How often must the winches be serviced?

[LMAYHEW]

I know my 32 foot Islander is long overdue for winch servicing (disassembly, cleaning and lubrication), but I hate to get into things with which I have no experience (this condition comes on with age). Does anyone have any advice? Do you have it done by a rigger, or do you take it on by yourself?

[Les Blackwell]

Cleaning winches is not hard and should be down probably every year or every other year. With that said, my winches on a Hunter 380 haven't been down in three years so do as I say, not as I do.

However, I have been cleaning winches for about thirty to forty years off and on. The easiest way is to get a good size cardboard box and cut out a hole the size of your largest winch in the bottom. I would also go to any good size marine store and get a winch lubrication kit particularly if you can find one for your brand of winches.

Following the instructions in the kit put the box over the winch and start to dissemble the winch. If I get around to doing it this year, I intend to take digial pictures to remind me how it all goes back together again. The hardest part for me is the damn pawls (little pieces that keep the winch from going backwards) which have little springs which I always lose one or more. Thank heavans they come in the kit. That is why the box, to keep things that spring off from going overboard.

Wash all the parts in some automobile parts cleaner. I use to have an old tooth brush, probably will have to break in a new one this year. Dry in a lint free environment. Use the grease that comes with the kit. Don't substitute. I saw one winch where they had use a car grease and it looked terrible. And don't use too much grease or lub. A light touch will do it. Besides, you're going to do it again next year arn't you? Hmmmmm!

Do one winch at a time because you DON'T want to interchange the parts. Other than that, do it in the sun, a cup of coffee nearby, some good music and you'll feel good at the end of the day. It's a no sweat job.

Good luck and have fun.

[strongsail]

your boat's primaries are probably 2-speeds, maybe selftailers - not very complicated mechanisms, really - if you've taken a starter motor apart, or rebuilt a bicycle, you can service your own winches - get drawings and spares (pawls, springs) ahead of time - and thorough cleaning will require getting dirty - be ready to make a mess - do all the cleaning in the bottom of a pickle bucket and keep track of the itty bitty parts - freshly lubed winches sound so cool when you spin 'em - service one at a time, and compare the sound and feel of before&after - you'll do it more often -

[rusty]

Sounds to me like you should just jump in and do the winches.

Now that it is March, and the weather is moving toward Spring, it is likely your boat could be used in the near future. I'll bet it would be nice to have freshly overhauled winches. :)