Winch handles

[saurav16]

Also was wondering if winch handles work for any winch or are they specific to winch size and make? I have lewmar 10's can I buy anyone of the self locking winch handles?

[Giulietta]

Yes you can. They're standard.

And for that size, you can get the cheap ones at West Marine.

I use the West Marine ones, they're made by Schaeffer. Lewmar and Harken are not much better. You cen get handles here at Sailnet also, probably cheaper.

Avoid the plastic ones.

[sailingdog]

The current winches have handles that are standardized... some older winches used proprietary handles, and can't be used with modern handles.

[saurav16]

Thanks for your reply

[saurav16]

Another quick question; how does the locking work on the locking winch handle? Is it all in the handle or does the winch have to be able to support a locking winch handle (i.e. have a groove or notch in the winch itself?)?

[sailingdog]

All modern winches that I know of support locking handles. The winch socket is basically an eight-pointed star with the points being 90˚ angles, and is basically two squares superimposed over each other at—the locking mechanism is a square the same size as one of the two superimposed squares, and it rotates about 22˚ to "lock" the handle in place.

[Gene T]

I love the plastic handled ones, and that is all I will buy now. They float (not that you would be likely to retrieve one) are strong, lightweight, don't mark up the gelcoat and are cheap. What's not to like?

[sailingdog]

They're also easier on your toes when you drop them...

Originally Posted by Gene T

I love the plastic handled ones, and that is all I will buy now. They float (not that you would be likely to retrieve one) are strong, lightweight, don't mark up the gelcoat and are cheap. What's not to like?

[Giulietta]

Originally Posted by Gene T

I love the plastic handled ones, and that is all I will buy now. They float (not that you would be likely to retrieve one) are strong, lightweight, don't mark up the gelcoat and are cheap. What's not to like?

Gene, I don't know how you use yours, but in my boat, they havn't lasted more than 2 weeks, they broke, all 3 of them. Mind you I use the pretty big ones, and voilentely.

I guess for a small cruising boat they are OK. Maybe I should have had written in another way.

[SEMIJim]

Originally Posted by Giulietta

Gene, I don't know how you use yours, but in my boat, they havn't lasted more than 2 weeks, they broke, all 3 of them. Mind you I use the pretty big ones, and voilentely.

Wow. That must be some abuse you're giving those winch handles! My wife and I were taken along on a race one evening, on a boat we were considering buying. At one point the captain wanted the jib halyard tightened up. Winch was on the mast. So first I tried it tailing the line myself. Not tight enough. Handed the line off to one of the crew to tail it. (Luckily the halyard was on a clutch.) I ended-up hauling on that winch handle with both hands with all my might to finally get it as tight as he wanted it. The winch handle flexed, but it did not break. Now I'm no Atlas, but I'm no 90 lb. weakling, either. I work out two-to-three times a week. I weigh about 190 lbs. (86 kilos).

Jim