How to successfully assemble an electric winch?
If you want to sail in the best conditions, it is sometimes necessary to turn to an electric winch to facilitate the various maneuvers related to sailing (or to electric cranks for those on a budget). For better comfort, if the wind rises or if you can no longer exert as much physical effort as before, this solution will reduce the physical effort, while having as much pleasure during the navigation. Turning to electric winch assembly, your life as a sailor will be greatly facilitated.
NB: If your boat is already equipped with Lewmar winches, then you can simply convert your manual winches into electric winches. Indeed Lewmar offers very practical connection kits! You just have to choose the kit adapted to the size of your manual winch:
- Connection kit for Lewmar winch 34ST Ocean
- Connection kit for Lewmar winch 40ST Ocean
- Connection kit for Lewmar winch 44ST Ocean
- Connection kit for Lewmar winch 46ST Ocean
- Connection kit for Lewmar winch 48ST Ocean
- Connection kit for Lewmar winch 50ST Ocean
- Connection kit for Lewmar winch 54ST Ocean
- Connection kit for Lewmar winch 55ST Evo
Contents of the page
The necessary equipment to assemble an electric winch
In order to start on a good basis, it is necessary to equip yourself with the essential tools for a proper installation. When it comes toremove your old winch to install a new electric one, you must:
- A flat screwdriver.
- A drill.
- A milling machine.
- Personalized screws with the appropriate format depending on your installation.
- Du sealant.
- Personalized locking nuts and lock washers for fixing the winch.
- Du thread lock.
- De water resistant anti-seize
- A aluminum / stainless steel anti-corrosion paste if necessary.
As you can see, the material needs remain standard and it is an operation that you can do on your own, taking the time to respect each step.
The steps to follow for the assembly of an electric winch
Installing an electric winch on your sailboat first requires defining its location. If this is a replacement, we strongly recommend that you install it in the same location, although the drill holes may be different depending on your hardware. Indeed, many brands market this type of product as a Lewmar winch, Harken winch, Andersen winch or a Antal winch:
If, on the other hand, it is the first time that you are installing an electric winch, do not hesitate to use additional reinforcements compared to the mechanical workload that this will generate.
Disassemble your old winch using a flat screwdriver for this. You must first remove the central screw and then remove the sleeve at the crank. Then proceed to disassemble the self-tailing crown to remove it from the headstock and then remove the winch headstock.
Present your new electric winch by first locating the final pinion, that is to say the notched that you must have perpendicular to the rope.
Once the electric winch is positioned, make a first hole with your drill and secure its position using a nut that you have previously screwed. Then make the necessary pre-holes by positioning the electric winch. You can remove it to permanently drill all the holes.
So that the seal is systematically preserved, use a milling machine at the level of your drill holes. Insert the screws in the predefined places and then do not hesitate to put a good dose of sealant on their contours to prevent water infiltration.
The electric motor should normally find its place in your cabin, but routing the cables can sometimes be difficult. This step is not in itself complicated but does require time for the wiring to reach the battery. It is above all necessary to keep in mind common sense and make a clean installation by making holes of suitable dimensions so that the cables can be pulled from the electric winch to the battery.
Then, you will have to reposition the electric winch on the holes you have made by installing the nuts and washers one by one so that the fixing is solid. 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.
Regarding the screwing of the electric winch, it must stagger systematically screwing from the inside.
All you have to do is put back the winch headstock as well as the self-tailing, the end of it must must pour out towards the coachroof Of the boat. Replace the crank sleeve, remembering to secure the central screw.
The installation of the electric winch is now complete and you just have to take advantage of its functionality to navigate safely.
Problems encountered during assembly
When you want to position a new winch in the same location as the old one, the holes will not necessarily match, which requires resealing them correctly beforehand. This is an operation that you can do on your own unless you are doing a standard replacement with an identical product.
If you notice that the nuts of your winch tend to unscrew, this phenomenon is explained by 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.
