Gear On Test
LEWMAR LITE TOUCH WINCH HANDLE £41.13
n
A
use of the winch handle, but it
rm
does offer a comfortable grip
A
for a second hand that improves
winching power when needed.
Colin J
©
During our practical trials
of the Lite Touch, we had no
T
os
problems with the operation of
Pho
the release/lock button, but did
find the shaft quite bulky when
holding it to press the button.
This bulk is necessary for the
required buoyancy, but can be
a bit much for small hands.
Ideally, we would like the
mechanism of the One Touch
incorporated into the body of
the Lite Touch to produce a
hybrid of the two handles.
The 10in standard length
is fine for most modern boats
over 30ft, but is a bit much
for smaller boats where an 8in
handle might also be easier to
stow. However, the extra couple
of inches in length does give the
1: Adjusting the hood. 2: showing
person working the winches a
the twin hood adjusters and peak. bit of extra winching power.
3: The front zip is protected by
main: Getting to grips with
double flaps, Velcro fastened.
two hands in use for full
Just to make sure, we dropped
power. below: star winch
the handle into the water and,
fitting showing locking pins.
sure enough, it floated. The
bottom: lewmar lite Touch.
bright yellow mushroom and
trigger button made the handle
easier to spot in the water
A
couple of years ago, in provided on the One when the grey shaft and handle
ST120, we reported on the Touch. However, the blended pretty accurately into
Lewmar One Touch winch Lite Touch is made from the leaden North Sea on a
handle, which was made lightweight composites cloudy day. CJ
with a bar running down and is buoyant, so it
the length of the shaft. will float if it’s dropped WE LIKE
Press the bar anywhere overboard – a big bonus. Buoyant
along its length and the The Lite Touch is made Light weight
release mechanism in a single 10in (250mm)
was triggered to length with a ‘power WE DON’T LIKE
enable the handle grip’ yellow mushroom Single size
to be released on top of the normal Bulk
from or dropped upright rotating grip. This
into the winch Lite Touch winch handle. additional grip feels slightly VErDIcT ★★★★★
socket in a quick, Unlike the One Touch, the soft and offers an excellent A perfectly sound winch handle
one handed Lite Touch has a short button grip for the user’s second hand, with the advantage of singlehanded
movement. Now above the star end fitting that whereas the upright handle is a release and built-in buoyancy.
Lewmar has taken releases the locking pins for hard, smooth moulding offering
the idea a step putting the handle into or taking a slightly iffy grip with a wet
further – or perhaps it out of the winch hand. (This criticism can be Contact Lewmar
sideways – with the socket. It doesn’t levelled at the majority of winch Tel 02392 471841
have the flexibility handles.) The power grip does email info@lewmar.com
of the long bar not interfere with singlehanded Website www.lewmar.com
ST149 Gear_RTG.indd 54 15/7/09 17:08:54
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