Dangerous Harken Winch.

Nostrodamus

Nostrodamus

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 Mar 2011
Messages
3,659
www.cygnus3.com
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?
 
Electric winches

I can only suggest you keep using the winch. However you will now know how to stop it if it does run away.
I would suggest the most likely cause is moisture in the switch or control circuit which can dry out and possibly reappear. good luck olewill
 
Nostrodamus said:
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?
Click to expand...

Possibly time such boats/ equipment should have seperate emergency stop for ALL winches etc? Would reduce the worries.

Standard on most industrial equipment.
 
It was the first time the power to them was switched on for a few months after the winter. It was strange that it did not happen right away but about 10 minutes later.
If that winch was loaded I could have been in a world of pain. I was wondering if the same could happen to foot switches on an electric windlass which would also be a nightmare.
Would a spray of something like WD 40 in the switch help remove moisture?
I also agree.. an emergency kill switch is needed.
 
A friends boat has big electric winches, the isolator for them is a bugger to find, if you haven't specifically been shown where it is, you wouldn't find it in a hurry.

It can't be too difficult to have a big push in type stop button that disconnects power to all the winches. If it were my boat, I would leave them switched off until I had fitted one.
 
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.
 
davidwf said:
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.
Click to expand...

I have sent a e mail to Harken and await a reply.
Yes, the only real option is to get the line off but if you are sailing close hauled at night it only takes a short time for the winch to pull the sheets in a long way.
It is dangerous and the fault needs to be found and cured. If it can happen to me it can also happen to others. I am now aware of it so am prepared but if it happened to someone else for no reason when they were out sailing this thread may be remembered and save them a world of hurt. I cannot imagine what would give way first or the damage to people or boat that it would cause.
 
DownWest said:
If accessable, look in the relay box for any signs of damp/corrosion. The switches might be more difficult.
Click to expand...

Thanks Andrew, the switches are up in the comings so I can get at them quickly by removing the ceiling. The relay boxes are in their own protective boxes and in dry places.
I suspect because we live on the boat and have been doing so over winter the condensation has got into them.
I will have a look tomorrow but I think they are a sealed unit.
 
Nostrodamus said:
It was the first time the power to them was switched on for a few months after the winter. It was strange that it did not happen right away but about 10 minutes later.
If that winch was loaded I could have been in a world of pain. I was wondering if the same could happen to foot switches on an electric windlass which would also be a nightmare.
Would a spray of something like WD 40 in the switch help remove moisture?
I also agree.. an emergency kill switch is needed.
Click to expand...

foot switches were covered in an Oyster letter to owners. check-out the Oyster site
 
Nostrodamus said:
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?
Click to expand...

Yes.

Mine has 2x Harken 44's, and each has two sets of 2-speed buttons, one on the binnacle by the helmsman's knee and one on the coaming just below the winch.

2 years ago, immediately after the boat was craned out after a 10 mile 'delivery trip' in appalling weather, one of the winches just started up while the boat was still in the slings.

I just killed the battery switches and because I was soaked & fed up (the rain had deafeated my Musto foulies) I left it till the following week to take a look at it.

Like you, I suspected water ingress into one of the switches, and inspected them, but found no sign of it. However, the weather had been fine in the subsequent week and the cockpit has a full enclosure, so maybe they'd dried out by then.

Cross-fingers, it hasn't happened since, but I don't keep any winch loaded in the self-tail - just in case.
 
rudolph_hart said:
Yes.

Mine has 2x Harken 44's, and each has two sets of 2-speed buttons, one on the binnacle by the helmsman's knee and one on the coaming just below the winch.

2 years ago, immediately after the boat was craned out after a 10 mile 'delivery trip' in appalling weather, one of the winches just started up while the boat was still in the slings.

I just killed the battery switches and because I was soaked & fed up (the rain had deafeated my Musto foulies) I left it till the following week to take a look at it.

Like you, I suspected water ingress into one of the switches, and inspected them, but found no sign of it. However, the weather had been fine in the subsequent week and the cockpit has a full enclosure, so maybe they'd dried out by then.

Cross-fingers, it hasn't happened since, but I don't keep any winch loaded in the self-tail - just in case.
Click to expand...


Did Musto replace your foulies
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

zoidberg
Teak winch pads
Replies
15
Views
362
Tranona
T
D
Galvanic Isolator location
Replies
5
Views
317
Alex_Blackwood
Alex_Blackwood
Refueler
Bow winch eye ...
2
Replies
20
Views
376
Refueler
Refueler
UK-WOOZY
Autoterm 4kw heater was blowing smoke out into the cabins
2
Replies
25
Views
889
Babylon
B

Share this page

Top