Winches - resources for cruising sailors

Six-Brand Winch Test

[Offline]

Comparative Tests

Two-speed "40′s" winches from Andersen, Antal, Barton, Harken, Lewmar, and Setamar are ranked for efficiency, serviceability, construction, appearance, and overall. 5 pages with photos.

[Practical Sailor, 15 August 2000]
- Preview the Practical Sailor back issue

Sail Wind Load calculator

[Site]

Membership organization Sail Wind Load calculator

Plug in a sail′s area and the wind speed, and this page will calculate the force on the sheet, useful for choosing winch size. You can add your winch′s gear ratio, drum diameter, and handle length to calculate the winch handle load.

[US Sailing, Portsmouth, RI, USA]
- Calculate Sail Wind Loads

Harken winches

[Vendor]

Manufacturer, on-line retailer

Wide range of manual and electric winches, with interesting "articles" explaining how different items work and where they are appropriate.

[Harken USA, Pewaukee, WI, USA]
- The Harken winches
- Harken dealers
- How to choose winch power

ANTAL winches

[Vendor]

Manufacturer ANTAL winches

Full line of stainless steel and chromed bronze winches, including snubbing, manual single- and 3-speed self-tailing, and electric.

[ANTAL srl, Padova, Italy]
- Visit the ANTAL winch pages
- U.S. Agents
- International agents
- Winch sizing guide

ARCO refurbished winches

[Vendor]

Remanufacturer ARCO refurbished winches

Refurbishes winches from many manufacturers. Also buys used winches.

[Australian Yacht Winch Co. Pty. Ltd., St. Marys, N.S.W., Australia]
- See the winch selection
- Selection guide by size and purpose

Anderson winches

[Vendor]

Manufacturer

Full line of winches from small sailboats to megayachts. External winch surfaces are made from highly polished AISI 316 stainless steel; transmission surfaces and components from hardened stainless and aluminum bronze.

[Anderson Winches, Vejle, Denmark]
- See the Anderson winches and accessories
- Dealers
- See a winch diagram with features

ARCO winches

[Vendor]

Manufacturer ARCO winches

Makes ARCO sheet and halyard winches, including one- and two-speed winches, manual, electric and hydraulic, regular and wide-body.

[Australian Yacht Winch Co. Pty. Ltd., St. Marys, N.S.W., Australia]
- See the winch selection
- Selection guide by size and purpose

LVJ bronze winches

[Vendor]

Manufacturer LVJ bronze winches

A dozen models of selftailing or standard winches with solid bronze drums and gearwheels, stainless steel axles and bearings. Also wire halyard winches in three sizes and other bronze hardware.

[Taylor & Snediker, LLC, Pawcatuck, CT, USA]
- The LVJ winch models