[kwaltersmi]

I'm planning to replace the winch cable for my centerboard sometime soon because the current cable is starting to fray. Can I use the Home Depot-variety steel cable as a replacement, or do I need something more specific to the marine (freshwater) environment like SS?

 

[patrickrea]

The Home Depot cable will probably corrode to junk in a very short time. You definitely want stainless cable. 7x19 would be the stuff. You could try to use a synthetic line such as Amsteel. it will never corrode, is very light and much more flexible. How the line will behave on the winch I have no idea. SD would probably know better.

 

[sailingdog]

You really need to use 316 SS cable for that, not 1x19 by something 7x19 or something like that, which is far more flexible. A good synthetic line might be a good idea but it depends on the setup of your boat. Chafe is a problem with synthetic line.

 

[TSOJOURNER]

Centerboard SSteel vs line

Often I was replacing the centerboard cable on my Irwin 34, a rope wire splice was involved, so not easy. SIX years ago I went to warpspeed line with the amsteel core, No problems yet. Believe the past failures were not due to chafe but corrosion of the SS, which always displayed a tapering cone of wire.
My advice try line it lasts longer under water.