less, and the Lewmars for £580 or less, both for 40ST.
 
The previous model Harkens have to be removed from the deck to strip fully for maintenance.
An instructor friend of mine who sails on lots of new school boats (including the Sunsail 40s) says the new Harkens slip unless you have lots of turns on. My lightly used previous model black alloy Harkens certainly do - you have to have the drum very full.
I fitted new chrome Lewmars to my previous boat and thought they were much better than the Harkens I have now.
So personally I'd vote Lewmar.
 
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I'd go for Lewmar on the basis that they are British, we need manufacturing here, and if we dont support british companies how can we expect anyone else to do so.

Can you imagine a Frenchman or a German thinking twice about it in a parallel situation?
 
In the past I used to maintain winches on a racing Swan. All were Lewmar, were built like brick outhouses and if ever anything ever did need sorting, Lewmar in Havant were VERY helpful. Not sure whether it is the same nowadays, but do consider service as part of the decision.
 
A, L or H?

Harken bought Enkes some few years ago. If you do want to save some few £ and go for Harken, then be sure it is not an old Enkes model you get. Enkes was clearly secondary rate. Neither outside nor interior was of sufficient quality. Mix of metals that would not last.

Lewmar is good, British, true. After sales service is excellent!

Andersen is the best in among the mid-range. Still affordable. Grip is excellent, and ss all over. Precision is superior to the others. => low losses.

Prior to any purchase, consider your requirements! What is really needed?
- A winch with a small drum and a long handle gives a very nice gearing effect.
- Is there a need for 1:1 gear? (generally, what gears are needed?)

/J
 
Wight Dawn said:
I am about to replace my aged Lewmar 25 winches with more powerful self-tailing ones. I reckon I need something in the 40 region of power and have found that I need to sacrifice an arm or leg or both. Has the panel any views on the relative merits of Lewmar versus Harken winches.
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I read around before buying my halyard winches and went for Lewmar on the basis of what I found. Not dissing Harken but the reports I read preferred Lewmar to them.

Wight Dawn said:
Is it worth paying more for Chrome as opposed to Alloy?
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I read that when chrome eventually goes it flakes off little bits into the sheets which then cut your hands...

Boo2
 
Lewmar.
Mine (16ST?) are 35 years old are still working ok and the alloy is still in good condition. I think that the after sales service went downhill a few years ago, but has now improved quite considerably.
 
Boo2 said:
I read that when chrome eventually goes it flakes off little bits into the sheets which then cut your hands...

Boo2
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Certainly shouldn't. Hard chrome is not like decorative chrome.
On my old Barient winches (that I replaced with Lewmar) it had just about worn through showing bronze but no flaking.
 
Jaramaz said:
Harken bought Enkes some few years ago. If you do want to save some few £ and go for Harken, then be sure it is not an old Enkes model you get. Enkes was clearly secondary rate. Neither outside nor interior was of sufficient quality. Mix of metals that would not last.

Lewmar is good, British, true. After sales service is excellent!

Andersen is the best in among the mid-range. Still affordable. Grip is excellent, and ss all over. Precision is superior to the others. => low losses.

Prior to any purchase, consider your requirements! What is really needed?
- A winch with a small drum and a long handle gives a very nice gearing effect.
- Is there a need for 1:1 gear? (generally, what gears are needed?)

/J
Click to expand...
I've Enkes on my boat - they're 22 years old and have done about 60K miles. Apart from having to make up new pawl springs, they've just been stripped and lubricated every other year - no corrosion, no problems.

I've got one Harken, definitely cheaper than alternatives, smaller than comparable Lewmars (possibly a marketing ploy) but no less satisfactory than the Enkes.

As to patriotic support for Lewmar - you'd probably be surprised as to where
they're actually manufactured (still it's a British company who'll pocket the margin).

I've also got one Antal self-tailer, it's probably the best made of all, the original Harkens having been made by them, the sizes are exactly the same as Harkens.

I've always found Lewmar service good, rather better than the quality of many of their products.

If you're investing in winches for your great grandchildren to enjoy, get the Andersens, you're paying a big premium for a slightly better spec than any of the others.

Alloy-barrelled winches are always the cheapest.

Sadly Barient who made arguably the best winches on the market are no more, nor are Gibb who made easily the cheapest and most cheerful.
 
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