Thoughts on sizing Lewmar Primary winches, 365 ketch

[Popeye.Tom]

I am going to go ahead and drop an order for new Lewmar winches in the West Marine BOGO - only a few days left.  I know, I know, inflated list price, etc - but my research is that on the BOGO, these are still a good deal.

I only bought the boat last year.  My current winches are not self tailing and for single handed or short handed, the self tailing would be super nice.  Old school cruiser, under powered by today's standards.

The boat:  Pearson 365 ketch; 100% roller furler = 308 sq ft/28.6 m^2; main: 212 sq ft/19.7m^2
Current Primary:  43 (two, of course)            Main/cabin top:  16 (one only)

I want to put two 16s on the cabin top and eventually some rope clutches.
 
?     Questions - your thoughts     ?

1- Aluminum or chromed bronze?  I'm thinking chrome bronze, but the aluminum drum is probably less $.  I was thinking chrome looks better on the old school boat, but maybe I should worry.

2- According to Lewmar's size chart, with the 100%, I sit right in the middle of winch size 40.  But, if I had (which I don't at this time) a 150% (460 sq ft), that really puts it more to a 46 size or really at the far side of their recommendation for a 40. 

Do you think it's worth the extra $ and then Ocean or EVO?  Divide price show in 1/2 for the BOGO...

Ocean 40, chrome, $1650
EVO 45, chrome, $1900
Ocean 46, chrome, $2200

Tom

(I cross posted that in Cruisers Forum.  Then after posting I added this reply to the above post:)

Having written and posted that, then thinking of my own statement, "old school cruiser"

As a cruiser - reef early... With that said, I'm really thinking the Ocean 40 size is fine for my purposes.

Can anyone dissuade me from that decision? In reality, the price diff isn't huge over the live of the winches - but I could still spend the savings on other boat candy!

[Dale Tanski]

I have never sailed on a boat where the winches were too big. 
If you think your winches are undersize just wait 5 years.
You are only going to do this once... so do it right.
Go big or go home.
Dale

[SVJourney]

Tom,
We sailed over 20k miles on our 365.  We found the original 43s to be fine for what we were doing with a 135% Genoa. Dana was 57 years and 135lbs and could grind well enough.  I wouldn't have wanted a smaller winch, but grinding 2 handed might make enough difference. 

I would look carefully at whether a 46 would fit well on the rail.  Not a whole lot of room under the railing for the winch handle there.

I never even considered upgrading to self tailing.  It just didn't make $ sense for as little grinding that you will be doing on ocean passages.  We were lazy sailors and tended to set it and forget it.  Also sailed for comfort instead of speed so didn't have all the 135 out at 20+ knots like ever. Made for easy sail adjustment when needed.

The only place I wanted a self tailer was at the mast for both the main halyard and the reefing winch on the boom.  Just for the "One hand for the boat" while reefing.

"Aluminum or chromed bronze?  I'm thinking chrome bronze"   +1

The 135 genny was the most important sail on our boat.  Used the most and gave us most of our drive downwind.  Consider using those 2 boat bucks towards a new larger one?  Unless you are planning on PNW cruising? In that case it doesn't matter as there is never enough wind to sail anyways. lol

BTW, I would never leave the States again without new sails.  Having one blow out mid ocean sucks.  Trying to get sail repairs done in exotic places sucks worse. Learn from my fail?

Wayne