How to successfully install a Lewmar winch

Deck equipment, Winches, Electric winches, Simple and self-tailing winches

A winch is a fixed piece of equipment that is installed on the decks of pleasure boats and looks a lot like a small hand winch. Thanks to a vertical axis movement, the equipment serves to multiply the force exerted by the crew to control the canopy. In particular, those of the Lewmar brand are renowned for their quality, functionality, reliability and superb performance. But to take advantage of all these technical innovations on your sailboat, you have to know how successful installation of a Lewmar winch.

Gather all the equipment necessary for the installation of the Lewmar winch

To mount a winch, depending on the model concerned, you may need one or more tools. In the case of Lewmar winches, you could thus use:

a flat screwdriver to unscrew;

a backing plate to prevent tearing;
a light layer of sealant to prevent leaks;
of bolts, washers (brakes if necessary) and locking nuts for fixing to the deck;

a base to reach the angle of 5 to 10 °.
de water resistant anti-seize
a aluminum / stainless steel anti-corrosion paste if necessary.

un thread lock.

Follow all the steps to install a Lewmar winch

Installation of a Lewmar winch on a boat takes an average of 4 hours of time and is done in several stages. Whether for an electric modelhydraulic or manual, the process is quite easy to follow. Even if the instructions change slightly from one scale to another.

We determine the location of the winch

Avant installing a Lewmar winch, the first step will be to determine its location on the ship. Depending on whether it is a new installation or a replacement, the process is not the same. Indeed, for a replacement, the zone to be chosen is determined in advance by the old drill holes and the reinforcements. In the event of a new laying, the choice of location takes into account the sail surface, the navigation program and the nature of the maneuvers required.

We ensure the correct positioning of the winch

To do this, it is important to check the available space at deck, hull, bulkhead and below deck. For Lewmar electric or hydraulic winches, the motor or gearbox must be able to hold in 90 ° steps. The installation must also be done in such a way as to allow a 360 ° rotation to the crank. It must also allow the rope to reach the headstock and form an angle of 5 to 10 ° with the base of the material. You may then need a base during the operation.

We maintain the position

Once the location of the winch has been found, it will be necessary to mark that of the main axis and then drill a hole. You must then dismantle the winch, place the base on the deck, mark the fixing holes and then remove the base. For some models, you will have to remove the doll and take through the holes located in the base of the central axis before accessing said holes. As soon as this is the case, you need to make the holes to the size of the screws. To choose the one that adapts to the thickness of your deck, you can consult the guide provided by the brand.

We check the last adjustments

We recommend that you check the seating and ease of access below the bridge. In the case of an electric or hydraulic Lewmar winch, you can then position and install the switches as well as the seal next to the winch. Before drilling, you must again ensure the correct position of the winch, the return box and those of the controls. Once all the holes have been drilled, you must remember to countersink them in order to put the sealing material.

Last step of the installation: we fix the Lewmar winch

The next step is to dismantle the winch Lewmar. To do this, you need to unscrew and remove the top nut. Depending on the model, you must also remove the guide finger and the collars or turn the headstock until you have the cutout in the upper jaw facing the collars.

You must then remove the headstock as well as the screws that hold the main axle. Using a flat screwdriver, you will need to pry between the drainage slots, disassemble the small pins and remove the ring from the base. Also remember to lift the latter and then set a light layer of putty underneath. This will prevent leaks. You must then replace the base and fix it to the bridge with suitable bolts, replace the ring and put all the elements in order. Concretely, these are the main axle, the pinions, the tailstock, the collars, the guide finger and then the upper nut.

For the installation of a Lewmar winch to the deck, we recommend that you use stainless steel countersunk bolts, stainless washers and stainless steel nuts. Likewise, during handling, the entire pinion, pawls and springs must be kept intact. This will make assembly easier later.

If your winch or the deck of your boat is made of aluminum, coat the stainless steel bolts with an anti-corrosion paste to insulate them from aluminum. Otherwise, simply coat them with an anti-seize spray.

Finally, once the Lewmar winch is installed, don't forget to attach a crank pocket if you haven't already. It must be within easy reach of the winch to easily store the handle after each use.

See plastic crank pockets

View fabric crank pockets

Warnings and precautions for use when installing a Lewmar winch

It is important to correctly mount the motor / gearbox for Lewmar electric or hydraulic winches. Otherwise, the winch will not work, will make a clicking noise or experience a drop in performance. We recommend that you remove the motor and reposition it upright.

We recommend that you turn off the power to the boat before any installation procedure.

The Lewmar winch must also be fixed on a flat surface. To boost its performance, its exit speed must be in the best position in relation to the load and the entry of the string.

If you notice that the nuts on your Lewmar winch tend to unscrew, this is due to the regular vibrations during navigation. If you have the possibility, choose specific nuts that do not unscrew in the event of vibrations. With this type of nut, use a thread lock for better fixation.

After installing a Lewmar winch on your sailboat, it may happen that the hardware does not work. It is then necessary to check the assembly, check the crank as well as the connection terminals and the piping for the electric and hydraulic models. If, on the other hand, the motor alone is running, you'd better check the polarity.

To know:

Once your Lewmar manual winches are installed, you can convert them to electric winches very easily. Indeed Lewmar offers very practical connection kits! You just have to choose the kit adapted to the size of your manual winch: