WINCHES - WHICH TYPE AND SIZE?

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Which size and what type of self tailing winch would members recommend I replace my old non self tailing Andersons with?
These are on a twister 28, mainly for the 140% genoa.

 

[LadyInBed]

What size are the old ones?
If they were ok, get the same size.
If they were a bit like hard work, get a size bigger.
The self tailing jaw will work on a range of rope diameters.
Edit:
Two speed, but make depends on depth of £ocket!

 

[Adamastor]

Probably 28's will keep you going...
Go selftailing if you can: takes 8-14mm line equally well, and they'll liik as good as new in 20 years!

 

[Tranona]

Both Lewmar and Harken have good information on their sites to help you choose the size. There are other less known manufacturers such as Antal and Andersen, but the sizes are generally the same.

 

[vyv_cox]

When you check Antal technical detail carefully you will find for some sizes that they can exaggerate. When I replaced my halyard winches with 16s I studied all the data very carefully and found that Antal 16s were markedly inferior to Lewmars in terms of power ratio.

Andersen, OTOH, are a very well made and constructed winch.

So far as the OP is concerned, buy the biggest that will fit/you can afford, within reason. You will never regret having the extra power, and neither will your crew.

 

[William_H]

I would question why you would want to replace the existing winches?
I will be howled down perhaps but I don' think self tailing is all it is cracked up to be. I have well placed cam cleats that I can drag the tail of the rope through as the winch handle is pulled with the other hand and find it ok. I sail on a friends 28fter and don't think the ST feature all that good. 2 speed is good to have on bigger jibs though. Keep you cash for new sails. olewill

 

[benlui]

just had harken self tailing installed on my shipman 28, and am happy with them however, is a self tailing winch "a self tailing winch" regardless of make? i say this as harken ant cheap!

 

[Tranona]

Harken and Lewmar are the two main players. Not a lot in it on price, nor performance as far as I can tell. If you have proper,proper boat Lewmar will supply in bronze if you ask them nicely and wait a while.