Electric Winch Used for Going Up the Mast

[jim_thomsen]

We have Lewmar elecric winches and have been using one over the past few years to make it easy for my wife to get me up the mast.

But it burned out/stopped working recently (it was 5 years old) and I just purchased a new motor (really expensive, since it only comes complete with the gearbox).

Do you think I ruined it by using it was a mast hoist?

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by jim_thomsen

We have Lewmar elecric winches and have been using one over the past few years to make it easy for my wife to get me up the mast.

But it burned out/stopped working recently (it was 5 years old) and I just purchased a new motor (really expensive, since it only comes complete with the gearbox).

Do you think I ruined it by using it was a mast hoist?

That depends. Just how heavy is your wife?

[Captain Bill]

I use my Harkin for going up the mast and I'm no lightweight, but we always use the low speed setting to give it maximum mechanical advantage.

[GordMay]

Why not ask Lewmar?
➥ Lewmar

Their answers will certainly depend upon which winch, your weight, the specifics of how you rig the line, etc.

[Paul Elliott]

You might want to check the ratings on the circuit breaker. I've got a couple of power-winches, and if I load them too heavily they start to slow down, and then the breaker pops (presumably it pops before the motor windings can overheat). If the breaker is too big then you might have cooked the motor. This seems unlikely though, as long as the motor was standing up to the load and not slowing down much.