Looking for Winch Handles

[jongleur]

Originally Posted by hamburking

Borrow one from your neighbour and never give it back.

Ya got one I can use?

[jongleur]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

Wolf's Marine In Benton Harbor Michigan. They will ship to you. Ask for photos. They always have a variety of NOS handles in really nice SS & bronze to floating plastic. One & two hand. Home Page There are a couple there that are old school collector's items. Shelves 14 & 15. The listing on their page only shows modern standard stuff. More than 90% of their inventory is not on the site. ASK. Huge selection of winches and other sail hardware too. This is all day entertainment if you happen into the area.

Sounds like fun.

[Finistere]

+1 Lewmar One Touch


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Siberianhusky]

Plastic ones I don't mind for a backup, don't like them for everyday use. And the floating part is only usefull if you drop it overboard at the dock or at anchor. Good luck turning around and finding one in anything but flat calm where you can probably keep an eye on it.
I treat it like a tool, buy quality and buy once, I don't consider it a saving if you have to spend 40$ every few years vs 100$ for one that lasts near forever unless you drop it overboard.
I know my favorite handle goes back to the 70's, I've owned it since the 80's. My friend has a really nice vintage bronze one on her Alberg 30 that is from the 60's and it still works perfectly.
I've never lost one overboard. I just drop glasses and cell phones overboard.
Being said there is a cheap plastic handle in the "spares" box.

[Jetx]

Originally Posted by DMCantor

+1 on the Lewmar one-touch. We love ours, would never go back to the old style.

David
s/v Callisto

We have both a Lewmar one-touch, and a Ronstan Quick Lock. I like 'em both, but prefer the Quick Lock. The QL locking lever is more of a positive-linkage design, rather than Lewmar's fiddly spring-retracted pins.

The Ronstan handle always slips in/out easily, where the Lewmar sometimes needs to be jiggled a little before the pins will retract (and yes, I've McLube'd them).

[deluxe68]

Originally Posted by Siberianhusky

Plastic ones I don't mind for a backup, don't like them for everyday use. And the floating part is only usefull if you drop it overboard at the dock or at anchor. Good luck turning around and finding one in anything but flat calm where you can probably keep an eye on it.
I treat it like a tool, buy quality and buy once, I don't consider it a saving if you have to spend 40$ every few years vs 100$ for one that lasts near forever unless you drop it overboard.
I know my favorite handle goes back to the 70's, I've owned it since the 80's. My friend has a really nice vintage bronze one on her Alberg 30 that is from the 60's and it still works perfectly.
I've never lost one overboard. I just drop glasses and cell phones overboard.
Being said there is a cheap plastic handle in the "spares" box.

There is a "Big Bang Theory" type of formula that can be used to determine the odds of dropping something overboard. IIRC the biggest variable is price.

[Siberianhusky]

Which explains the prescription Rayban Wayfarers that went in on haul out day!
Glad it was dockside and the lake is clear, was able to pull them off the bottom with an extendable boat hook. Would have gone swimming otherwise.
Dumb thing is when I'm actually sailing I change to cheap non Rx Maui Jims with a leash. They were right there on the table.......

[Schooner Chandlery]

Originally Posted by Cadence

If he is not worried about looks, a socket breaker bar may work.

There are several brands that make two handed winch handles. This one is Harken

[Schooner Chandlery]

Originally Posted by Siberianhusky

Plastic ones I don't mind for a backup, don't like them for everyday use. And the floating part is only usefull if you drop it overboard at the dock or at anchor. Good luck turning around and finding one in anything but flat calm where you can probably keep an eye on it.
I treat it like a tool, buy quality and buy once, I don't consider it a saving if you have to spend 40$ every few years vs 100$ for one that lasts near forever unless you drop it overboard.
I know my favorite handle goes back to the 70's, I've owned it since the 80's. My friend has a really nice vintage bronze one on her Alberg 30 that is from the 60's and it still works perfectly.
I've never lost one overboard. I just drop glasses and cell phones overboard.
Being said there is a cheap plastic handle in the "spares" box.

We have bronze and chrome-over-bronze handles (square drive) that have been on the boat since the mid-60's. We have 1 at the foremast, 1 at the mainmast, 2 in the cockpit and 2 spares below. I gave a lightweight plastic one away.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Cadence

If he is not worried about looks, a socket breaker bar may work.

Ummm, it might work... except that it lacks the vertical handle that one grasps to crank the winch, the drive won't fit and it isn't made of a non-rusting metal or plastic. Yeah, it might work...

Jim