Lewmar Winch Wench – how to maintain your winch!

When your winch is getting hard to turn and doesn’t have a nice clear sound – you know it is long past time to lube them up. Every winch is completely different. I suggest taking pictures of the disassembly every step along the way to help you put it back together. Also, use something like a box to cover and catch the paws or “springs” when you take it apart. They like to go flying….into the water. I also learned that you can bring the dirty parts to a machine shop to have them professionally cleaned instead of soaking in a degreaser such as diesel. Those are my tips for when you tackle this task on your own boat. People have said to do this at least once a year – most people will do it only after it becomes necessary.