Lewmar 40ST EVO Self-Tailing Winch - Alloy Grey, 2-Speed

The Lewmar 40ST EVO Self-Tailing Winch in Alloy Grey is the size-40 two-speed self-tailing sailing winch in Lewmar's current EVO series - the evolutionary refinement of the renowned Lewmar Ocean winch that's dominated the sailing yacht winch market for decades. The EVO designation represents the current generation with state-of-the-art design and manufacturing refinements vs the previous Ocean series. For size-40 applications on cruising and racing sailboats in the 30-40 ft LOA range, this is the right Lewmar winch.

Sized for 30-40 foot sailing yachts. The 40 in 40ST EVO indicates the winch size - approximately corresponds to 40-something on the universal sailing winch sizing scale. Size 40 is the typical primary winch size for 30-40 foot sailing yachts (the primary winches handle the jib / genoa sheets, the highest-load lines on a sailing yacht). For larger boats (40+ feet), step up to size 45, 50, or larger winches. For smaller boats (under 30 feet), size 30 or 35 winches are more appropriate. Match winch size to boat displacement and sail area for the right balance of mechanical advantage and operating speed.

Two-speed gear design. The 40ST EVO is a two-speed winch with gear ratios of 1.9:1 in first gear and 5.8:1 in second gear. First gear is the fast / low-power mode used to take up line quickly when the sail hasn't loaded yet (rotate the winch handle one direction). Second gear is the slow / high-power mode used to grind in the loaded sheet against full sail pressure (rotate the winch handle the other direction - direction arrows on the winch body show which way is which gear). The two-speed configuration is standard on cruising and racing winches. single-speed winches are slower in operation and don't provide the high-power mode needed for loaded grinding.

Power ratios up to 40.2:1. The combined gear ratios + drum-handle geometry deliver power ratios of 13.2:1 in first gear and 40.2:1 in second gear. The 40.2:1 second-gear ratio means one pound of force on the winch handle generates 40.2 pounds of force on the sheet - meaningful mechanical advantage for the loads typical of size-40 winches. With the 40.2:1 ratio, a typical crew member generating 50 lbs of handle force can pull 2000 lbs of sheet load - more than the winch's SWL, meaning the operator is the limiting factor not the winch.

1753 lb Safe Working Load (SWL). The SWL is the maximum continuous load the winch can safely handle. 1753 lbs is appropriate for size-40 applications - typical genoa sheet loads on a 35-foot cruising sailboat in 15-20 knot wind are 800-1500 lbs depending on sail size and angle. The 1753 lb SWL gives meaningful margin above typical operating loads. For racing applications with more aggressive sail configurations or stronger wind expectations, verify the expected loads against the SWL before committing.

Self-tailing design. The signature feature of self-tailing winches - the self-tailing mechanism holds the working line automatically after each pull, eliminating the need for a separate crew member to tail the line. Self-tailing is what makes single-handed and short-handed sailing practical - you can grind the winch with one hand while the other steers, manages the boat, or handles other tasks. The mechanism uses a spring-loaded jaw at the top of the drum that grips the line on the load side. line wraps around the drum normally, the jaw holds the tail, and your work is just the grinding motion. For cruising sailboats where shorthanded sailing is the norm, self-tailing is essential.

Tool-free servicing. The EVO design specifically targets tool-free servicing - you can disassemble the winch for cleaning, inspection, and re-greasing without specialized tools. Just hand-removable components, no specialty winch tools required. This matters meaningfully because winches require regular maintenance (typically annual cleaning and re-greasing in the spring) and the older Ocean-series winches required Lewmar-specific tools that were a nuisance to source. The EVO eliminates that nuisance - service the winch with hand tools you already have.

User-friendly direction arrows. The winch body has engraved direction arrows showing which way to rotate the handle for first gear (fast / low-power) and second gear (slow / high-power). For experienced sailors this is obvious. for new crew or guests aboard, the arrows are critical - they instantly know which direction does which gear without trial and error. For boats with non-sailor crew regularly aboard (cruising yachts with guest passengers, charter boats), the direction arrows are meaningfully better than the unmarked older winches.

Convertible to electric. The 40ST EVO can be converted to electric operation later via the Lewmar electric conversion kit (sold separately). Install as manual now, decide later whether you want to upgrade to electric without having to replace the winch. Electric conversion is meaningful for owners who anticipate aging or strength loss over the boat's ownership timeline - the manual winch they're comfortable with now might become difficult as they age, and the electric upgrade keeps the boat usable through that transition without replacing the whole winch.

Compact dimensions for size 40. 2.91-inch drum diameter, 5.83-inch base diameter, 6.24-inch overall height. The compact dimensions matter for installation on smaller deck space - many size-40 winches occupy noticeably more deck real estate than this EVO version. Combined with the 10.7 lb weight (light for a size-40 winch), the EVO is engineered for the modern production sailing yacht where deck space and weight both matter.

Line size 0.32 to 0.5 inches. The drum accommodates line diameters from 8mm (5/16 inch) to 13mm (1/2 inch). For typical size-40 applications, 12mm (about 0.47 inch) line is standard for jib / genoa sheets - well within the drum's range. The wide range accommodates the various line preferences of different sailors and the line size variations between cruising and racing applications.

Alloy grey finish. The 49540057 variant is the alloy grey finish - one of three available finishes (Lewmar also offers black anodized and chrome variants under different part numbers). Alloy grey is the most common modern sailing yacht winch color - matches typical deck hardware color schemes and looks current rather than dated. The alloy finish is corrosion-resistant for saltwater service and stays attractive over years of marine use.

Renowned Ocean winch lineage. Lewmar's previous Ocean winch series dominated the sailing yacht winch market for decades - was specified as factory hardware by virtually every production sailboat manufacturer in the 30-50 ft range. The EVO series is the direct evolution of the Ocean design with current-generation engineering refinements. For owners replacing aging Ocean winches with EVO equivalents, the mounting footprint is typically the same - drop-in replacement without dash / deck modification.

Sold individually. The 49540057 part number is for ONE winch. Most sailing yachts use winches in pairs (port and starboard primary winches for sheet handling) or sets of four (primary + secondary winches). For a paired install, order two units. For a complete winch suite refit, plan the count carefully.

What's in the box. Just the winch and the instruction manual. The winch ships pre-assembled and pre-greased ready for install. Mounting hardware (bolts, washers, backing plates) is NOT included - typical install uses 5/16-inch or 3/8-inch stainless steel bolts of appropriate length for your specific deck thickness, plus appropriate backing plates inside the deck. Source the mounting hardware separately based on your specific install requirements.

Install. Position the winch on the deck at the desired mounting location (typically near the helm for primary winches, port and starboard symmetric). Mark the mounting bolt locations using the winch base as a template. Drill the mounting holes through the deck. Install with stainless steel bolts (5/16-inch or 3/8-inch typical) using marine sealant at every penetration, and substantial backing plates inside the deck to spread the load. The winch loads are substantial - inadequate backing can pull through the deck under heavy sheet loads. Total install runs 2-4 hours per winch for a competent owner with reasonable mechanical skills. For owners not experienced with deck hardware installation, professional install at a marine yard is the right call - sailing winch installation done wrong can cause real deck damage under load.