Electric winches

[Neeves]

Electric winches are old news and portable powered handles, a bit more recent, but also old news.

There was a recent article on electric winches and portable powered handles in YW

iWinch test: new electric winch handle option - Yachting World

In which a drill bit accessory can be bought allowing you to use a reasonably powerful drill to drive a winch. It fits in the same way you might fit a screwdriver into a drill - simple stuff.

The reason for posting is that I note the attachment for the drill can be bought from Force 4 - and to me, being a parsimonious Scot, think it to be extortionate (but then it is for marine application and specifically for leisure marine so I should expect it to be pricey - but not soooooo..oo pricey.


Coincidentally a couple of years ago I had some 5083 aluminium alloy, surplus to requirement, I'd had need for a 20mm thick slab, and I cut a piece out and ground it to fit a winch - its a simple square section. I drilled my piece, tapped it, which allows it to take a little chopping board and the bolted assembly sits on our main sheet winch and is just the size for 2 whisky glasses. The single bolt I use to secure the flat surface to insert is the same size as accepts a camera. I can secure a camera (if you remember what old fashioned cameras were like), or moving to the end of the 20th Century - or it will accept a Go-Pro to any of our winches. With a slight modification I could use the same piece of aluminium with a different bolt to use it in a battery drill - and power any winch.

Now I never thought my idea merited any attention, it seems simple and obvious so I have taken no pictures. Now that I see the price that Force 4 is charging Stg47!! - I thought I'd air the concept.

I don't recall the size you need to fit into a winch (11/16th" ? - you need to check) - but if you have winch handles they are easy to measure and are all the same size. If you just want to fit to an electric drill you need to tap a hole down the centre - it has to be central - and use a high tensile bolt (and Duralac). You might want to grind the bolt, give it some flat sides, to make it more secure in the chuck, secure a nut to the bolt with blue Loctite - the bolt head and nut can be recessed into the device.

Or you could simply buy from Force 4

Take care, stay safe

Jonathan

 

[LONG_KEELER]

It had to happen . You could buy one now or wait a bit for the Chinese one .

Most folks these days carry an electric drill anyway so I expect it will sell. Rather large though to hang round your neck with a lanyard. I have so much stuff charging on the boat via USB will probably have to add another port.

 

[ashtead]

I would like to know how many have acquired a Chuck winch device and how often used and any issues. I had thought perhaps with a vertical drill they might be unstable in action? Clearly a USA right angle drill is better but pricey brand.

 

[[2574]]

We’ve “full fat” electric winches on board though we’re not using them until we reach our 65th birthdays. One has so little exercise whilst cruising at sea such that we always think winch grinding does raise the heart rate a little… Though we short tacked (2 up) our new (to us) boat down Loch Long last summer, never again (without powered winches)!

 

[dunedin]

We’ve “full fat” electric winches on board though we’re not using them until we reach our 65th birthdays. One has so little exercise whilst cruising at sea such that we always think winch grinding does raise the heart rate a little… Though we short tacked (2 up) our new (to us) boat down Loch Long last summer, never again (without powered winches)!

What size is the boat? I did a lot of tacking up and down sea lochs last year in a 38 footer, mostly solo. Generally easy enough - as hold close to wind on new tack (using a/p if breezy), winch in tight, then bear off onto course. Helps if swap mainsheet traveller before tack, so main holds close to wind. No electrics needed.
I do see a lot of people doing it the hard way - onto course then winch in with sail filling, but entirely unnecessary.

 

[Supertramp]

I can understand the thinking but is a power drill is ergonomically suited to this? You still have to hold the thing in place and stop it moving. And mine are definitely not weather proof. I think I would rather have an extra long winch handle. I can understand that the assistance is useful and that its good to be able to move it to different winches as needed. In the old days (when I was a lad.....) you learnt to bend ropes, luff to let the jib or main come right in and to use other techniques as per Dunedin's post. Using powered or even non powered winches on such boats would break and damage things. Even small boats were quite heavy. Perhaps a look at how to avoid having to apply high forces to ropes should be the first step.

I rather like the arrangement on some boats (Boreal?) where there is one powered winch by the mast to use on anchors, halyards and anything else that reaches.

 

[paulajayne]

This it what we have 24 volt and lots or torque.

Pic is of the mains version.

 

[[2574]]

What size is the boat? I did a lot of tacking up and down sea lochs last year in a 38 footer, mostly solo. Generally easy enough - as hold close to wind on new tack (using a/p if breezy), winch in tight, then bear off onto course. Helps if swap mainsheet traveller before tack, so main holds close to wind. No electrics needed.
I do see a lot of people doing it the hard way - onto course then winch in with sail filling, but entirely unnecessary.

44ft on deck.

 

[Neeves]

It had to happen . You could buy one now or wait a bit for the Chinese one .

Most folks these days carry an electric drill anyway so I expect it will sell. Rather large though to hang round your neck with a lanyard. I have so much stuff charging on the boat via USB will probably have to add another port.

Another USB port is not too big an issue - with granddaughters its the need for another battery - or can your a hair dryer of a USB port ?

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

Our one electric winch is for the mainsail halyard, 45^2m. There is no 'easy' way to raise a main other then grinding it in (you could jump it at the mast I suppose (but there are just 2 of us and we are both sylph like). We've been using the powered windlass for 25 years now - all the stories of doom and gloom over using a powered winch are from people who have not used one. They are a boon to sailing if you don't have gorillas on board.

Tacking is easy - the AP makes the tack we can take releases and take sheets in by hand, maybe a little bit of grinding to get the trim right. The main different issue.

A drill would be fine if you can get your body over the winch.

I'm going to make another adaptor, it will look like the Force 4 version but a simple cubic insert and it will not be anodised (or not initially). As mentioned most people carry a 12v battery drill. (and we have 2 batteries) and I do like bits of kit that have a multitude of uses, or at least more than one use. We carry a drill 2 batteries fully charged - but the reality is we seldom need to use it.


BUT - I would not spend almost Stg50 for a device I might lose very quickly. Making our own, costs me nothing, and is an intellectual exercise to make it neatly and ensure it works (and gives a use for the drill we carry)

Jonathan.

 

[Mistroma]

Our one electric winch is for the mainsail halyard, 45^2m. There is no 'easy' way to raise a main other then grinding it in (you could jump it at the mast I suppose (but there are just 2 of us and we are both sylph like). We've been using the powered windlass for 25 years now - all the stories of doom and gloom over using a powered winch are from people who have not used one. They are a boon to sailing if you don't have gorillas on board.

Tacking is easy - the AP makes the tack we can take releases and take sheets in by hand, maybe a little bit of grinding to get the trim right. The main different issue.

A drill would be fine if you can get your body over the winch.

I'm going to make another adaptor, it will look like the Force 4 version but a simple cubic insert and it will not be anodised (or not initially). As mentioned most people carry a 12v battery drill. (and we have 2 batteries) and I do like bits of kit that have a multitude of uses, or at least more than one use. We carry a drill 2 batteries fully charged - but the reality is we seldom need to use it.


BUT - I would not spend almost Stg50 for a device I might lose very quickly. Making our own, costs me nothing, and is an intellectual exercise to make it neatly and ensure it works (and gives a use for the drill we carry)

Jonathan.

Standing over the winch is a bit awkward and I see paulajayne has a tool similar to the one I bought years ago. Mine was very cheap and readily available in the UK for under £10 (e.g. Keyless Angle Driver 90°)

I've only ever used it for drilling when space was limited and it worked well. It should be a lot easier to hold in place than the normal in-line drill.

 

[ditchcrawler]

I tried the Cranker bit using my Black and Decker drill and that did not have enough torque to raise the main or sheet the genoa on my 31 footer.
I saw the Winchrite on You tube and bought one . I have had it for many years and it is one of my best buys. Several friends scoffed at first but as they got older they bought one as well.
I looked at the right angled drills and the Milwaukee would do the job but the Winchrite is purpose made for the job.

 

[robertj]

View attachment 130273

This it what we have 24 volt and lots or torque.

Pic is of the mains version.

Where do you plug it in?

 

[paulajayne]

Where do you plug it in?

I put the wrong pic up ours it the 24volt battery version.