What grease to use for a boat winch?

What grease to use for a boat winch?

Winches are crucial parts on a boat. They allow you to control and adjust the sails. They are made up of many gears and pinions which serve to increase the effort. Thus, the sailor can easily tension halyards or sheets. Unfortunately, the winch mechanism is subjected to a hostile environment (such as the spray which covers them with sea water). It is therefore necessary to maintain them regularly for them to function properly. In this article we detail the procedure for lubricating a winch on a sailboat. We also tell you what grease to use for a boat winch.

What type of oil and what grease to use for a winch on a sailboat?

We prefer to use products of recognized brands for the maintenance of a boat. Brands like LEWMAR or HARKEN are guarantees of quality and avoid unpleasant surprises. Then, what grease to use for a boat winch ? We recommend LEWMAR winch grease. It is 100% waterproof and thus remains securely attached to the winch mechanism.

Nevertheless, we must not never pour winch grease on the gears. In fact, there is a risk that the lubricant will flow and solidify on the pawls. To avoid blocking the mechanism, you should use fine oil on the pawls and springs. We recommend HARKEN fine oil specially designed for pawls and springs.

The equipment needed to lubricate a winch on a sailboat

In addition to fine oil and grease for winch, you'll need :

How to lubricate a winch on a boat?

Before starting the lubrication, you must remove the winch using a screwdriver and a set of wrenches. If you haven't done this before, you can read our article that explains howHow to remove a winch easily. The procedure is almost similar on all winches, whether a Lewmar winch, a Harken winch or a Andersen winch ou Quantity.

Then, using the degreasing liquid, clean all the spare parts of the winch in order to remove all traces of impurity. The contact between the salt and the lubricant of the mechanism gradually produces a paste which causes friction over time. It is in this that the degreasing the winch is crucial.

To carry out an effective cleaning, take the parts one after the other and use one of the brushes to degrease the parts of the winch (the other will be used for their lubrication).

NB: you can also use a third brush for fine oil.

When degreasing, check the condition of each part. The internal faces of the gears should be checked and the pawls and springs inspected for wear. Immediately replace damaged or worn parts by purchasing a winch repair kit:

After cleaning and letting the parts dry, it is now necessary lubricate the winch. Here you have to coat the entire mechanical part of the winch with grease.

CAUTION: Avoid pouring grease on the pinions. Otherwise, it could sink, solidify and jam the pawls. Instead, you should use fine oil on the pawls and springs.

What grease for a winch: our tips for lubricating and maintaining winches

Once all the parts are lubricated, you need to reassemble the winch. To know the procedure, you can consult our article ''how to mount a winch on a boat?'.

For more information on the maintenance of winches, especially electric winches, we advise you to read our article ''How to maintain a winch?'.

Now that you know what grease to use for a boat winch, remember to lubricate them at least once a year.

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