Replacing cabin top winches

[britinusa]

While I'm waiting for the parts to arrive to work on the Thermostat housing, my new winches arrived.

The port side winch on the cabin top (Jib Halyard & Topping lift) is not self tailing and the admiral cannot handle tailing and winching at the same time. I purchased a new Lewmar 30 winch from west marine on their BOGO offer, so now I have two nice new winches.

The port winch replacement is easy, the bolt holes in the cabin roof match, the starboard winch is not so easy.
The hole pattern on the winch seem to match with the new winch base, but the holes were not drilled very well and some of the bolts are closer together at the underside of the cabin roof.

I could probably just accept that the hole spacing is irregular.

Alternatively I could drill out the irregular holes, do the old 'clean out, fill, redrill' process.

Considering that the stbd winch hoists the main halyard and the old winch has shown no problems due to the irregular hole spacing.

Any reason not to take the second choice (I know, fix it and go sailing - We're trying!)

Paul

[KWKloeber]

"One never gets a second chance to do a job right the first time."
Be sure not to over-size drill thru the top and bottom skins, just remove the core per Rod's great instructions on his marinehowto website.

[britinusa]

Thanks Ken, I check Rod's site often, he has covered much of the stuff that I needed help with.

Paul

[Stu Jackson]

Perhaps when you remove the old one you could determine just why they are wonky and then decide?  While Ken & Rod are certainly right, your initial issue may not be a decision-maker.

[Noah]

I wouldn't get too concerned about drilling through the top skin when "potting" a hole through the deck—especially if using a backing plate. A Forstner bit works fine for drilling from above and gives a good visual clue when all of the plywood core has been removed and you reach the bottom skin.

[Ron Hill]

Paul: I agree with Stu, remove the cabin top starboard winch and see why the factory drilled the hole pattern that is there.  Then decide what to do!!

A thought

[britinusa]

I removed the port winch.
All 5 screws are bent and only 3 of the 5 holes in the plinth line up with the new winch base.

I definitely have to drill pot re-drill the holes. Purchased 1.5" 316 Fender washers which should cover the underside exit of the old holes.
Waiting for a dry day (we're in soggy SoFla) to get that done.

Working on it.

Paul

[Jim Hardesty]

Purchased 1.5" 316 Fender washers which should cover the underside exit of the old holes.

Most of the fender washers I've bought recently are too thin and deform easy.  If that's the case with the ones you purchased, consider doubling or a full backing plate.
Just my 2 cents,
Jim