Winch Size? CD-27

[tjr818]

Does anyone know what size the Lewmar winches are on a 27? I want to add a winch on the cabin top for the main halyard and it would be nice if I could match the original sheet winches.

[Steve Laume]

You probably don't need a winch as big as those that are used for the sheets. Raven, a CD-30, originally had 16s for the sheets and 6s on the mast for halyards. You could go to an 8 when you factor in the extra friction to run lines back to the cockpit but anything larger than that would be some serious over kill. If you don't feel you need self tailers there are some great deals to be had on used winches, Steve.

[tjr818]

Thanks Steve. Used is definitely what I am thinking. I am not at the boat today and I was going to bid on a few E-bay items, but I wanted to be sure of the size. I am sure that self-tailers would be nice. We are adding Tidesmarine Strongtrack to the mast this year, so I don't think I will need much power, but I do want to lead the main halyard back to the cockpit and keep my bride off of the foredeck when reefing or dousing sail.
Any and all advice is encouraged

[fmueller]

Tim,

The original jib winches on my 27 were #8 bronze Lewmars, non-tailing. I upgraded those to #16 single speed self tailing Lewmars which makes single handing the boat a little easier. But they are not as salty looking - I only afforded myself the dark grey/chrome version. It was just by a whisker possible to fit the #16s on the existing Spartan/CD style bases by tapping new holes in the base. My opinion was that the #8s have enough "yank" for the OEM 100% jib, but are underpowered for a 125-150 %.

My mast has chromed #6s. The jib side basically gets once-a-season use, but needs to be there because the jib halyard requires some force to set properly ... but on many days I find I can just hoist the main ok with arm strength, although if I want to move the draft forward properly, I'll stretch the luff with the winch a little bit.

Just generally speaking, what is nice about our little old boats is that they do not require huge strength to manage, but are stout enough to take a licking beyond their modest dimensions.

I kept the #8s and like you am considering repurposing them for some task eventually.

Fred

[Warren Kaplan]

Tim,
This is what I did and it worked marvelously for a cabin top winch for the main halyard. Its a self tailing winch. You want that because when hoisting sail you may need to control the boom or the leech of the sail a bit as it goes up. Having one hand free to do that REALLY HELPS as you grind the winch with the other hand. Its an Andersen 12 I believe (was a long time ago)

[Warren Kaplan]

By the way, I also replaced my primary winches with Lewmar 16 single speed self tailing winches. They fit nicely on the stands the original winches were on.

By and large they worked well. Much, however depends on the size of your genoa. A small headsail in most conditions or a large headsail with the wind not all that strong is easily handled by the Lewmar 16. I had a 140% genny, and if the wind piped up to about 15K, trimming the sail close hauled when going to windward could be a "bit of a struggle" turning that winch the last few cranks. I know my wife sometimes had a very hard time trimming in the 140 sail when on a beat.

I was very satisfied with the Lewmar16, but if I had to do it over again I think I would have gone one size larger. Of course that would cost more (especially for 2 winches) and it could require some modification of the winch mounting stands that Cape Dory installed on the 27. Its been a while so I'm not sure about that ...but that's what sticks in my mind when I was considering which winch to buy originally.

A general rule (if you can afford it and it fits) is better a winch one size to big than one to small .

[fmueller]

Waren,

I agree - 16s are just barely enough for a 135 or larger, but what that really means to me is that a 135 is really too much sail @ 15 knots period.

I have had a new 115% jib made over the winter - mostly because I'd like my boat to be set up for "medium air", not light air and I really think 135s are light air sails on our boats ... I'll post about it later in the season when I have some idea if this was a good idea.

Fred