The never-ending project to fill my hole in the ocean while bailing it out

Preparing for Sailing Season '06
Replacing the Winches Project

Description

Today I began replacing the old Gibbs winches with the new Lewmar 14STCs. Here's the starboard side Gibbs.  (Apr. 15, 2006)

With the angle of the winch on the cockpit coaming, I'd considered adding cantilevered winch pads to level the winches more to horizontal with the waterline. I was shipped the wrong pads (non-cantilevered) but have been assured by others in the discussion group that it's likely not necessary; many of them use self-tailing winches without pads beneath. As I removed the old winches, I discovered that there'd be no room anyway for the outboard bolts, washers, and nuts if the winch bases were any more horizontal.

The old port side winch removed.  I later cleaned off the old sealant and filled the three holes on each side with West System epoxy (tinted white and with some colloidal silica mixed in to thicken it). While I was at it, I removed the (failed idea) forward deck Danforth anchor chocks, in preparation for the upcoming forward hatch installation, and filled their screw holes as well.

The old starboard side winch with its drum removed. There's not much to them compared to the Lewmars: no bearings whatsoever, the drum just rides on the spindle. Note the wear on the spindle and pawls -- and this was the better of the two! It's not too surprising, I suppose, that after thirty-two years of use I began having problems with them sticking.

The old Gibbs winch with its drum removed.  Drum base diameter:  3".

The new Lewmar winch with its drum removed.  Drum base diameter:  4¾".
No comparison.

I drilled new holes on the coaming and sealed the area where the new Lewmars (starboard side shown in photo) would be mounted.  After a few hours to let the 3M 4200 set up, I mounted the winches loosely. Tomorrow I'll tighten them down into the bedding compound and reassemble their drums, feeder arms, etc.  (Apr. 17, 2006)

Port side winch mounted. (Note the pencil tracing in this and the previous photo that I did first of the drum, so I could center the winch base and mark its holes.)

The winch project completed.  (Apr. 18, 2006)

The port side Lewmar winch mounted.

The starboard side Lewmar winch mounted, with handle.

The port side Lewmar winch mounted, with handle.