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The original Southcoast winches were still with the boat when it was purchased. I have no idea the last time
they were serviced. In addition to that, they were submerged in flood water for a month in my Lakeview home.
When I recovered them from the house, they were in the condition seen below. Bringing the winches back to
serviceable condition was a tall order.
they were serviced. In addition to that, they were submerged in flood water for a month in my Lakeview home.
When I recovered them from the house, they were in the condition seen below. Bringing the winches back to
serviceable condition was a tall order.
The good news is that the Southcoast winches are mechanically very simple. They are single speed winches
whose gears are integral to the drum. This makes for a primitive winch and a much easier restoration. The first
step was to disassemble the winches and remove them from the old, rotten winch stands. The winches are
disassembled by using the end of the winch handle in the large screw on the head of the winch. When the screw
is removed, the top of the winch comes right off. Then the drum slides off of the shaft. The shaft and the winch
base are secured to the stand with six screws. See photos below for disassembly.
whose gears are integral to the drum. This makes for a primitive winch and a much easier restoration. The first
step was to disassemble the winches and remove them from the old, rotten winch stands. The winches are
disassembled by using the end of the winch handle in the large screw on the head of the winch. When the screw
is removed, the top of the winch comes right off. Then the drum slides off of the shaft. The shaft and the winch
base are secured to the stand with six screws. See photos below for disassembly.
Once the winches were disassembled and removed from the
bases, they were soaked overnight in diesel. The next
morning each piece was carefully cleaned using sandpaper,
wire brushes, and stiff-bristle brushes. The cleaned pieces
were placed in hot water for a thorough rinsing.
bases, they were soaked overnight in diesel. The next
morning each piece was carefully cleaned using sandpaper,
wire brushes, and stiff-bristle brushes. The cleaned pieces
were placed in hot water for a thorough rinsing.
Reassembly was equally straight forward. The shaft was lightly greased and each of the four pawls were very
lightly oiled. Over-oiling or -greasing is a mistake as it will collect and retain dirt and other contaminants
inside the winch.
In order to reassemble the winches, I simply went in the reverse order of the steps outlined above. To see a
photographic series of the winch reassembly, click here. The winches will eventually be mounted on top of
polished bronze winch pads from Spartan Marine
lightly oiled. Over-oiling or -greasing is a mistake as it will collect and retain dirt and other contaminants
inside the winch.
In order to reassemble the winches, I simply went in the reverse order of the steps outlined above. To see a
photographic series of the winch reassembly, click here. The winches will eventually be mounted on top of
polished bronze winch pads from Spartan Marine
