How to Choose the Right Winch
Due to the harsh marine environment in Australia, it’s important to buy quality winches for your boat. A good quality stainless steel winch can help with avoiding corrosion especially if a company is using quality Marine Grade 316 stainless steel to produce boat anchor winches. Savwinch continues to use high quality Marine Grade 316 stainless steel for the harsh Australian conditions. Their winches are laser cut for precision, improving the performance of the winch. High quality welding for strength and a clean finish is also a priority for Savwinch. If you’re looking to replace your boat anchor winch in Australia, look no further.
Why the Material is So Important in a Winch
Remember, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. It’s not always easy to tell the difference between good and bad stainless steel unless you go into the factory that produces the product. If you bought a winch that is made with poorly manufactured stainless steel, or the winch is not made with marine grade stainless steel, then your winch is not going to last you very long. 316 stainless steel is molybdenum-alloyed steel that is preferable for use in marine environments due to its amazing resistance to corrosion. Not only will a boat anchor winch made from 316 stainless steel last longer, the durability of these winches will also do better on the job. Other materials such as anodized aluminum and chrome-plated bronze are more prone to corrosion and require more upkeep. Poorly made stainless steel is also a bad choice. Also, these materials do not have the same durability that a well-made stainless steel winch provide.
There are a few tests you can do at home to make sure your winch is marine grade. One such way to use a magnet. Stainless steel that is not attracted to a magnet are austenitic. Austenitic grades include: 304, 316, 201 and 202. The spark test and acid tests are also handy when you want to make sure that your winch is 316 grade. If the winch is not marine grade, it will not be able to withstand harsh environments. This is another reason why the material is so important in a winch.
Which Winch?
There are two main types of winches used for boat anchoring, drum versus capstan style. Much of Southern Australia and now many other parts of Australia and New Zealand are recognising the efficiency of drum style winches. The press of a button at the helm releases the anchor and rope and chain, which are positioned on a drum, similar to line on a fishing reel. The anchor is just as easily reengaged and the rope and chain collected back on to the drum upon retrieval. Many boats are now replacing capstan style winches with drum style. It is these winches that we will discuss here.
Due to the fact that there are many brands of drum winches to choose from, prospective buyers often get confused. However, all you need to know when looking for a quality drum winch in Australia is what kind of boat you have and what it will be used for. Even though a low priced stainless steel winch may seem like a money saver, in the long run it will end up costing you more because you will have to replace it more often than a high quality winch. If you have a large boat, you’re obviously going to need a larger winch, however, a smaller boat does not mean a smaller winch. It’s always a good idea to go with a larger size winch because anything can happen while sailing. If you’re still not sure on what kind of winch is needed you can ask the vendor to help you.
So, if you’re trying to buy a good quality stainless steel drum winch, knowing why the material is so important in a winch can save you a lot of money in the long run.
