[C38] Replacing winch

Charles Finn Charles at finn.ws
Sun Dec 20 15:06:20 EST 2020 

I have my lines running to the cockpit as I single hand a lot. Starboard 
side of cabin has my dedicated mainsail halyard winch as I like to slack 
the main down wind and tighten up of course going upwind.

Port side is my mainsheet winch which I find necessary due to the curved 
traveler which is one of the dumber things Catalina did on our boat!  
Steve S. installed a straight traveler and is is so much easier to use!  
Right next to the winch is my line to  my garhauer vang, which is really 
helpful for sail trim!

I tried putting all of my lines on the starboard side as it would save 
me money by only having to buy one self-tailing winch, but it is amazing 
how easy it is for someone to get confused and let go the wrong 
clutch!!!  After just a couple mistakes... and yes, I was one of the 
people who let loose the main halyard when trying to control the 
mainsheet!  I decided to revert to starboard and port control areas.

When I take apart a winch, I am careful to build a "dam" out of towels 
to trap the bits that pop out just when you least expect it.  This is 
really important when servicing the big winches in the cockpit and a 
drape towels over the lifelines and on the deck to stop those bits from 
bouncing on the deck and inevitably heading over the side!   One other 
bit of advice is there really is a problem with too much grease on the 
winch!  Use just enough to coat the parts but no more!

I want to say again that I wouldn't be without my Milwaukee M28 1/2 inch 
angle drill!  While I would love to install electric winches, I just 
cannot justify the cost....  So a $500 angle drill works great for both 
sheeting and hoisting.  I even hoisted my 110 pound grand daughter up 
the mast using the 2 speed winch in low gear.

Chuck Finn
Mighty Quinn #114
Lake Superior

On 12/19/2020 12:22 PM, Pierre Patino wrote:
> Hmmm
> Well I think servicing the winches is simple but keeping the 
> boat/clothes/water clean is the hardest. However, I have a lot of 
> experience tinkering...
> I personally don't think the two-speed winches are very difficult to 
> rebuild.
>
> Anyway, the kits from Lewmar which contain the grease and oil and 
> springs etc. have a small manual. That's where I started.
>
> My recommendation for a beginner is to take many pictures as you take 
> the winch apart. There are many youtube videos such as: 
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqCunPhQHw4 
> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqCunPhQHw4>
>
> Then the cleaning: I used a small bucket with kerosene where I put all 
> the gears, pawls, springs etc.  I used a wire brush on all the gummed 
> up bits and q-tips for the gear teeth as well as the drum teeth.
> Rubber gloves and rags are a must for me.
>
> There's a zen to winch maintenance.....
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, Dec 19, 2020 at 7:29 AM Stephen Swanson 
> <steve-swanson at comcast.net <mailto:steve-swanson at comcast.net>> wrote:
>
>     Steve Swanson/ Maverick— Rockport, MA. I love the winch talk.  I
>     would like to service the main sheet winch and jib sheet winches. 
>     Any ideas about how to approach the task?  I would like to do it
>     myself, but want to make sure I can get them back together again. 
>     Are 2 speed winches complicated to take apart and lubricate?
>
>     Sent from my iPhone
>
>     > On Dec 18, 2020, at 11:28 PM, Max Soto <maxsoto at gmail.com
>     <mailto:maxsoto at gmail.com>> wrote:
>     >
>     > There are several options.
>     > Sent all my lines to the cockpit and installed a Lewmar 40st on
>     starboard side to be used with mainsheet and also main halyard.
>     Way easier is somebody is grinding me up the mast
>     > You can also leave the q6 where it is, and install the new 30 on
>     Port and install a block where the mainsheet is attached to, so
>     you can control the mainsheet from both sides.
>     > BTW, no gaskets back then. You can install one or use Teff gel
>     > Hope this helps.
>     > Max Soto A
>     > +506-8312-1367
>     >
>     >> On Dec 18, 2020, at 20:20, Pierre Patino
>     <pierre.patino at gmail.com <mailto:pierre.patino at gmail.com>> wrote:
>     >>
>     >> 
>     >> Hi all and happy everything!
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> I was searching for information on the standard winches on our
>     boat in the past Catalina38 listserve messages and I found out
>     that some of us have a Lewmar 30 (or other) as the mainsheet
>     winch. My boat has the Lewmar16 instead (standard?).
>     >> I decided to get a new Lewmar30 CST Evo since it was on sale
>     and because my wife has a harder time cranking on the Lewmar 16
>     and sometimes I need to winch faster when jibing.
>     >>
>     >> So the question is, should I put the new winch where the old
>     one was (starboard side of the deck just above the chart table)
>     which would mean that I would have to drill some new holes and
>     plug the old ones or should I put the new winch on the port side
>     athwart of the old one. In the latter case I would have to move
>     some blocks too.
>     >>
>     >> I know that there is no simple "best" answer but I'm happy to
>     read opinions.
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> Thanks!
>     >>
>     >>
>     >>
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