One of my Barient 18 winches (single speed) appears to have a worn spot where the pawl sits. No matter how I adjust the spring, it will not stay in the slot. I have tried the same pawl and spring in a different slot, and it works perfectly. And I have tried a different pawl and spring in the same slot and it still will not stay in place. So I don’t believe replacing the pawl and spring will help.

Therefore, new winch time.

My Barient is a bronzed version and the other one is working perfectly. I’d really rather have matching winches. And hate to replace one that is working. I can get over it and replace one winch this year and another another year if necessary.

I prefer to keep things simple and less expensive so non-Self tailing.

There are several Barient 18s on eBay, but worry I might be inheriting the same problem sooner rather than later.

So given the above— what winch do I get?

Ensign Spars has an Anderson 10 available (stainless). When I look at Power Ratios, this is almost 1/2 what I’m used to. That seems a big difference and that genoa isn’t getting any easier to crank in! Also— Ensign Spars has been unresponsive to an earlier email about halyards and I wonder if anybody is home… can’t get any shipping information and launch date is approaching.

So my question is—- what size winch do most of you sail with and will I really notice the difference between and 18 and 10 when it comes to power?

Do you have another recommendation for a winch brand and size, preferably bronze?