What size winch to choose for your boat?

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

Indispensable device if there is one, the winch allows you to embed a line once the wind is established or even to make adjustments in tension.

In fact, the winch consists ofa crank which transmits the movement to the headstock (cylinder-shaped) of the winch. Then, it is a system of gears which drives the rope.

A strategic tool, it is imperative to choose the right winch by taking particular account of size and power criteria.

Here are our tips for finding what size of winch will suit your boat according to the different brands.

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The dimensions you need to know to choose a winch

In order to find what size winch suits you, first of all you have to take into account the size of your boat.

Indeed, if you have a sailboat of more than 7 or 8 meters, you will need several winches.

So, to line the genoa and spinnaker sheets, you will have to opt for more powerful sheet winches.

In addition, for masts or deckhouses which are dedicated to genoa, mainsail and spinnaker halyards, you can install halyard winches.

Also, some winches can be placed on the booms to facilitate reefing during navigation.

If you want to find the right winch, you have to compare the equivalent sizes with the load capacity.

You can then rely on the values that serve as a reference such as the diameter of the base, the diameter of the tailstock, but also the height of the winch.

Finally, know that beyond the size of the boat, you must also take into account your type of navigation.

How to calculate the power ratio of a winch to better compare brands?

When figuring out what size winch you need, calculating the horsepower ratio will always be the basics.

Ultimately, this winch power ratio will depend on the tailstock diameter and crank length (standard 254mm).

However, some winches have more than one speed, in this case the calculation of the power ratio changes.

Indeed, the power ratio of a multi-speed winch is the ratio between the force applied to a standard crank and that which corresponds to the highest speed of the winch.

So, high power ratio means low speed, and vice versa.

For example, in the case of a 254 mm crank and a winch diameter of 80 mm, the calculated power ratio is 3,1. This is the number that characterizes the winch first. This means that a force of 1 kg on the crank corresponds to 3 kg at the level of the winch.

Another example, a winch size 40 will exert a weight of 40 kg on the line. If it is a multi-speed winch, this means that this weight of 40 kg is valid for its highest speed.

Which size of winch to choose according to the different dimensions of your boat

This table allows you to find what size of winch you have to choose according to the applications and the different rig dimensions.

Select	Genoa listening	Genoa halyard	Mainsail sheet	Mainsail halyard	Mainsail reef	Staysail halyard	Spinnaker sheet	Spinnaker halyard	Downhaul and outrigger topping lift
	ft2 - m2	ft2 - m2	ft2 - m2	ft2 - m2	ft2 - m2	ft2 - m2	ft2 - m2	ft2 - m2	ft2 - m2
6	75 - 7	25 - 7,6	-	25 - 7,6	34 - 10,4	25 - 6	500 - 5	25 - 6	35 - 7
8	115 - 5	36 - 11	150 - 14	32 – 8	40 - 2	37 - 3	800 - 74	36 - 11	44 - 4
15	135 - 5	39 - 12	194 - 18	34 - 5	43 - 13	39 - 12	893 - 83	39 – 12	47 - 2
20	155 - 5	42 - 8	230 – 21	38 - 6	46 - 14	42 - 8	975 - 91	42 - 8	50 - 2
35	225 - 21	48 - 6	335 – 30	43 - 1	53 - 2	48 - 6	1135 - 105	48 - 6	56 - 17
40	270 - 25	54 - 5	410 - 38	49 - 9	57 - 4	54 - 5	1240 – 115	54 - 5	61 - 6
46	365 - 34	69 - 21	625 - 58	64 - 5	73 - 2	69 - 21	1530 – 142	68 - 7	78 - 8
50	390 - 36	73 - 2	700 - 65	68 - 7	78 - 8	73 - 2	1750 - 162	74 - 5	82 - 25
60	525 - 49	82 - 25	850 – 79	80 - 4	92 - 28	82 - 25	2200 - 204	85 - 9	98 - 9
70	590 - 55	86 - 2	1000 – 93	85 - 9	97 - 6	86 - 2	3000 – 279	91 – 7	108 - 33
80	950 - 88	100 - 5	1350 – 125	102 - 1	-	-	-	105 – 32	-

Choose the size of your winch in relation to the applications and the different rig dimensions

For multihulls it is important to use winches with a high power ratio.

For a high tonnage, rather take a winch higher than that in the table.

In the case of fractional rigging, you should refer to the surface of the sail and not the length of the boat.

How can you be sure that you are choosing the right winch for the right size?

Now that you know which size winch to choose for your boat, you can easily find your way around the table below. All you have to do is choose the color you want! In fact, the Lewmar 'Evo' range, which replaces the famous Lewmar Ocean winches found on many boats around the world, is available in black or chrome:

Chrome Winches	Black Winches
Winch Lewmar Evo 15ST	Winch Lewmar Evo 15ST
Winch Lewmar Evo 30ST	Winch Lewmar Evo 30ST
	Winch Lewmar Evo 40ST
Winch Lewmar Evo 45ST	Winch Lewmar Evo 45ST
Winch Lewmar Evo 50ST
Winch Lewmar Evo 55ST	Winch Lewmar Evo 55ST

Lewmar Evo winches according to their size and color

At the brand level, you can also get the classics Lewmar winches, just like a Harken winch, high-end winch Andersen or a Antal winch. The choice depends on your needs, your budget and your aesthetic preferences. Note that it is also possible to opt for a second-hand winch. A simple search on Amazon allowed us to find used Antal winches or even Lewmar much cheaper than new ones. Ebay et CDiscount from time to time also have good opportunities.

However, if you are unsure, we recommend that you seek professional advice. Indeed, these connoisseurs will be able to suggest the best choice according to your profile.

Thanks to the indications of the specialized sellers, you will be able to find what size of winch best suits your craft.

Whatever your choice, do not forget to protect your winches with a cover when arriving at the port to extend their lifespan. Below is a list of covers depending on the size of your winches: