Installing new winches at the mast

[Northoceanbeach]

I think the current winches are a bit of a pain for me to crank fast and singlehand. I would like to put some self tailing winches on there.

Has anyone switched out their winches? I took the caps off and the screws are all frozen into the plate where they attach to the mast. Any suggestions for getting them unstuck?

Also, the bolt hole pattern is different for these new winches. What is the metering these winch plates are made out of? I hesitate to start drilling holes in my mast if I can help it. Are eu a structural component at all?

[Ken Cave]

On my CD 28 (1979) I installed Andersen single speed winches and have never had
a problem with them. To get the screws out try PB Blaster-and can be purchased at
a Napa auto store. Spray it on the bolts, then heat them up with a torch. Let them
"sit" over night, and they should not be a problem in getting them out.

When installing the new winches, be sure to us a product such as Ilsco De-Ox as you are
using stainless bolts on an aluminum mast.

If I remember, the Anderson winches did match up with some of the original holes.

Hope this helps

Ken

[Northoceanbeach]

It does help. I just got back from the store with some pb blaster and a small torch. Very small. I hope it's ok, I also have a small impact driver, maybe that will help get the screws out. Otherwise I am ok to drill some more holes in this? It's not a structural part of the mast or anything?

[Paul D.]

I second the PB Blast. I got stories... Also treating the screws before final assembly into the aluminum mast, I'd use either Lanocote, tef gell or Duralac Jointing Compound DTD 369 B.

As for the holes, I certainly would keep any new ones to a minimum but as long as you have only a few and they are not in line with others and spaced out a bit I think you'd be fine.

[John Stone]

I have removed a number of frozen SS fasteners from both my old mast and boom. PB blaster is good and occasionally it will work. But, when that fails, as it often will with truly frozen fasteners, your best recourse is heat. I have seldom failed to successfully remove a frozen faster after putting a propane torch to it. I narrow the flame and put it right on the fastener head. I often apply PB, then heat, then PB, more heat, etc. and normally it comes out if I use the screw driver as soon as I stop the heat. Good luck.

[Northoceanbeach]

Time for heat! These are stuck.

[John Stone]

I use a standard propane torch. It takes more heat than you think. I back them out by hand after heat. Be careful not to break the head off. As someone else suggested, be sure to apply anti seize compound to any SS threaded fasteners you install in aluminum. I use TefGel.