Insulating Mast Winch - Fair leads

[blahman]

Hello all,

I recently removed the three halyard, and one reefing winch from my (new-to-me) 1976 Westsail 32. It appears they've been on there in excess of ten or fifteen years - maybe since 1976. The bases were loaded with salt crystals and corrosion, and the grease on the shaft was like cured polysulfide. Not a pretty sight. I'm happy to say that I only broke one of 24 screws off, which seems miraculous considering the amount of hammering my impact wrench got.

Anywho, I plan to reinstall the winches (now that they work), but am not sure how to insulate them. The bronze-base winches (Barient 16s) had plastic sheets below, but they self-destructed on removal. I'm not sure how important material is here as long as it is neutral - my father suggested a coffee can lid.

I've read about UHMW tape on here, but am not sure of how it's used, or even if for winch insulation. I intend to make it a yearly venture to pull the all of the winches off their surfaces to clean and service, so perhaps the black plastic coffee lid would work. I can't help but think there would be a better way to go though - a thicker black nylon or something.


Also, I have external halyards that have a fair lead a bit far away - at the masthead, actually. If one hauls on a line quickly, it overrides, so I think a proper fair lead is called for. I'm unsure of the best hardware to use on a mast though - I know it will take quite a bit of strain, so I don't want to mucker it up.

I have lurked on this board for some time and appreciate all of the information available.


Love, luck and sweet, salmonella-free tomatoes,
Aaron N.
W32 #482 - Asia Marie