Electric Winches

[Freedom fighter]

Is one electric winch enough for a couple in their early 50s blue water cruising?

[Stumble]

It depends on the boat, the people, and the type of sailing.

Generally I think so on a boat <40'. Use it as a halyard winch with a row of clutches so it can control a good number of things. Generally the sheet winches can be unloaded just by pointing up for a moment if the loads get to high.

[boatman61]

Wot he sed^^^^^^^^
Position it to deal with your main and fore uphauls, reefing lines etc and leave the sheets for hand cranking.. unless your flush.. then go the whole hog with self tailers..

[Two Drifters]

Agreed, not really needed for the sheets.

Position it for main hal up and the reefs.

The advantage of having it for the main up is that you will sail so much more as it is no longer a struggle to pop the sail up and down.

[a64pilot]

After seeing what electric winches cost, and not wanting the electric motor hanging inside of the boat, I went with a Miluwaukee drill, it makes regular winches into poor mans electrics


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[BigBeakie]

Another alternative is Pontos winches that have 4 gears.


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[sparrowhawk1]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

After seeing what electric winches cost, and not wanting the electric motor hanging inside of the boat, I went with a Miluwaukee drill, it makes regular winches into poor mans electrics


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I guess you could find it on eBay but I remember someone was charging a reasonable price for Machining a "bit" that would fit the winch. Did you buy the kit or did you buy a drill and a bit separately?

[Stumble]

I have used the angle grinder things... Frankly compared to a real electric winch they are terrible. Yes they work, mostly, but they are no substitute.

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by BigBeakie

Another alternative is Pontos winches that have 4 gears.


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Agreed... Pontos trimmer is the go

Winch 4 speeds Pontos Trimmer : everyone can take part in the manoevers !

[barnakiel]

Depends on what you want from the winch. At times you can simply limit the loads and keep on going without an electric winch 'for ever'. Or else upgrade an existing one - a bigger winch gives you bigger purchase!

I say this because as soon as you are into helpers you lose that bit of opportunity to exercise and stay fit.

Happy sailing,
b.

[DRS]

I have 2 electric mains on mine. On on each side of the cabin top. Having said that all but the stb jib sheet can and are done from the port side. Another thing to think about is, can your partner winch you to the top of the mast if needed without electric winches?

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Stumble

I have used the angle grinder things... Frankly compared to a real electric winch they are terrible. Yes they work, mostly, but they are no substitute.

Frankly, being able to power all the winches on the boat (if required) with one 400 dollar Milwaukee overcomes the "terribleness" for us... considering the approximately 10X price tag for even one electric winch, plus the physical problems of retrofitting them in place of the old standard winches.

The Milwaukee ain't perfect, but one has surely improved our lot in life for not so much money. YMMV.

Jim

[Training Wheels]

If anybody is interested, I've got an electric winch conversion I took off my Harken 48 I'd like to sell.


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[a64pilot]

Jim said it pretty well, but I've even taken to adding a block to my davits so that I can run the line directly to my sheet winches, for you guessed it, to use the Milwaukee to raise the dinghy.

Raising the main I have as it's boom furling and has an interesting way the Halyard is run, is difficult, I can do it, but it's tough, the Milwaukee makes it a breeze.
My Wife doesn't have the upper body strength I do, the Milwaukee allows her to adjust and raise and lower sails, that without it, she couldn't.
It was some of the best money I have spent on the boat.
Would "real" electric winches be better? I'm sure they would, but I'd need at least three, and they don't come cheap.

On edit, the only better labor saving device I have put on the boat since I bought her was the autopilot and the windlass. I put the Milwaukee right up there with those.

[Aussiesuede]

Originally Posted by sparrowhawk1

I guess you could find it on eBay but I remember someone was charging a reasonable price for Machining a "bit" that would fit the winch. Did you buy the kit or did you buy a drill and a bit separately?

Yep. It's called "The Cranker", and will only set you back $35 for the bit. (A hair over $500 for a complete kit with Cordless Angle Drill)

http://www.thecranker.com/