Dangerous Harken Winch.

[Talulah]

write to Nigel Musto.
dont bother with the underlings
google "musto hpx lifetime promise"

I believe Nigel sold out long ago.

 

[sailorman]

I believe Nigel sold out long ago.

Nigel is certainly back as of 2 yrs ago to sort them out. they certainly needed it

 

[TQA]

Surely if this happened in use you would just whip the rope out of the self tailer and unload the rope, think this would be much quicker than rushing around trying to find the isolator.

Now if it happened when the winch was unattended that would be a whole different matter. In fairnes to Harken have you discussed this problem with them? I am sure they would want to know about this.

Someone who tried to do that recently ended up losing a hand.

 

[tim_ber]

write to Nigel Musto.
dont bother with the underlings
google "musto hpx lifetime promise"

Have you got a contact email for Nigel?

 

[tim_ber]

A couple of days ago we were motoring up the river to get the boat hauled out.
For no reason the port electric winch just started turning. Luckily we did not have the sheets attached otherwise we may have had major problems. We had to turn off the power to the winches on the main electrical panel.
The winches are Harken type 56's with 2 speed push buttons. No one was near the buttons.
I am presuming the problem lies in the buttons as they are the only part which would complete the electrical circuit to turn it on but I have no idea why they turned on as it has never happened before. I have since turned the power to them back on and they seem to work fine but obviously I need to know the cause before I can load the winches.
Any suggestions?
Has this happened to anyone else?

Can't help specifically other than to say that of course alcohol does get rid of water from places where it shouldn't be.

In your case, this may not be possible and especially with electricity around.

But if you managed to take a switch out, isolated from the circuit, found it drenched, then maybe alcohol to dry it and cloth to clean contacts and then some of that expensive conductive paste might help?

I am sure someone here will know of a less dangerous but equally useful means of drying electrical contacts out - perhaps recently heated bags of silica gel stuff.

Hope you fix it - be interested to know what the outcome is anyway.

good luck

 

[G12]

Naysayers who use electric winches for going up masts...take note!

I was once sent up a tall mast at about Mach 2 on a huge Lewmar hydraulic winch. It was only years later that someone mentioned to me "What would have happened if the winch failed to stop"......... well the answer to that would be that I would have fallen over 100feet to my death after the winch had snapped the line I was on. Only been aloft on manual power since... mostly my own by using ascenders.

 

[sailorman]

Have you got a contact email for Nigel?

not any more as changed PCs & lost it i think, but will check

 

[Graham_Wright]

Another reason for not using electric winches for mast climbing. Doesn't bear thinking about.

 

[theoldsalt]

G12,

You would not have fallen as, of course, you were attached to a second safely line .......you were, weren't you?

 

[prv]

You would not have fallen as, of course, you were attached to a second safely line .......you were, weren't you?

Seems unlikely, as it sounds like this was a while ago. Single halyard always used to be the norm for anyone I ever sailed with until recently. For many it probably still is.

Pete

 

[Nostrodamus]

Obviously Harken think it is ok.. haven't heard a thing from them all day

 

[tim_ber]

Obviously Harken think it is ok.. haven't heard a thing from them all day

What about Oyster? Would they help?

 

[sailorman]

What about Oyster? Would they help?

yes they would. & still have the build file to boot

 

[Nostrodamus]

What about Oyster? Would they help?

Strangely enough Oyster send out a couple of advisory notices a year to ll owners made up of feedback from the owners and things they notice owners ordering.
I received a notice today and part of that notice is reproduced below.

During 2011 Lewmar sent out a series of advisories to highlight the
importance of regularly inspecting any deck switches, and the
need to change these out if there are any signs of deterioration to
the switch.
A deck switch, like most pieces of equipment fitted to a boat, is not
a ‘fit and forget’ item. We would like to remind everyone to carry out
the regular inspections, as recommend by Lewmar, paying particular
attention to the rubber boot. If this rubber boot is looking worn, shows
signs of cracking or has any holes, then these switches need to be
changed out immediately.
Lewmar have indicated that every 3-4 years consideration should be given to changing out your deck
switches – but visual checks will confirm if wear and damage means they need replacing any sooner.
We hold the Lewmar deck switches in stock. Other deck switches can be ordered in. Please contact
Oyster Customer Services customerservice@oystermarine.com if you require replacements.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

I was once sent up a tall mast at about Mach 2 on a huge Lewmar hydraulic winch. It was only years later that someone mentioned to me "What would have happened if the winch failed to stop"......... well the answer to that would be that I would have fallen over 100feet to my death after the winch had snapped the line I was on.

Or been extruded through the mast head fittings?

 

[sailorman]

Or been extruded through the mast head fittings?

You have been watching just toooooooooooo much Tom n Jerry

 

[TQA]

Strangely enough Oyster send out a couple of advisory notices a year to ll owners made up of feedback from the owners and things they notice owners ordering.
I received a notice today and part of that notice is reproduced below.

During 2011 Lewmar sent out a series of advisories to highlight the
importance of regularly inspecting any deck switches, and the
need to change these out if there are any signs of deterioration to
the switch.
A deck switch, like most pieces of equipment fitted to a boat, is not
a ‘fit and forget’ item. We would like to remind everyone to carry out
the regular inspections, as recommend by Lewmar, paying particular
attention to the rubber boot. If this rubber boot is looking worn, shows
signs of cracking or has any holes, then these switches need to be
changed out immediately.
Lewmar have indicated that every 3-4 years consideration should be given to changing out your deck
switches – but visual checks will confirm if wear and damage means they need replacing any sooner.
We hold the Lewmar deck switches in stock. Other deck switches can be ordered in. Please contact
Oyster Customer Services customerservice@oystermarine.com if you require replacements.

I have Lewmar foot switches on my Anchor Windlass. The MTBF is about 8 months.

Poor design and engineering.

 

[westhinder]

Harken winches flimsy

We have recently had a different problem with an electric Harken 46 winch, which has made me doubt the quality and the suitability of the design.
We were hoisting the main on a chartered Lagoon 400, when suddenly the selftailer arm bent, started peeling a layer off the cheeks of the selftailing system and seized before we realised what was happening.
When we took the winch apart, we found the selftailing system beyond repair, part of the black plastic innards of the winch broken and four long SS screws bent. The plastic support under the selftailer arm, which guides the line out of the selftailer cheeks, had moved along with the halyard and had become separated from the selftailer arm.
Our overall impression was that the winch had been made of too light materials, not able to withstand the forces that are to be expected. The metal selftailer arm is not solid, but simply metal sheet bent into form. This is much lighter than the Lewmars and Andersons that I have serviced for years! The same applies to the plastic innards of the winch: too light and flimsy.

So a word of warning, always keep a close eye on an electric winch, be ready to intervene if anything goeds wrong. And do not mistake modern light Harken winches for the indestructible items that they closely but only superficially resemble.

 

[chinita]

Seems unlikely, as it sounds like this was a while ago. Single halyard always used to be the norm for anyone I ever sailed with until recently. For many it probably still is.

Pete

Since when did the Laws of Physics change?

Anybody foolish enough to go up a mast on one line deserves to fall; anyone who sends another up a mast on one line deserves to live the rest of their lives with the consequences.

Forget bad seamanship, just utter stupidity.

 

[savageseadog]

Since when did the Laws of Physics change?

Anybody foolish enough to go up a mast on one line deserves to fall; anyone who sends another up a mast on one line deserves to live the rest of their lives with the consequences.

Forget bad seamanship, just utter stupidity.

I've done literally miles of rope ascent and descent in connection with caving and climbing and have no problem with the safety of single rope usage. As long as one knows the age and condition of the rope it really shouldn't be a problem.
I do condemn the use of powered winches for going up and down masts, it doesn't seem to sink in with some people, including a number of forumites that it's very dangerous. There's been threads in the past where it's been argued through and some simply will not accept that it is.