[Gramp34]

I'd be careful specifying hard chrome for winches. It doesn't provide particularly good corrosion protection to the base metal.

Hard chrome is what's used on the piston rods of hydraulic cylinders. It's actually fairly porous, and holds a film of oil in it. If you see a cylinder that's been exposed to the weather for a few months without cycling, you'll see rust coming though. I expect salt exposure would accelerate that process.

On "decorative" chrome the nickel layer provides most of the corrosion protection. The final chrome layer protects the nickel from tarnishing.

A shop doing decorative work can give you a thicker layer of chrome. They just leave the parts in the tank longer. Tell them the winch drums need to be particularly wear resistant and they can probably recommend settings for them.

New England Chrome has been advertising in Good Old Boat for years. I don't have any experience with them, but they might be worth a call.

Good luck,

Tim