It's winch maintenance time

[Jim Walsh]

Too cold to do much (low 20's today with 20 mph wind off 33 degree water, brrrrr) so I went down to the boat and pulled the staysail and main sheet winches apart. After soaking the parts in paint thinner in the garage for a couple hours I brought the parts inside to scrub with a craft brush and a tooth brush in clean thinner till all the gunk was removed. Now they're drying overnight so I can bring all the pieces back down to the boat. I still have to clean the bases on the boat, which I did not remove. Greasing, oiling, and slapping them back together will be the fun part of this project. It was actually pretty comfortable on the boat under the winter cover. Keeping that wind off you is a luxury this time of year.

[Jim Walsh]

I should have added "No toothbrush was harmed in the process of cleaning these winches". It went right back to the toothbrush holder to live out the remainder of its life providing that essential component of proper dental care.