electric winch handle for anchor windlass?

[lindsay]

In the current Yachting Monthly there is a favourable article on Winchrite, an electric winch handle. Would this work for a manual windlass?

I have a Simpson Lowrance Manual Windless on a 29 footer weighing more than 5 tonnes loaded, to pick up a 10 kilo Delta and 30 metres of 8mm chain. Most of the time this is sufficient. Sometimes it is not, either in a strong wind or depths over 8 or 9 metres, although I have not yet had to buoy off in defeat. The hole for the winch handle is not central on this model. When conditions are dodgy I put out a second anchor, a 7kilo aluminium spade on a weighted anchor line.

I constantly put off installing an electric anchor windlass because of the hassle of installation, the extra weight forward,the fact that I anchor some 100 to 150 times a year in the Mediterranean and I just KNOW it will jam sometime, together with a dislike of equipment that I cannot repair/adjust by myself with dubious diy talents. Costs are really not an issue.(for the windless!)

The idea that I can bring out a device such as the electric winch for the odd occasion is interesting.

 

[pvb]

I constantly put off installing an electric anchor windlass because of the hassle of installation, the extra weight forward,the fact that I anchor some 100 to 150 times a year in the Mediterranean and I just KNOW it will jam sometime, together with a dislike of equipment that I cannot repair/adjust by myself with dubious diy talents. Costs are really not an issue.(for the windless!)

This surprises me. I reckon electric windlasses, properly installed, are one of the more reliable bits of boat equipment. As for weight, modern electric windlasses are only 10-20kg, surely not a problem?

 

[William_H]

I was present when one of these was used a few months back to winch a man up a mast. The halyard must have had a lot of friction as electric winch handle was hard to hold so a loop of rope was used to manage the torque. Yes the electric winch died.
olewill

 

[vyv_cox]

This surprises me. I reckon electric windlasses, properly installed, are one of the more reliable bits of boat equipment. As for weight, modern electric windlasses are only 10-20kg, surely not a problem?

Yes, me too. My electric windlass was only slightly heavier than the Lofrans Royal it replaced. It has been installed for more than ten years, we anchor at least 150 nights per year in the Med and it has never faltered. Of all the kit on the boat the one I would be most reluctant to do without would be the windlass.

To the OP, on my windlass the socket for the manual option is very shallow. It is not deep enough for a standard winch handle and I doubt it would be for the electric one. A long time ago, on another boat, I had a manual vertical windlass whose socket was also somewhat on the shallow side. If it were to slip when pulling hard I suspect it could be an interesting experience.

 

[Tony Cross]

Do any forumites have a Winchrite? I'd be interested to hear what you think about it, either here or via a PM. SWMBO keeps "suggesting" that we should get one. She's the winch-wench on our boat you understand, I have to do the technical stuff like, umm, steer and things......

 

[ditchcrawler]

I have had one since I saw it on the Miami Boat Show video when they were first coming into the country.
I think it is brilliant as I have a dodgy back.I have taken it on friends boats who scoffed at me being a weakling, but now two of them have bought one.
It gets my main up no trouble and the charge lasted a week before i charged it sailing every day.
My friend has a 36ft Legend with a curve in the top of the mast and he was finding his main hard work with his bad back.
His wife thanked me for showing it to them as it has improved their sailing.

 

[vyv_cox]

Do any forumites have a Winchrite? I'd be interested to hear what you think about it, either here or via a PM. SWMBO keeps "suggesting" that we should get one. She's the winch-wench on our boat you understand, I have to do the technical stuff like, umm, steer and things......

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?285489-Winchrite-electric-winch-handle-(safety-kit-)

I just watched the promotional video on their website. Every example they showed could comfortably be hauled with a conventional manual winch handle by a 12 year old. Is it any good for a big genoa at its limit before furling?

 

[rogerthebodger]

Any one know what the wattage of the motor is.

Looking a some of the fixed electric winches for a 48st they are about 700w and I have 2 lewmar 48's, not fitted. and these are big 800v 24Volt beasts.

 

[FullCircle]

We have an Easywinch geared handle. No electrics, and offers a 4:1 ratio. It has made mincemeat of our genoa sheeting, which is of course a fair bit slower due to gearing.
We have a U shackle at each winch point to take the torque strain.

http://www.easywinch.com/

We bought it cheap (new) at a boat jumble for 65 quid. If not, then what about a much longer winch handle to reduce the loads?

I have been looking at Winchrite but 500 quid is a lot

An alternative is the Winch Buddy which is a converted 18v Makita 90 degree drill.