slipping winch

[xort]

I have a small self tailing winch in the cockpit for mainsail furling & genoa furling plus topping lift & vang. It slips on the furling lines & the line has to be tensioned to work. The boat is a 1985 but I'm not sure the winch is original.

Do I need to replace the drum? The lines on that side are all 3/8". Perhaps a smaller ring on the top the line is wrapped around?

[SVCarolena]

What size and make is the winch? How old is the line, and what type is it? Self tailing winches generally work properly only with line of a certain limited size range, and that information should be available from the manufacturer. Also, by chance has the rough finish on the drum worn off? We have some slip on our winches when we try to bring the sheets in tight, but work around the problem by hand tailing along with the self tailer.

[chucklesR]

Xort,
It's probably the lines being too smooth - try it with a new piece of line from something else (docking line etc..) of the same size. Furling lines use the same area over and over age and get usage smoothed long before they are otherwise gone.

If the drum is smooth to the touch then it is to the line too, obviously.

[xort]

New line!

I talked to a rigger. He said it's probably that the winch was made to handle a larger size line and 3/8" is too small. Only solution is to buy new winch! All 3 lines on that side are 3/8".

This makes sense. The winch is a Lewmar 30. I have another one on the other side of the cockpit and it handles the larger mainsheet line OK.

[chucklesR]

Send me the old winch I've got uses for it.

[xort]

We're talking wInch, not wEnch. Chris stays with the boat!

Called Lewmar in Ct. Rather flippant helper said sorry, time to replace or fabricate new ring. Couldn't check on any description as to whether it was designed to handle 3/8" line or not.

[Gary1]

Call florida rigging and hydraulic. 561-863-7444. They'll help you. The folks you dealt with in CT are Yankees. No hospitality at all up there. Probably the same bunch that do service for Pro-Furl. Sounds like 'em.

[SVCarolena]

Hey, easy on the Yankee comments.

As to the line size (and unless they have changed the specs), here are the specs for the current Lewmar 30 ST:

Specifications & dimensions:

2.1:1; 4.2:1 gear ratios
13.8:1; 29.2:1 power ratios
2-15/16" drum diameter
5-7/16" base diameter
6-5/16" height
Line size 5/16" to 1/2"
Fasteners: 5 X 1/4" flat head machine screws

3/8 seems to be on the small end, but ok. Maybe the line is worn, as already suggested, or the wrong type for the purpose. Just a thought.

[TxLnghrn]

According to the lewmar site, the 30ST is supposed to handle 5/16 to 1/2. However, I have the same problem with my 30ST and 3/8 line, luckily just a little hand tension on the line helps it hold.

[xort]

The specs are for current ST30. My winch is a much older version. The most pleasant yankee could not offer any info on what line size the old style accepts.