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Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Electric winches: a buyer’s guide

• Sam Fortescue
• March 9, 2022

Electric winches are becoming cheaper and simpler to fit, making effortless sailing an affordable option, says Sam Fortescue

Converting to push-button powered electric winches is easier than you might think

Electric winches have been with us for decades, and are often specced as upgrades on cruising boats. But as the idea of all electric yachts becomes more prevalent and battery performance improves, electric winches are also fast becoming more comonplace.

The technology behind it is pretty unimpeachable these days, but manufacturers are always finding small incremental improvements to distinguish their product from the competition.

Take major supplier Lewmar, now part of the US Lippert Group. Its sleek Evo winch, which weighs 20% less than the familiar Ocean range, is available in a fully electric version from size 40 upwards.

And so is its Revo range – designed to backwind so that you can sheet out at the touch of a button too.

Though touted as a racing feature, this is exceedingly useful for shorthanded crew or solo sailors, where it might otherwise mean letting go of the helm to dive into the cockpit and manually slip a line.

An electric Evo 40ST costs from around £2,810, while the Revo version is priced according to exact requirements.

You can use handles in electric winches, but the technology is very reliable. Credit: Mike Turner

An upgrade even allows you to connect two electric winches together, so that one backwinds while the other takes in the slack when tacking – at the touch of a single button.

‘We would not generally sell the Revo winch system to an aftermarket customer, as they require very specific set-up requirements,’ says Claire Martin, group marketing manager at Lippert.

Harken is often considered a step up from Lewmar, with racing pretensions.

Here, too, the basics are well covered with a range of instantly recognisable black anodised self-tailers (bronze and chrome finishes are also possible).

Electric versions start at size 35, and cost from around £2,586.

And the Harken Rewind Radial is also able to backwind at the touch of a button, like the Lewmar Revo.

It goes a step further in that a knob on the winch itself allows you to switch between forward-reverse mode and two-speed winding in one direction.

The Selden E40i has an internal motor. Credit: Selden

This feature kicks in from size 40, costing from £4,168.

Antal is another strong winch brand with a stout electric option in the XT.

You’ll need the control box that houses the solenoids, and should consider the additional load control box, called the WBC.

This starts the winch in its fast gear, then steps down to the more powerful slower speed when the winch reaches its maximum safe working current.

It cuts out altogether when it hits this limit in slow gear. At £3,220.87 for the winch plus more for the WBC, this is not a cheap option.

If there’s a limit to Lewmar, Harken and Antal’s otherwise well-engineered and soundly priced systems, it is the choice of control buttons available.

Continues below…

Step-by-step guide to servicing winches

Some sailors expect their winches to work year after year with little or no maintenance. Mark Corke offers a step-by-step…

How to service a winch: an expert’s guide

How to service a winch and keep it running smoothly

Mainsail furling systems: an expert guide

Some sailors swear by mainsail furling systems, others swear at them. Graham Snook looks at way to keep your furling…

Electric anchor windlasses: a guide to the latest tech

Electric anchor windlasses are becoming more affordable and can take the grind out of cruising shorthanded, says Sam Fortescue

There are just two options, both for deck mounting, which have a housing that allows them to be activated with a finger when closed, or by a foot when open.

It doesn’t allow you to put a button on the instrument console or wire it into a digital switching system.

Denmark’s Andersen is reputed for the quality of the build of its all-stainless steel winches, which run from size 12 up to 110.

The E1 is its entry-level electric winch, which operates with just a single speed.

Two- and even three-speed versions start from the 60ST size, which roughly equates to genoa sheeting on a 45ft-plus boat.

The Harken Performa winches are available with manual, electric or hydraulic drives. Credit: Harken

A super-simplified Compact Motor system is available, where all the gubbins from gearbox to controller is built into a single, low-profile unit.

‘It uses a brushless DC motor matched to a low profile planetary gearbox, which requires less space for installation and draws considerably less current than traditional motor/gearbox configurations,’ explains Andersen’s Thomas Galster.

‘Simple electrical installation requires no external control box, and the low profile above or below deck motor allows installation even if the original boat design did not allow for space under the deck for a motor.’

Another nice feature of the Compact Motor is the variable speed system, where a pressure-sensing button controls the rate of rotation: the harder you press the button, the faster the winch will turn.

Pricing for the Compact Motor starts at around £2,250 for the 28ST unit, and £2,940 for an E1 of the same size.

A relatively slim plastic or stainless-steel hinged lid protects the button, which is designed with a built-in LED which tells you when the system is powered up.

Electric winches: connectivity

When it comes to connectivity, however, Selden is streets ahead with the launch of its E40i electric winch (£2,850).

This is unique in its ability to talk to other Selden devices in a push-button system that might include a furling main or headsail.

It uses its own bus network to shuttle information between units and in principle, just a single power supply unit (£592) is required to run all the components.

It is not yet compatible with a multifunction display (MFD) or your NMEA instrument network, but that is surely just a question of time.

The motors involved all run on 42V, which has several benefits over 12V or 24V without running into the restrictions associated with ‘high-voltage’ equipment over 50V.

Electric winches can make sailing shorthanded a lot easier. Credit: Selden/Dan Ljungsvik

This higher voltage means lower amperage during power-intensive use, so wiring runs can be lighter and motors smaller.

This has allowed Selden to engineer a powerful motor that actually fits inside the drum of the E40i winch, so there’s no heavy-duty drilling required to install, fitting on deck exactly as a manual winch does.

Launched last year in Sweden, the E40i has proved popular with boat owners in the 35-45ft range, especially those who sail with limited or inexperienced crew.

‘It’s convenient and easy for everyone onboard, such a simple way to hoist, furl and trim the sails,’ says Anders Lagerberg, owner of a Najad 400 with an E40i installed.

‘I’m experiencing much smoother sailing than ever before, especially when sailing by myself.’

Anderson’s electric winches are all stainless steel. Credit: Anderson

Six years ago, Jeanneau teamed up with Harken to launch the ultimate in connected winches.

A Harken Rewind was linked to a dedicated sail handling display to automatically trim sails without the skipper having to raise a finger.

It could handle wind shifts, gusts and course changes, and even to tack the jib.

Jeanneau had expected 20% of those buying its 50-plus foot boats to opt for the €15,000 system, but it appears to be no longer available, which tells its own story.

Electric winches: main brands

Credit: Lewmar

The Ocean and Evo (above) winches can be electric but conversion kits for manual are also available.

www.lewmar.com

Credit: Harken

Harken’s motor drives the central shaft, using the winch’s gears, rather than driving the drum directly, so reducing the power draw.

www.harken.com

Credit: Antal

Antal says its winches deliver 490W or 700W at the winch drum, compared to a human arm at 400W.

www.antal.it

Credit: Anderson

Andersen winches are distinguished by the use of a ribbed drum surface, which doesn’t abrade ropes like the commonly used rough finish.

www.andersenwinches.com

The E40i’s internal motor means that there’s no big hole in the deck, and no motor protruding into the space below.

www.seldenmast.com

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

iWinch test: new electric winch handle option

• Bruce Jacobs
• February 11, 2022

The iWinch is a borderline-genuis idea, which allows anyone with a drill to have an electric winch handle on their boat. Bruce Jacobs, tests it out

Sometimes, a solution to a problem comes along that is so obvious, you wonder why it hasn’t been there for years. In my opinion the iWinch, an electric winch handle fitting for a drill, is a case in point.

Some tasks on a yacht are just hard work: getting that halyard up, sheeting in a headsail, tightening the reefing pennant – all big, heavy jobs and none of us are getting younger.

You’ll always get the traditionalists who say electric winches are unnecessary or dangerous as you can’t feel any blockage or snagging. The truth is though, that sometimes having some powered assistance is very useful, especially when you’re sailing short-handed .

If you’ve ever thought about getting electric winches as a solution, you may well have stopped short when you’ve seen the £3,000 price tag (for a common 44 size) – and then there’s the space they need under the deck and the power drain on the batteries. Space and cost are show stoppers for many.

Previously, we’ve looked at the so-called powered winch handles. The WinchRite is probably the most well known, and it is definitely an effective tool; likewise for the Ewincher .

What stopped us using either on an ongoing basis was firstly their size (where do you store them?) and secondly their cost. The WinchRite costs over £600 and the Ewincher close to an eye watering £2,000. Great ideas both of them, but ultimately not something we could justify.

Which brings us to this neat idea. We’re a bit late to the party on the iWinch, but we love it. It’s basically just a winch socket and drill bit combined. It fits into a standard drill, though you do want one with around 90-100Nm of torque, and it will need a 13mm chuck, so do check this. Otherwise that’s it. You have a powered winch handle that’s highly effective, but only costs £55.

We have given the iWinch quite a beasting over the summer, using it on our heavy 60ft expedition yachts where the loads are much greater than you’d expect on a standard 40ft cruising yacht. Every skipper, without exception, loved the iWinch for its utility and practicality, even if it wasn’t seen necessarily as being an everyday piece of kit.

Your drill may not have the full 110Nm torque of the WinchRite or Ewincher, but so long as it has around 100Nm this is such a useful, cheap solution to a problem that you really can’t go wrong with it (other than dropping your drill overboard or risk it getting salted up!).

Highly recommended.

Buy the iWinch now from Force 4

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Other electric winch handles.

The Ewincher is a sophisticated product that can actually be used as a manual winch handle as well as an electric motor. It has a variable speed reversible motor and generates a useful 80Nm of torque.

We tested it in the Norwegian Sea, en route from the Faroes to Arctic Norway, just as the winds hit gale force. The crew were feeling a bit breathless after swapping out our yankee 2 for the yankee 3, the yacht was screaming along and I was feeling guilty about asking them to trim the sails yet again.

I brought out the big yellow handle to general looks of astonishment and amusement, but this died down as I effortlessly trimmed in our headsail and the double-reefed main while drinking my tea. Suddenly there was a host of crew trying to grab the handle for their go and I had my first inkling that this could be a big success.

I did worry we might drop it overboard or that it would run out of battery now my crew had become lazy, but neither happened.

After two hours of hard sailing and trimming, it still had plenty of power, and these were big sails in strong winds. When the warning light did finally come on it took only seconds to swap batteries and we were off and running again.

Price £1,900

Buy the Ewincher from Marine Chandlery

Rachael agreed to try out the WinchRite on the Ocean Crossing Masterclass she was running from Spain to Madeira. This was a crew full of aspiring Yachtmaster Oceans and a serious test for any piece of kit.

Again, it was tactically deployed as the winds reached Force 6 and the loads all became that much heavier.

As a reef was called (a skipper’s perk and what skipper in their right mind would go forward where the hard work happens and it’s bouncy and wet) one of the crewmembers commented that he’d been to the mast so often he was now on first name terms with the deck fittings up there.

He was given the WinchRite and the change in mood was conspicuous. He came back beaming and there was no going back thereafter.

The powerful motor made short work of the next reef and the genoa too. Bearing in mind we are sailing 60ft expedition yachts and the genoa sheet is on a 66:1 ratio winch, this was pretty impressive. The WinchRite doesn’t have the capacity to be used as a normal winch handle, and the battery is built in so when it runs out the unit is unavailable until recharged.

Buy WinchRite from Foxs Chandlery

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Practical Boat Owner

• Digital edition

Electric winches, handles and furlers – a buyer’s guide

• Duncan Kent
• March 14, 2020

From the cockpit to the pulpit, there are Electric winches, handles and furlers on the market that can help take the strain out of sailing. Duncan Kent reports

Maybe you want to spend more time sailing single-handed, or perhaps you’re reaching the age when winching up the mainsail by hand is starting to take the fun out of a weekend sail. Whichever it is, why not accept a helping hand from Mr Volt?

Kitting out a sailing boat with electric winches and furlers may look to be expensive, but if it keeps you on the water isn’t it worth it? In fact quite a few sailors end up moving over from sail to power because they no longer have the physical strength to manually winch in the sheets or haul on the halyards. But the extra cost often works out at considerably more than if they had invested in simply upgrading their sailing yacht.

For instance, a good many manual winches can be electrified by buying a conversion kit (Lewmar, Harken and Andersen all sell manual-electric upgrade kits for their two-speed winches), which often works out costing half the price of a new winch – especially if you’re good with the DIY and can modify the drive unit, and install the electrics yourself. The latter is easier than you may think as all the components are supplied, along with full instructions and an easy-to-understand circuit diagram.

Andersen electric winch

To keep costs down people often just convert one halyard winch, usually on the side of the mainsail halyard. Then, with a bit of clever rerouting of the genoa sheets via one or two new turning blocks, you can often use the same winch for hauling in the bulk of the genoa. This is a fantastic help if, like me, you have a huge overlapping genoa. If you’re feeling a little flush, why not convert one of the primary winches too?

In fact, I’ve sailed on a boat that had one electric primary, to starboard, that could be used haul up the halyards and take in the port genoa sheet simply by taking one turn around the manual winch and then leading the sheet or halyard onto the powered one. This way, once the bulk of the sheet/halyard has been hauled in, it’s easy enough to take another couple of turns around the non-powered winch ready for manual trimming if necessary.

Depending on your boat’s layout, you may want to install a second deck switch so you have a clear view of the headsail on both tacks. The owner had even set it up so he could electrically winch the kedge anchor from the stern – essential when mooring bows-to in a Mediterranean harbour to protect the rudder or for privacy in the cockpit.

Comparison table: electric winches

Reduce friction

In a similar way to reducing your power consumption before planning a new electrical system, it makes good sense to look at reducing the friction in your sail control systems before considering how best to assist you with the hard graft of winching and hauling.

Boats older than 20 years will probably have outdated blocks with plain bearings, as will many of the newer, lower cost production boats. Just spending a few hundred pounds replacing blocks and travellers with ball-bearing versions can reduce frictional loads by up to 40 per cent. Now ally this with a little thought into how you can reroute lines so as to diminish the angle of turn and maybe even take a turn out altogether where possible, and you could find you need half the elbow grease you did previously to hoist the main or sheet in a genoa.

Then there’s the sail plan. Changing to a non-overlapping jib will noticeably reduce the effort required when tacking and you can still save the big genoa for when your kids join you. Besides, with a well-cut jib you’ll lose little speed to windward in a good breeze and if you add a furling asymmetric downwind sail you’ll notice little difference on a reach too.

Modern yachts frequently sport non-overlapping jibs and sometimes even self-tailing headsails, but this usually means the mainsail is bigger to compensate, thereby increasing the effort required to hoist it in the first place.

Reefing can also be exhausting, particularly if you have a single-line reefing system, as they create a lot of friction due to the reefing lines turning around multiple blocks. If you can, use a two-line system – one line for the luff and another for the leech. Okay, it’ll mean a little more string, but it’ll need far less winching effort to drop in a neat reef.

Lastly, regular maintenance of deck gear is essential. If you don’t service your winches every year, not only will they eventually fail, but also the amount of effort required to operate them will increase until half of your hard work is wasted in turning the winch rather than doing the job. The same goes for electric winches – the increased friction will simply decrease your battery power more rapidly and you risk the circuit breaker cutting out just when you don’t want it to, should it become overloaded.

Keep a close eye on any deck switches, too. After a while water can penetrate their seals and if one of these goes faulty there’s a danger the winch or windlass might remain on – possibly with disastrous consequences.

Powered winch handles

Before you start planning to upgrade your manual winches to electric, consider the possibilities of buying a powered winch handle instead. Like everything there are pros and cons of course – as with most bits of boat kit – but we have had many boat owners writing to us to say that they’ve only been able to continue sailing thanks to one of these devices to help them on board.

First, the cons: they’re not particularly cheap, they need charging regularly and they can be lost overboard if the user is careless or loses their balance. Furthermore, if you’re sailing singlehanded it will be much easier and safer if you have self-tailing winches in order to keep both hands on the electric winch handle, as there will be a fair amount of rotational torque once the power really comes on.

The pros: they will effectively electrify every standard top-drive winch on board (although obviously only one at a time) and they don’t require you to modify your boat or install heavy-duty power cables as you would need to when fitting an electric winch.

Winchrite powered winch handle

The most popular is the Winchrite (£599), now in its second generation with more power thanks to a greatly improved motor and gearbox and extended charge duration. Yes it’s still a little noisy, but then so is any electric winch. Being low-geared for maximum power, they’re a bit slow (120rpm), so you might still prefer to pull the bulk of the sheet in by hand before letting the Winchrite take over. It also needs a steady grip to keep it from rotating when under a heavy load.

A recently launched ‘power assist’ winch handle called the ewincher is a little less bulky and lighter than the Winchrite and, better still, has two-speeds, making it more suitable for hauling in and trimming headsail sheets without needing to resort to hauling the bulk of it in by hand.

Shaped more like a traditional winch handle, the ewincher allows the user to winch manually as normal, but then assists when the load really comes on. Alternatively, it can be used purely as an electric winch handle, like the Winchrite. The good news is the 24V battery pack is removable, as with all modern cordless power tools, so you could have a second, back-up power pack sitting on the charger ready for a quick swap out. The bad news is it currently costs close to £2,700, so you really wouldn’t want to drop it overboard!

Milwaukee 8 drill

Another alternative is to use a right-angle cordless power drill, although it would need to be very powerful. A popular model is the 28-Volt Milwaukee drill, which has a 16in (40cm) long handle and is available on eBay for around £400, including a single 28V lithium-ion rechargeable battery. You can even buy a purpose-made, 8-point ‘winch-bit’ or Cranker chuck replacement for this and other 0.5in (12mm) chuck drills. Spare battery packs and a padded cover are also available, but it only has a 220V AC charger so it can only be recharged underway using an inverter.

A note of warning – both the electric winch and the powered winch handle manufacturers strongly advise you not to use any of these devices for hoisting a crewmember up the mast. This is because they have been known to fail and endanger the lives of the crew being hoisted and others below. I, too, wouldn’t condone this practice for my own reasons, but in reality many do use them for just this purpose. If they’re sensible they take additional precautions, such as not relying on self-tailing winch jaws to take the strain and attaching a second halyard with someone else other than the wincher taking up the slack and belaying it between hauls. Having another person standing by at the main power switch in case it gets stuck on is also a good plan.

Of course, the usual point of not using an external halyard to go aloft counts for both manual and powered winches. If a sheave or bearing breaks on an internal halyard at least you’re not going to plummet to the deck!

Electric furlers

Loop eFurler

In truth, headsail furlers on small to medium-sized sailing yachts shouldn’t ever need winching – manually or electrically. If they do then something is usually wrong. Either the swivel bearings are salted up or dried out, the halyard has been hoisted up too hard, or you have halyard twist at the top swivel.

But for those that simply want to ease the amount of physical work involved in sailing, there’s no reason why you can’t fit an electric furler, or an electric winch that the furling line can reach.

Code 0 and asymmetric spinnaker furlers usually have continuous loop furling lines that can require a crewmember to leave the cockpit.

However, since the advent of small but powerful Lithium-ion battery packs other solutions have been developed. The new, German-made Loop EF1500 E-Furler uses a small 18V Li-ion battery pack to drive an electric furler, designed so that it is all neatly contained within the bowsprit pole itself. It comes with a wireless remote control so the sail can be furled and unfurled from the cockpit and a spare battery can be kept in an onboard charger ready for a quick swap out if necessary.

Anchor windlass

Lewmar V1 electric windlass

Cruising sailors, both power and sail, have long been aware of the delights of an electric anchor windlass and since the development of the rope/chain combination gypsy, the whole process of lowering and raising the anchor can be automated by remote control from the cockpit.

Once again the least expensive way to take the strain out of anchor hauling is to find a mechanical windlass that can accept a standard winch handle and then buy something like the Winchrite to operate it. This saves on the expensive and heavy wiring necessary for a permanent electric windlass and doesn’t put so much load on your house batteries.

Windlass comparison table

Power considerations

Whatever way you decide to electrically ‘assist’ your sailing you’ll need to consider the effect on your boat’s electrical energy reserves. An electric winch or windlass draws a serious amount of power when operating, some 80-150A, so make sure your battery banks and circuit protection can cope with this.

While adding an additional battery to the service bank is easy, keeping it fully charged is less so. Boats that have more than one deep-cycle battery need a proper charging regime – usually in the form of a smart alternator regulator and/or more powerful alternator.

But along with more Amps going in and out comes the need for better monitoring and overload control, with careful thought given to the safety of the electrical system. Using wires that are too small in diameter not only lowers the voltage available to the device, but also increases the risk of fire on board should any of the wires overheat.

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• eWincher Electric Winch Handle Review—Part 1, Our Testing

Last fall I checked out the eWincher electric winch handle at the Annapolis Sailboat Show and wrote an article with my initial thoughts—since deleted and replaced with this one.

This summer Chrysadev, makers of the eWincher, were kind enough to send us a unit and two batteries for evaluation.

And, as it happens, events conspired to make this an even better test than it might have been in that I managed to screw up my neck while removing a recalcitrant hose from a defective pump. While the injury is getting better slowly—everything gets better slowly at this age—it has meant that lots of high load winching is out.

OK, with all that pissing and moaning out of the way, let’s take an in-depth look at eWincher. And when I write “in-depth” I kid you not, this will go two parts.

I know, seems like a lot of blather about a winch handle, but bear with me, this is a revolutionary product. And it’s also an expensive product, so I owe you a detailed look to help you decide if eWincher is for you—an impulse purchase, this is not.

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More Articles From eWincher Review:

• eWincher Electric Winch Handle Review—Part 2, The Competition
• eWincher Electric Winch Handle Review—Part 3, Reliability and Summary
• Why We Have an eWincher on a Small Boat

Thanks for the detailed review. I bought an ewincher last winter and used it this season. I solo sail a Blue Jacket 40 equipped with an electric main halyard winch. The primaries were prewired at the factory for conversion. No way would spend that kind of money to convert. ( I imagine this will be covered in part two) This devise is brilliant. I use it to trim the mainsheet when closehauled. I use it to get a fast and easy furl on the big Solent rigged reacher. I like that I can pay attention to sail shape as I make small adjustments to sail trim. When winching manually I tend to assume an head down stance over the winch. Yes, the ewincher takes practice and with all electric winches, one has to be cognizant so not to break stuff with your new Superman strength. One last thing. My unit was delivered with a faulty charger. The support was nothing less than spectacular. Through a series of quick response emails a diagnosis was made and new charger was sent within days. I give ewincher 5 stars. At age 66, I still enjoy the physicality of sailing and manually winch the majority of the time. However, ewincher is a great first mate, especially in a fresh breeze when the loads increase and speedy action is required to reduce the chance of cockpit mishaps. It ain’t cheap…quality kit is expensive. Ewincher is worth every penny.

Thanks for the real world report. These are worth more than all the reviews in the world.

Also very good point on how eWincher compensates for strength differences between two people. I will put that in Part2.

Interesting. I’m interested in, but haven’t tried, Karver Pontos 4 speeds. Have you?

I have not, that said, after thinking about them briefly for our boat, I moved on. The key point is that as boats get bigger, or we get older, or both, the big problem is not load on the handle, it’s endurance. So if you have very high ratios on the winch it’s just going to take a hell of a long winch cycle to get anything done. The problem is not solved, it’s just lengthened, whereas eWincher solves the problem by both reducing the effort and the duration.

The proof of this is how much easier eWincher made the low load, but long duration tasks on our boat like furling the jib top and grinding in the mainsheet prior to a jibe, as I detail above.

I guess the power draw is higher on the eWincher than on an electric winch. They are doing the same work but with an extra mechanical power transfer and an extra inverter/charger/battery stage for the eWincher. At best they are comparable but the electric winch must be more efficient. Or am I missing something?

I guess I could see that in theory, but it does not work that way in practice. We found we still hand winch the easy stuff and there is also assist mode so both are big savings over a fully electric winch boat. I also eWincher will use way less current when in a low load situation (most of the time), whereas an electric winch has a big electric motor that takes a bunch of current regardless of load.

There is also a tendency with electric winches to use the electric function for the entire sheet retreaval, whereas with ewincher we tend to pull the slack in while free spinning the winch.

There are probably other issues, but the bottom line is that our current usage over the summer was immeasurably small, whereas I was advised by Lewmar when I looked at electric winches that I would probably need to upgrade my batteries and should consider changing to 24 volts.

To back this up, I just checked the Lewmar manual and they are recommending 1/0 AWG cable. Gotta tell us something!

And the manual also shows that even a Number 40 (small winch) has a 3.5 amp draw at zero load that goes to 140 amps at 500 kg. Lets say 80 amps at 12 volts for 1 minute for a typical task. That’s 1.33 amp hours at 12 volts. So do that 6 times and you have used as much electricity as we did on Morgan’s Cloud in three days of sailing. And that’s with a small winch. The number 65 like the ones we have on MC take 6 amps at zero load going up to an eye popping 350 amps at 1580 kg.

So, assuming an averge load of say 200 amps for one minute would be 3.33 amp hours at 12 volts, so just four tacks (assuming 30 seconds use on each) on our boat with electric winches would use as much electricity as three days of sailing with eWincher.

In summary, real world use on MC indicates that the eWincher uses about 5-10% of the electricity of electric winches, maybe less.

Of course the eWincher will draw less of you use it less. An electric winch has high power draw because it does a lot of grinding work. If you do the same amount of grinding work with the eWincher, it will draw even more. Unless the electric winch makes heat of most of the power but then it will probably burn.

Maybe, but who cares, the point is that in actual use on a big boat eWincher uses very little power.

Also, as I said earlier, electric winches use way more at low loads because of their large motors sized to bring in a lot of rope quickly at high loads. Take a look at the consumption graphs in the Lewmar manual and you will see what I mean.

But the high numbers are just momentary inrush current. A Harken 72 is just 1500 W. You need to size the cabling for the peak but that has minor effect on the average draw. And, even at low speed an electric winch is pretty fast. You cannot use a minute at 200 Amps for a tack! I would rather say 20 Amps for 10 seconds.

Sure that’s one way to look at, although based on the warnings I got from Lewmar, I’m guessing your numbers are way low. But then again, my numbers may be way high. There may also be factors at work that neither of us have thought of. For example, the little motor in the eWincher might be a lot more efficient than the one in electric winches.

Also I did not say a minute, I wrote:

So, assuming an averge load of say 200 amps for one minute would be 3.33 amp hours at 12 volts, so just four tacks ( assuming 30 seconds use on each )

Bottom line, we could argue this for days, but why would we? None of this matters against the fact that our battery usage recharging eWincher after sailing a big boat for three day sails was less than 8 amp/hours—so low as to be inconsequential, which is the point that matters to those considering whether or not to buy one.

I love it that we’re talking about volts and amps.. LOL. $3000 USD+ to save a few seconds and a few calories per tack. I can think of a few things… actually, my entire list of things to do, at any priority, would come before getting one of these.

I suspect you are not 69 with a bad back and an injured neck. No one is suggesting that everyone needs one. In part 2 I have written about when buying an eWincher makes sense, and when it doesn’t.

Hey Kevin… lets see if after 30+ years of cruising .. with your partner/wife also turning the winch handle under high loads … if you think the same way. Bottom line: people do what they can manage. In my experience, after 31 years of cruising, to keep the experience enjoyable/comfortable/safe one needs to ‘futureproof’ more and more… just food for thought. That said, good on you for being capable of being out there and managing your ‘list’….

Hi John, I bought one three years ago. I have sailed something like 20 000 NM with it on my 15T Garcia sloop. With my wife or singlehanded. I don’t imagine to sail without it anymore. From my experience I concurr with all you said, with all the figures you gave. One more figure : to hoist me (75 kg) at the top of the mast (16 m) only represents 15% of the battery capacity. Yes, it is not cheap but just let us imagine that for the same service we want to convert four or five winches to electric ones ! One more point : after 18 month of use, Chrysadev offers me to service the handle for free. Everything was checked, the software updated and improved (I bought one of the very first one) and the square end cap changed to better suit the drive shaft of my Andersen winches. Top quality after sale service. I don’t regret my investment at all !

Great to hear, particularly since I just bought the evaluation unit from them! Thanks

Please correct me if I am wrong. The e-wincher will not have the same tendency to break gear as an electric winch, because the operator actually has the load in their hands. Therefore you still feel the handle load.

I will be covering that in part 2…preview: you are right.

Power Arm is yet another model, Australian made, for $AU1600 (~$US1150). It appears to run on 18V Milwaukee batteries, so most of us would not need to buy extra batteries or charger. Only recently advertised. I have seen no reviews, and do not know of it’s functionality or quality. But reasonably priced.

That’s certainly a clever approach. One thing I wondered about immediately is how water resistant it is. I would guess that one splash of salt water down the slot between the battery and the rest of the assembly is going to be a problem, but maybe they have figured a way around that.

One of the slide pics shows the Powerarm with some sort of neoprene looking cover that looks designed to protect from light impacts and splashes. Clearly it’s not meant to go swimming, but in the cockpit of a larger vessel it should be possible to keep it safe.

Overall it’s not as smart as the E-Wincher, but I can afford one 🙂

I got a 200nm sail on a big Swan with electric winches last weekend and I’m convinced on the merits of power assist. (The owner of this boat is a professional skipper with an outstanding racing record and he’s no snob about going electric.)

I guess I’m just not convinced about any electrical piece of equipment that is intended to be used on deck that’s not waterproof. In my experience, even with a good dodger, the cockpit of a boat offshore is a pretty damp place, so I’m guessing the life of powerarm is going to be short making it more expensive over time than the eWincher.

So, given that, I think that if I wanted a budget option I would go with WinchRite. More coming in part 2.

OK… Valiant 40…..we have an Andersen compact motor drive electric winch that drives the main halyard, reef lines, staysail halyard, spin halyard (all thru cam cleats under the dodger). The Genoa, mainsail and staysail sheets, roller furling lines are still 2 speed Andersen ‘grinders’ (all convertible to electrics)… as we get older (60 years now!!!), on passages with fickle winds, it gets laborious…. most polite way of saying it….. As a prelude to this report we have tried the cheapest option of ‘electrifying’ the other winches by using a Ryobi 18volt electric contra-angle drill with a winch driver bit….. it works ….but not really all that well: heavier loads/winds and it simply is not enough ‘grunt’ for the task. The bit was only $25.00 NZD thru Foster’s here in NZ. The drill was less than $200.00 NZD and we already had it onboard. I’m convinced that this e-wincher modality it the way to go after reading this report…. we have read similar reports from other places and compared these (i.e. the ‘Winchrite’)… we just needed a report from someone we trust who actually had the sea trial info to confirm the E-wincher motor was up to to it… The Andersen compact motor was very expensive… about $6000.00 NZD at the time we bought it years ago… no way we would do that again for 6 more winches…. it seems a ‘no brainer’…. Thanks John for the excellent report. Really appreciate it. We’ll update the site once we get ours and get it trialed onboard in some winds… All the best…

Thanks for the kind words. Believe it or not, I have two more parts of the review in the hopper! That said, seems like you have already made a good decision.

My Lofrans power windlass allows manual operation using a winch handle. Fortunately, I’ve not had to use this feature in anger, but just a few minutes of testing it out leaves me dreading the day when I do.

An electric winch handle might be a good option for operating my power windlass manually in the event of a failure, rather than dragging the rode down the side deck using my electric primaries. I couldn’t justify the expense at the moment, but I thought I’d toss the idea out there as an interesting application for an electric winch handle, hopefully without instigating a side conversation about the pros and cons of electric windlasses. 🙂

Hi Edward, I have done so with a Lighthouse Windlass in practice with an EWincher and it does the job very nicely. My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy

Sail Boat Winches: The Ultimate Guide

by Emma Sullivan | Aug 5, 2023 | Sailboat Gear and Equipment

Short answer: Sail boat winches

Sail boat winches are mechanical devices used on sailboats to assist in hoisting, trimming, and controlling sails. They consist of a drum or wheel around which the line is wound, providing leverage to adjust sail tension and maneuver the boat efficiently. These essential components contribute to the overall performance and handling of sailboats during sailing activities.

Understanding Sail Boat Winches: A Beginner’s Guide

Title: Understanding Sail Boat Winches: A Beginner’s Guide

Introduction: Sailing is an exhilarating experience that combines the awe of nature with the technical skills required to navigate the open waters. One crucial component of any sailboat is the winch , a mechanical device that allows sailors to control and adjust the sails. In this beginner’s guide, we will delve into the world of sail boat winches, unraveling their mechanisms, types, and importance in sailing.

1. The Functionality Behind Sail Boat Winches: When it comes to manipulating sails efficiently, sail boat winches come to the rescue. These devices work by utilizing a drum-shaped spool around which sailors wrap ropes or cables called sheets. By rotating this drum with a handle or an electric motor, immense force can be exerted onto these sheets for adjusting various aspects of your sails such as tension and angle.

2. Types of Sail Boat Winches: There are two main types of sail boat winches—self-tailing and standard winches. Standard winches require manual tailing or holding onto the sheet while turning the handle to increase or decrease tension. On the other hand, self-tailing winches feature a built-in mechanism that automatically grips and holds onto the line when it is turned in one direction but easily releases when rotated in reverse.

3. Choosing the Right Size for Your Vessel: Selecting an appropriate size for your sail boat winch is crucial as it will directly impact its functionality on deck. Factors such as displacement (weight), type of sailing (cruising or racing), and anticipated wind conditions all dictate what size winch you should choose. It is advisable to consult experienced sailors or experts who can guide you towards making an informed decision.

4. Maintenance Tips for Optimal Performance: Like any mechanical equipment, sail boat winches require regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance throughout their lifespan. Here are some key maintenance tips:

– Regularly lubricate winches to prevent corrosion and ensure smooth operation. – Clean the self-tailing mechanism periodically, as dirt and grime can hinder its functionality. – Check for any signs of wear or damage, such as frayed ropes or loose parts, and replace them immediately to avoid accidents.

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid: In the excitement of sailing, beginners often make some common mistakes when it comes to sail boat winches. Here are a few things to steer clear of:

– Overloading the winch: Be aware of the winch’s load-bearing capacity and avoid pushing it beyond its limits. Overloading can lead to premature wear and tear or even breakage. – Not using proper techniques: Take the time to learn proper winching techniques such as tailing or wrapping the line correctly around the drum. This ensures efficient power transfer, preventing unnecessary strain on both you and the winch.

Conclusion: Understanding sail boat winches paves the way for a smoother sailing experience. By grasping their functionality, choosing wisely according to your vessel’s needs, conducting regular maintenance, and avoiding common mistakes, you will unlock an essential skill that truly elevates your sailing adventures . So go ahead, hoist those sails confidently with your newfound knowledge of sail boat winches!

How to Properly Use Sail Boat Winches: Step-by-Step Instructions

Sailing enthusiasts know that properly using sailboat winches is crucial for smooth sailing and efficient maneuvering. These powerful devices are used to handle sails, control lines, and make adjustments on the boat. However, if used incorrectly, they can lead to strained muscles or even accidents on board. In this step-by-step guide, we will take you through the process of using sailboat winches correctly to ensure a safe and enjoyable sailing experience.

Step 1: Familiarize Yourself with Winch Components Before embarking on your sailing journey, it is essential to understand the different components of a sailboat winch . The three main components are the drum (where the line wraps around), the handle attachment point (often referred to as the “winch socket”), and the winch handle itself.

Step 2: Assess Line Placement Take a moment to assess how various lines are set up on your boat . Identify which lines go through specific winches or blocks connected to them. Understanding this configuration will help you determine which winch you need to use for each task.

Step 3: Choosing the Correct Winch Size Not all winches are created equal. Sailboats usually have multiple winches onboard, each with a different purpose based on load requirements. Choose an appropriately sized winch based on the size and tension of the line you will be handling.

Step 4: Securely Attach Winch Handle Once you have selected the appropriate winch, firmly attach its handle to the winch socket by sliding it in and giving it a slight twist until it locks in place securely. Always ensure that the handle is fully engaged before applying any force.

Step 5: Winding Lines onto Drum To start winding lines onto the drum, hold onto the standing part of the line (the part that doesn’t move) with one hand while turning clockwise with your other hand on top of the drum using gentle pressure. Gradually increase the pressure as needed, but remember to avoid excessive force to prevent damage to the winch or potential injuries.

Step 6: Releasing Tension When you need to release tension from a line, hold onto the standing part with one hand and use your other hand on top of the drum. Turn counterclockwise while maintaining control of the line’s speed. Always keep track of your fingers’ positions and be cautious not to get them caught between the line and drum.

Step 7: Two-Person Operation For larger boats or when handling heavy loads, consider using a two-person operation method for increased safety and efficiency. One person can handle managing the lines while another operates the winch handle, ensuring smoother coordination and reducing strain on both individuals.

Step 8: Regular Maintenance Proper maintenance ensures longevity and optimal functionality. Regularly inspect your winches for signs of wear, lubricate them according to manufacturer guidelines, and replace worn parts promptly. This upkeep will help prevent unexpected failures at critical moments during your sailing adventures .

By following these step-by-step instructions on using sailboat winches properly, you can navigate with confidence, maintain control over your sails, and enhance overall safety while out on the water. Remember always to prioritize caution and respect for these powerful tools – they are there to make sailing more manageable, more enjoyable, and above all else, safe!

Frequently Asked Questions about Sail Boat Winches: Your Answers Revealed

If you are a sailor or boat enthusiast , then chances are you have come across the term “winch” at some point. Sail boat winches are an essential piece of equipment that play a crucial role in controlling and maneuvering your sailboat. However, despite their importance, many people still have questions about how they work and why they are so vital on a sailing vessel . In this blog post, we will dive deep into the frequently asked questions about sail boat winches to provide you with detailed, professional, witty, and clever explanations.

1. What is a sail boat winch?

A sail boat winch is a mechanical device designed to make it easier to hoist sails by multiplying the force exerted by the crew members. It consists of several important components such as the drum (where the rope is wound), gears (to increase power), and handles (to turn the winch). By using leverage and gearing mechanisms, sailors can effortlessly control high loads and adjust sail settings with minimal effort.

2. Why do I need a winch on my sailboat ?

Well, imagine trying to hoist a heavy mainsail or trim a jib without any assistance – it would be quite the workout! Sail boat winches allow sailors to efficiently handle large loads produced by strong winds and heavy sails. They enable precise control over various aspects of sailing like raising or lowering sails, adjusting tension in lines, and controlling angles during maneuvers. Without winches, performing these tasks would require immense physical strength that could quickly exhaust even the most seasoned sailors.

3. How do I choose the right winch for my sailboat ?

The size and type of sailboat winch depend on several factors such as boat size, rigging setup, type of sailing (cruising or racing), and personal preferences. Generally speaking, larger boats with more powerful rigs require larger winches to handle the higher loads. However, it’s important to strike a balance as excessively oversized winches can be unnecessarily heavy and harder to operate efficiently. Consulting with experts or seeking advice from experienced sailors is always recommended when selecting the right winch for your specific sailboat .

4. Can I use an electric winch instead of a manual one?

Absolutely! Electric winches have become increasingly popular among sailors due to their convenience and ease of use. Electric winches are powered by electricity and can significantly reduce physical effort , making them an excellent option for those with limited strength or on larger boats where loads can be substantial. However, it’s worth noting that electric winches come at a higher cost compared to their manual counterparts, require additional wiring and power supply, and may need regular maintenance.

5. How do I properly maintain my sail boat winches?

To ensure your sail boat winches keep performing optimally, regular maintenance is essential. Firstly, keep them clean! Saltwater, sand, and grime can cause corrosion and damage over time. Lubricating the moving parts regularly using appropriate marine-grade lubricants will help prevent wear and tear while ensuring smooth operation. Inspecting the components for any signs of damage or excessive wear is critical to catching potential issues early on before they turn into bigger problems.

Now that we’ve revealed the answers to some frequently asked questions about sail boat winches, you should have a better understanding of their importance in sailing, how to choose the right one for your sailboat, consider electric options if desired, and maintain them properly for optimal performance. So go ahead – hoist those sails with confidence knowing that your trusty winch has got your back!

Choosing the Right Sail Boat Winch for Your Needs: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you an avid sailor looking to upgrade your sail boat winch? Or, perhaps you’re new to sailing and in need of guidance on how to choose the perfect winch for your needs. Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about selecting the right sail boat winch.

Firstly, it’s important to understand that a sail boat winch plays a crucial role in managing and adjusting the tension of your sails. It allows sailors to control their sails effortlessly, ensuring smooth sailing experiences without any manual exertion. But with so many options available on the market, choosing the right sail boat winch can be overwhelming.

To simplify the process, let’s break down some key factors that should influence your decision-making:

1. Size and Power: The size and power of a sail boat winch should correspond to the size and weight of your boat as well as the strength needed for efficient operation. Consider factors such as the size of your sails, wind conditions in your sailing area, and the effort required for control. Opting for a more powerful winch may provide ease of use in challenging conditions or if you have physical limitations.

2. Self-Tailing Functionality: Do you desire convenience while on deck? If so, consider investing in a self-tailing winch. This nifty feature allows for easy one-handed operation by automatically holding onto lines when released or during adjustment. It eliminates the need for additional crew members or using extra equipment like clamps or cleats – definitely handy!

3. Winch Material: When it comes to materials used in making sail boat winches, stainless steel is often a popular choice due to its durability against harsh marine environments. However, aluminum options are lighter and less expensive while still providing decent performance.

4. Gear Ratio: The gear ratio refers to how many turns are required on the handle or drum to turn the line (rope) on the winch. A higher gear ratio will provide greater power, allowing you to control larger sails or handle higher wind loads with less effort. Conversely, a lower gear ratio will require more physical exertion but can be ideal for smaller boats or lighter sail handling.

5. Single Speed vs. Two-Speed Winches: Single speed winches function with a fixed gear ratio while two-speed winches offer the ability to switch between different gear ratios using a secondary speed handle or button. If you frequently sail in variable wind conditions, having the flexibility of switching gears quickly can be advantageous.

6. Maintenance and Ease of Use: Consider how easy it is to maintain and service the winch. Look for models that have accessible parts and clear instructions for lubrication and cleaning. This ensures longevity and keeps your winch performing at its best for years to come.

7. Budget: While cost should never be the sole determinant, it is worth considering your budgetary limitations before making a purchase. Remember that investing in a high-quality sail boat winch may save you money in the long run by providing increased reliability and minimizing maintenance costs.

So there you have it – a comprehensive guide to assist you in choosing the right sail boat winch for your needs! By considering factors such as size and power, self-tailing functionality, materials used, gear ratio options, single speed vs. two-speed choices, maintenance requirements, and budget constraints, you’ll be well-equipped to make an informed decision that enhances your sailing experience .

Fair winds and happy sailing !

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Sail Boat Winches

Sailing enthusiasts and boat owners alike can attest to the excitement and joy that comes with setting sail, harnessing the power of the wind, and gliding across the open waters. And when it comes to maneuvering your sailboat efficiently, winches are an essential tool. These mechanical devices make it easier to control and adjust the sails, maximizing their efficiency and ensuring a smooth sailing experience.

However, even experienced sailors can occasionally fall victim to certain mistakes when using sail boat winches. To ensure that you make the most of these valuable tools, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of common mistakes that you should avoid:

1. Neglecting Proper Maintenance One of the biggest oversights sailors often make is neglecting regular maintenance on their sailboat winches . Over time, saltwater exposure, debris accumulation, and general wear and tear can cause winches to become less effective or even malfunction entirely. It’s crucial to clean your winches regularly (especially after every outing), lubricate them with appropriate grease or oil, inspect for any damage or corrosion, and replace parts as necessary.

2. Improper Usage Winch systems are designed specifically for certain operations such as hoisting sails or trimming lines. Using them incorrectly not only decreases their efficiency but also increases the risk of accidents or equipment damage. Familiarize yourself with your specific winch system’s capabilities by thoroughly reading through its user manual.

3. Overloading Winch Capacity Each winch has a specific load capacity which must never be exceeded; otherwise, you risk damaging the gears or even causing them to fail altogether. Make sure you understand your sailboat’s specifications regarding maximum loads per winch size before loading it up excessively.

4. Incorrect Line Placement Placing lines incorrectly on the winch drum is another common mistake made by both beginners and experienced sailors alike. A misaligned line can lead to poor control over sheet tension or cause slipping during critical moments. Always ensure that the line wraps evenly and securely around the winch drum, without overlapping or crossing over itself.

5. Jerky and Rapid Cranking Using excessive force or aggressively cranking the winch handle in a jerky manner can put unnecessary strain on both the winch and yourself. It’s essential to maintain smooth , controlled movements when cranking the winch handle. Distribute your efforts evenly, using your whole body instead of relying solely on arm strength for a more efficient technique.

6. Ignoring Safety Precautions Operating sailboat winches without taking proper safety precautions can lead to severe injuries or accidents. Ensure that loose clothing or jewelry is secured before handling winches to prevent entanglement. Additionally, wearing appropriate gloves will provide you with a better grip while decreasing the chances of rope burns or blisters.

7. Lack of Communication In any sailing endeavor involving multiple crew members, communication is crucial when it comes to working with winches effectively. Failing to communicate clearly about intended maneuvers or anticipated adjustments can lead to confusion and mistakes, compromising both efficiency and safety. Establish clear signals and procedures beforehand to minimize misunderstandings when operating sailboat winches.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll undoubtedly be able to enjoy smoother sailing experiences while prolonging the life of your sailboat winches significantly. Remember, it’s essential always to prioritize safety and maintain regular maintenance routines for optimal performance on your sailing adventures !

Tips and Tricks for Maintaining and Troubleshooting Sail Boat Winches

To all the passionate sailors out there, we know that sailboat winches are a crucial part of your sailing experience. These mechanical wonders help control and trim sails, making your boat glide gracefully through the water . However, like any other piece of equipment on a sailboat, winches require regular maintenance and occasionally encounter problems. Fear not! In this blog post, we will reveal some valuable tips and tricks for maintaining and troubleshooting sailboat winches like a pro.

1. Understand Your Winch: Before diving into maintenance or troubleshooting, it’s essential to understand how your specific winch works. Study the manufacturer’s manual or consult an experienced sailor to gain a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms involved. This knowledge will serve as your foundation throughout the process.

2. Cleanliness is Key: Saltwater, sand, and grime can quickly build up on sailboat winches, compromising their functionality. Make cleaning a regular part of your maintenance routine. Use freshwater to rinse off any dirt or salt residue from the winch drum, gears, and pawls. A small brush can be handy for reaching intricate areas.

3. Grease Them Up: Lubrication plays a vital role in ensuring smooth operation and longevity of your winches . Apply high-quality marine grease to lubricate moving parts such as gears and pawls periodically but avoid over-greasing which can attract debris.

4. Check for Wear and Tear: Regular inspections are crucial to identify signs of wear and tear before they become major issues during your sailing adventures . Pay close attention to the condition of drum bearings, gear teeth, pawls, springs, and screws – any abnormalities should be addressed promptly by replacing or repairing worn-out components.

5. Tension Adjustment: Maintaining proper tension on your winch lines will enhance performance while reducing wear on ropes (halyards) or sheets in use. Familiarize yourself with different types of line grips available for your winch model to optimize tension settings accordingly.

6. Smooth Rotation: Ratchet mechanisms play a vital role in sailboat winches, ensuring that the drum rotates freely when sailing but locks when you need it to. If you’re experiencing excessive resistance or the ratchet is slipping, it may be time to disassemble and inspect these crucial parts for wear or debris accumulation that hinder smooth rotation.

7. Pawl Springs: The pawls and springs are responsible for holding the line securely in place after each winching action. Inspect these components to ensure they engage smoothly and securely with no signs of weakness or damage. Replace any worn-out pawl springs promptly as they can affect the reliability of your winch.

8. Winch Servicing Kit: Consider investing in a winch servicing kit designed specifically for your brand and model. These kits usually contain an assortment of replacement parts, such as new pawls, springs, bearings, and seals – all conveniently packaged together for easy maintenance.

9. Seek Professional Assistance when Needed: Sailboat winches can be intricate pieces of machinery requiring specific expertise for complex repairs or maintenance tasks. If you encounter major problems beyond your capabilities, don’t hesitate to seek professional help from experienced marine mechanics or reputable sailboat service centers.

10. Prevention is Better than Cure: Regular maintenance is key to avoiding unexpected issues during crucial moments at sea. Establish a maintenance schedule and stick to it diligently – this will ensure that your sailboat winches are always ready for action when you cast off!

Now armed with these essential tips and tricks for maintaining and troubleshooting your sailboat winches, you’ll be able to keep them functioning at their best while enjoying worry-free sailing adventures on open waters! Happy sailing!

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Harken Electric Winches

Each Harken Electric requires one control box, one circuit breaker, and two analog switches or one Digital System Switch. All new electric Radial and Performa electric winches are supplied with the appropriate dual-function control box.

Harken Performa Winches combine the high-efficiency of the Radial line with the sandblasted grip of Harken carbon-fiber racing winches for powerful hybrids. Performa winches are a great solution for crew who don't wish to invest in carbon winches or who need racing winches in smaller sizes.

The Harken Electric Winches Rewind is the latest easy sailing solutions for cruisers, and the first winch of its kind in the marine market. Activated remotely by twin in/out buttons, the Rewind safely eases and trims highly-loaded sails in both directions without ever taking the line out of the self-tailer.

Battery voltage and winch size determine which Harken Components you should use.

MAURIPRO Sailing, your direct access to Harken Electric Winches and all your other sailing and boating needs.

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SailForce Electric Winches Smart Electric Winch

Maneuver control takes on new meaning with:

The remarkably fast and precise variable speed on both winch speeds.

Everything is there: precision, speed + 25% and real-time control of the tension of the maneuvered rope.

Unrivaled safety thanks to an extremely sensitive voltage limiter that can be configured for each maneuver.

Not to mention an energy saving of 50%!

Here is SailForce, our “Smart Electric Winch”.

SailForce is available in sizes 40, 45, 52, 57 and 70. A real patented technological breakthrough that revolutionizes motorization of the winch.

Our resellers

A motor and a winch exceptional

Variable speed on the 2 winch speeds, adjusting your sails with an electric winch is now possible: embark at less than 1.6 cm/second, maneuver even faster with sailforce: 25% faster than conventional motors, winches hutton chrome winches, super resistant and reliable., a brushless motor with exceptional performance discover the performance of the sailforce electric winch., unparalleled security for the equipment and your crew.

A tesion limiter precise and easy to use

Depending on your maneuvers (raise mainsail, furl genoa, etc.), you define the voltage limits. Thus, the motor stops as soon as it is reached. This allows, for example, to detect a stuck reef!

Safety switch a double control with 2 fingers to avoid any unintentional activation of the motor

SailForce goes even further in security

General shutdown and addition of an emergency stop made easier Unexpected engine starting impossible. Motor blocked if network problem detected. Safety fuse added redundantly to the BMS of battery safety.

- 50% energy consumption and your service batteries preserved!

Innovative technology allowing 50% energy savings, only 6 amp consumed by the battery of the boat, the service batteries of your boat are preserved, improved comfort, simple and effective use, an innovative ordering system and revolutionary control box.

A second control unit to place anywhere on the boat

Check all the winches: Control all your winches from a single device

An installation simplified, subcategories, variable speed and..., safety: tension limiter, safety: tension limiter..

We have developed an ultra-sensitive tension limiter in order to protect the boat's equipment against potential damage. Electric winches, due to their high power, present a risk of breaking certain equipment, for example when a reef becomes blocked or a rope gets stuck in a pulley. Our tension limiter is designed to detect these scenarios. Find out how it works below.

The SailForce electric winch calculates the real-time tension on the line. Users can customize tension limits, ranging from 10 kg to the maximum tension capacity of the winch (which varies depending on the winch's size, from 800 kg for a size 40 winch to 1600 kg for a size 70 winch). When the tension on the line reaches the defined limit, the motor stops instantly.

Tensions on the lines vary significantly depending on the maneuver. To configure effective and situation-specific tension limits, it is essential to be able to set specific tension limits for each maneuver. This is why we have introduced "Maneuver Programs" (1) . Each program stores its unique tension limits. Switching from one program to another (2) is simple and quick; just press one of the keyboard arrows. Each "Maneuver Program" offers two independent tension limits: -  Tension limit for high speed. (3) -  Tension limit for low speed. (4)

Fully Customizable.

To meet the specific needs of each sailboat.

Adjust the tension limits. Directly from the winch control (Advanced Command).

Choose the number and names of the programs. Through the SailForce electric winch smartphone application, available for iOS and Android.

Why is it essential to have different tension limits?

Most maneuvers typically have two stages: 1. The initial phase requiring speed with relatively low tension (e.g., hoisting the mainsail to the masthead). High winch speed, or speed 1, is generally used at this stage. 2. The second stage typically involves fine-tuning the sails with higher tension (e.g., trimming or tensioning the mainsail halyard once it's at the masthead). This is when low winch speed, or speed 2, is employed. Detecting an anomaly during the first phase means identifying a relatively low tension anomaly. In contrast, detecting an anomaly during the second phase entails recognizing higher tension. This is why it is essential to have two distinct tension limits for each winch speed.

Example: Hoisting the Mainsail.

Stage 1: Hoisting the mainsail using high speed. Hoisting the mainsail requires a tension of 100 to 200 kg on the halyard. A typical anomaly at this stage is a jammed reef or a slider getting stuck. To optimally use the tension limiter at this stage, simply set the tension limit for the winch's high speed (speed 1) between 100 and 200 kg, depending on the boat (size and configuration). This ensures safe mainsail hoisting: if a reef is jammed or a slider gets stuck, the tension on the line will abruptly increase and reach the tension limit. The motor will immediately stop, preventing equipment damage. Stage 2: Trimming the mainsail with low speed. Depending on the sailboat, the required tension varies between 450 and 800 kg. Therefore, you need to set the tension limit for the winch's low speed to a sufficient tension level to complete the maneuver. Once the limits are set, you only need to select the "Hoisting the Mainsail" program:    -  1:  Press the high speed until you reach the tension limit. If the mainsail is hoisted without anomalies (jammed reef or other issues):    -  2:  Switch to low speed until you reach the tension limit. Your mainsail is hoisted and adjusted.

More information about the Electric Winch

Variable speeds and performance

Electrical safety of the system

Electric consumption

Dimensions and installation

Winch control: our 3 options

Power consumption

less energy consumed

Maximum current consumed on service batteries

Conventional electric winches (12V brushed motors) have two major flaws in terms of their electrical consumption: they consume a lot (too much) energy; and they require currents of such intensity that the longevity of the service batteries can easily be compromised. We set ourselves a challenge when designing our electric winch: we wanted SailForce to have a reasonable electricity consumption, similar to most on-board equipment. We had to make some technological choices, but we got there. Our result: SailForce consumes 2 to 3 times less energy than conventional electric winches, and the currents it draws on the service batteries are similar to those of the on-board refrigerator. Our innovation is largely based on the addition of a Lithium battery which supplies our motor with 30 V DC current. Two elements should be remembered regarding the electricity consumption of our electric winch: it consumes 50% less energy compared to conventional electric winches.

Energy efficiency:   65%   vs   35% for conventional engines.

Sailforce is a latest generation high efficiency engine that combines 3 key technological choices to offer exceptional performance compared to current conventional engines:

A 1250 W brushless motor instead of 12V DC motors. A Lithium battery supplying the motor with 30 V DC (instead of 12 VDC for electric winch motors conventional). Our Lithium battery charges on the boat's 12V. A gear reducer and an angular gearbox with much higher efficiency than the screw and wheel system classic engines. The result? An energy efficiency of 65%, compared to less than 35% for conventional electric winches. That's half the energy consumed for the same work.

Sailforce preserves the service batteries of your sailboat

Only 6a preserved by the boat battery.

The energy of the SailForce electric motor is provided by its independent battery pack (30 V Li Ion compact pack).

This battery pack is supplied with your SailForce winch, and you can place it wherever you want. This pack includes a battery charger powered by 12 VDC.

As soon as you are not using your electric winch, the SailForce battery recharges automatically and gently from the 12V network of your service batteries, consuming only 6A.

This low current consumption completely preserves your service batteries.

SailForce consumes 2 to 3 times less energy than conventional engines at maximum load

The table below gives for SailForce and for conventional engine solutions with one or two motorized speeds:

The maximum load per winch size (in kg)

The current intensity on the battery (12 V service battery or 30V SailForce battery) for tow the maximum load (in A)

The electrical energy consumption in Wh to tow the maximum load on 1m

Conventional solutions require between 130 and 380 A, accelerating the aging of your service batteries.

The data in this table comes, on the one hand, from performance tests carried out on SailForce, and on the other hand, from public performance data on the various conventional technologies :

Sailforce preserves the service batteries of your boat

The motors of traditional electric winches consume extremely energy.

The current intensity on the battery (service battery 12 V or 30V SailForce battery) to tow the maximum load (in A)

Electric energy consumption in Wh to tow the maximum load over 1m

Conventional solutions call for between 130 and 380 A accelerating aging of your service batteries.

Safety: Tension limiter tension

Electrical safety of...

Electrical safety.

5 onboard devices ensure the electrical safety of the motor. A sixth can be added during installation.

Discover them in detail above

2 safety devices on the control boxes

Safety button.

to prevent any unintentional start of the winch.

Continuous monitoring

of the coherence of information transmitted between the control units and the motor. Any anomaly results in the motor shutting down.

1 General Switch

If necessary, 1 second switch to add during installation., main switch.

Power-on button located on the Lithium battery. Stops and starts the entire system.

Second switch

Not included, can easily be added to the Lithium battery power cable from the electrical panel and constitute an emergency stop.

2 Safety devices on the Lithium battery

Bsm (battery safety management).

Device which permanently monitors the proper functioning of Lithium batteries (temperature, charge, Voltage, etc.). Turns off the battery in the event of an anomaly.

Safety fuse

In the very unlikely event of BSM failure, a 50A fuse ensures system safety (battery current in normal operation is 45A).

A Brushless motor is much safer than a traditional motor!

Traditional motor: it just needs to be connected to the power for it to start. Any mechanical anomaly of the switches or contactors may cause the motor to start immediately.

Brushless motor: to be able to function, it must be controlled by an electronic card which must constantly send it series of extremely precise orders. An anomaly in the electrical power supply does not allow these messages to be executed correctly, and therefore the engine to operate and the electric winch to start.

Main page p>

Dimensions and...

All-inclusive offer: Our offer includes all necessary elements for installing the SailForce electric winch, including cabling

Our motor is so powerful that we use the same one for size 40 to

The motor can be installed at 30 degree intervals around the winch axis

Advanced Command :

Essential Command :

You can install the SailForce™ Lithium battery pretty much anywhere you want in your boat's cabin, from 2.5 meters up to 8 meters away from electric winch.

Lithium battery to motor :

You have the option to install the battery within distances of less than 2.5, 5, or 8 meters from the motors :

• 2x2.5 meters, 6mm², Ø 5mm
• 2x5 meters, 10mm², Ø 6mm
• 2x8 meters, 16mm²

Note that these cables are significantly thinner and more flexible compared to those used for conventional electric winches, making installation much easier.

Motor to command unit(s) :

• Essential Command : 2 meters, Ø 5mm
• Advanced Command : 2 meters, Ø 5mm

If you choose to install the two control commands for your electric winch, two cables are provided :

• Full Command: 1x2 meters + 1x6 meters, Ø 5 mm

Service battery to Lithium battery

The SailForce™ lithium battery can charge from both 12V and 24V service batteries on the boat.

Length : 2 meters, Ø 6 mm.

Winch commands: our 3...

Winch controls: our options.

Different command options are available to control our electric winch:

Advanced Command

Our reference control, it offers all the functionalities of our SailForce electric winch. It's the complete solution to getting the most out of your equipment.

Full Command

Advanced Command + a 2nd command Most ? The possibility of installing these two controls simultaneously, to control your winch from several locations, whether from your winch or the helm.

Essential Command

Same functions as our main control, without the screen and without real-time display of the tension on the string. Voltage limiter included, but its configuration is done via the mobile application.

Multi-Winches Control

Several Electric Winches? Check out our Multi-Winch control option. Several “Essential” controls for each of your electric winches + an “Advanced” control to control ALL your electric winches from the helm.

High Variable - Fast Winch speed

Variable Speed - Small Winch speed

Security Button

Tension Limiter

Configurable only from the mobile application.

Intuitive use directly from the control command, configurable from the control command and from the mobile application.

Real-time display tension

Winch Control in 2 different locations

Multi-Winches Command

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An electric winch is powered by a motor situated below the deck. It allows crew to tighten rigging without effort.

These fittings facilitate line adjustment when unusual effort is required. They can be used to adjust sheets, halyards and other lines, and are particularly useful on very large sailboats or those with crew including seniors or others with physical limitations.

Such winches resemble manual models to which a powerful electric motor has been added. The internal gearing increases mechanical advantage and lines are wrapped around a drum coated with a non-slip surface. They are controlled by waterproof switches installed nearby. Models with multiple gear ratios offer different winching speeds, while drum diameter determines maximum load. On self-tailing versions, a built-in cleat in the form of circular jaws around the top of the drum keeps tension on the free end of the line.

Choice will depend on the winch's location on the deck and anticipated maximum load. Adequate installation space, including for the motor, is another factor. A self-tailing model is particularly useful when sailing short-handed.

- Nearly effortless line handling

- Requires space beneath the deck - High energy consumption - No indication of excessive strain

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Winches: Ratios and Reality

When comparing winches, its important to understand how input and output interface. The winch handle is a rotary lever that is the first stage of power amplification. The ratio of drum radius-to-handle length is the first force multiplier. An 8-inch handle and a 2-inch radius drum, therefore, deliver a 4-to-1 boost in pulling power and a 4-to-1 decrease in line-hauling speed.

When you switch to a 10-inch handle, the ratios are 5-to-1, giving you a 20-percent increase in power. Add a double grip to the longer handle, and a crewmember who normally would revert to counter-rotation (low gear) when the torque was around 25 pounds, now delivers 40 pounds of input into the winch at both the high- and low-gear ratios. In short, the simplest and most cost-effective power upgrade is a longer, double-grip handle.

Once you have the right handle, you should look at gear ratio, and then to power ratio. A gear ratio of 1:1 means one turn of the handle equals one turn of the drum. In this case, the only extra pulling power is derived from the lever effect of the winch handle. The purpose of gears in a winch is an equivalent to sprockets on the hill-climbing road bike; sprockets allow the rider to deliver more power to the back wheel, with less effort. A transmission does the same in a car.

Theres no free lunch here. However, rotary energy going in can be reapportioned via a gear train to increase pulling power, but this slows the recovery rate. The opposite is also possible. In a perfectly friction-less world, if you put 30 pounds of force into the winch handle (a 4:1 lever), on a winch with a 7:1 gear ratio in low gear, the output pulling power is 4 x 7 x 30 = 840 pounds. If you do the same on the Pontos four-speed Trimmer with an 18.6:1 low gear, the equation is 4 x 18.6 x 30 = 2,232 pounds.

On a new or well-maintained winch, friction losses account for 10-percent loss of efficiency when operating in the mid-range loads. The efficiency drops off a bit as the winch approaches its maximum load-handling capacity; bearings start to bind, and the spindle starts to tilt. If overloading occurs, however, it can permanently deform key parts inside the winch, and its efficiency decreases precipitously. This is why cruising sailors should not opt for smaller winches, even though they are not racing.

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Sailing Winch Secrets: How To Use a Winch

Last Updated by

Capt Chris German

June 15, 2022

A winch can rip off your finger or save your back.  If you know what you're doing, nothing beats this modern convenience for hauling in a sail in heavy breeze.

One of the most conspicuous features of a modern sailboat is the high chrome shine of the winches. Your eye is drawn to their steely glow while your inner voice tells you that these things mean danger.

They really are one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment on a sailboat, but also one of the most utilitarian tools a boat may have. By following a few precautions and always keeping your bearings about you, you can use this tool for all sorts of functions and still keep all your fingers attached at the socket.

Table of contents

The Traditional Function Of A Winch

When I signed up for the sailing team at the US Coast Guard Academy, the coach walked in and asked who in the room had ever used a winch before? The quizzical looks on many of the  young swab faces must have  told him that he had very few real sailors in the newly minted class of 1994, and he explained, “You know that thing that looks like a coffee grinder that you wind around with a handle?”

Several faces lit up with that explanation and he immediately tapped those in the know for the big boat team. The rest of the young swabs would be sent to the dinghy team, while the select few would be elevated to relative stardom by joining on the crew to race the big boats in the weekend club series at area yacht clubs.

By being selected for the big boat team,  we would be allowed to leave the base most weekends of the fall and play with civilians at yacht club parties who would fawn over the fact that academy cadets were at THEIR party. That was my favorite function of the winch at that point, to get me into parties, but not really how a winch is supposed to be used.

Winches are however just as the coach described them. They look like big coffee grinders and you spin them around with a winch handle. They come in lots of sizes, but all pretty much have the same shape and function - to haul in the jib sheets to trim the jib on the upwind leg.

I have seen little brass ones no bigger than a cat food can on old sailboats from the 60s and I have seen huge drum sized winches on yachts that would make you puke with envy. Regardless of their size however, they all do pretty much the same thing - pull in the jib sheets.

How To Use A Winch

Winch operation is pretty simple too - after all, it is a simple machine. You wrap the line around the winch three or four times from the bottom up, pulling the line in with one hand and while you crank the winch with the other. On big boats or heavy breeze days, you can team up on a winch with a crew mate,  where one person is the grinder and the other person pulls in the line or “tails the winch”.

The friction of the line wraps around the drum of the winch which usually has some kind of ridges etched in it for better holding effect. As you pull the tail of the line out of the winch the winch spins on bearings and offers you a better purchase on the line than you would have if you were just pulling the line directly from the jib.

The person grinding (or your other hand) can assist your pulling hand or tailor pull the line in by manually spinning the winch with the winch handle. This is where you can exact revenge on a grinder by telling them to grind the winch without actually pulling on the line making them think they are doing work without actually doing anything. (You have to pull on the line for a winch to work).

That’s it - an elegantly simple machine doing a yeoman’s effort of work - better living through technology.

Winch Accidents

Who would think that something so elegantly simple could be so dangerous? Winches while rarely causing lethal injuries, have been known to make some pretty grotesque origami of fingers and hands of errant pit crew (the people who trim the jib in a sailboat race are called the pit crew because they work in the the cockpit and all they do is grind winches).

All too often, a tailor will allow their hands to get a little too close to the winch wraps on the drum and the line will suck your hand into the wraps, crushing, twisting and mangling your fingers and hands.

This is where the grinder can get their revenge by grinding your hands to pulp in the drum of the winch, but my hope is no one is  malicious enough to intentionally grind someone’s hand up into a winch on a sailboat.

There are ways however to avoid having your hands and fingers sucked into a winch. That  comes from how you hold the line. Grasping the line with your thumbs towards you and pulling hand over hand is the safest way to grasp a line. This keeps the finger that makes us human, the thumb, furthest away from danger and allows you drop the line in a hurry if things ever get out of hand.

Invariably however, some people hold the line the wrong way and that is when tragedy strikes.

Wrapping The Winch

The way you wrap a winch is key as one way will work and the other way will not. Most winches will be wrapped from the bottom up in a clockwise direction. I am a little dislexic when it comes to how to load a winch, so usually I will give the winch a turn with my hand before I load it to make sure I understand which way it turns.

Once you have wrapped your winch, it is ready to haul- so keep your hands safe as soon as you put the line on the winch. You’ll know it's time to load up your winch or wrap it, when the skipper says “ready about”.

The Tacking Process

With your winch loaded, your boat is ready to tack and you will tell your skipper that you're ready.  Helm over, the bow swings through the wind and at this point you will release the sheet by unwrapping the line from the winch and allowing it to run freely to the other side, where hopefully your grinder has preloaded their winch and are ready to pull in when the jib switches sides.

An effective tack requires the timing of the process to be exact. If you release your winch too soon, your boat will lose speed and fail to complete the tack. If you release your winch wraps too late, your jib can get stuck up on your mast or life lines and may make the boat over tack or turn too far down wind.

The only way to master the timing of the tack is to practice, but with time and practice you will get a feel for how your boat tacks and when you should release the jib sheet.

For more info on tacking please see our article on sailing maneuvers .

Other Uses For Your Winch

Alton Brown of The Food Network  has said that the only unitasker allowed in his kitchen is a fire extinguisher, and I would suggest that that thinking also applies on a sailboat.

The space is too small and efficiency is too imperative to allow any single use tools to have a place on your boat and as such the winch is no different. Did you really think that a winch could only be used for jib sheets?

Winches can be used for all sorts of other functions in a sailboat, many that have no relation to sailing at all.

I use my jib winch for hauling in spring lines or breast lines on breezy days when the wind is setting my boat off the dock. A  few wraps from a dock line and even the most ardent vessels will relent and come alongside a pier or bulkhead.

Winches can also be  located on the mast for hauling halyards and on the stern quarters for hauling spinnaker gear. It is this universal nature of the winch that makes it such a useful tool on a sailboat.

Other functions can include hauling a MOB over the side or cinching in a dinghy for stormy weather. The coupling of blocks and tackle with a well placed winch can turn a deck winch or a mast winch into an integral part of any emergency plan- so get creative.

Self-Tailing, Electric And Other Revelations In Winch Technology

Perhaps I am showing my age, but when I was a boy, winches came in one flavor, manual.

Today however, there are so many advancements in winch technology that you can navigate your vessel and trim your sails with an app on your phone below decks so that you don't even need sunscreen anymore.

Self tailing winches are winches that wrap the tail in a round jam cleat that is located on the top of the drum. When you crank the drum, the winch will pull the tail simultaneously eliminating the need for a crew member to pull your tail for you.

Electric winches go one step further where an electric motor grinds the winch for you while the winch self-tails, making it possible for you to raise and lower your main or trim your jib without ever exerting any physical effort whatsoever.

I have even seen aftermarket products that can turn a traditional manual winch into an electric winch by using a battery operated hand held motor to grind the winch for you. It may seem like cheating to some, but technology in winch grinding has made it possible for all sorts of people with physical limitations to enter the sport of sailing and/or continue to enjoy the sport of sailing well into their senior years.

Winch Care and Maintenance

I am told and have read that caring for one’s winch is very much a DIY project, but taking a winch apart has never been my favorite thing to do. One wrong move and the loss of one bearing makes a $3000 winch into scrap metal.

So to that extent, washing a winch with mild soap and lots of fresh water to keep salt and sand out of the gears is about as far as I go in caring for my winches. Then again, I have never had really expensive boats either.

I have seen lots of people also cover their winches with canvas and my feeling is while this is cute, it doesn’t do a heck of a lot to protect and may in fact promote rust and corrosion on your aluminum, chrome, stainless steel or bronze varieties. However, covering carbon or other composite types of winches may prolong the life of their finish as UV rays can degrade these varieties.

For more on how to disassemble a winch, how to grease a winch and how to install a winch, check out Google. Harken, West Marine and Ronstan all stand to make money selling you on taking  a winch apart because odds are if you do you'll have to buy a new one. I have sailed with winches that were decades old and worked perfectly without ever greasing them or taking them apart;so I will recommend sticking to soap and water. But you do you.

For now though, watch your digits when loading and hauling on your winch and don't get too intimidated by those barrel side jobs on the luxury sailboats. They are all just winches at the core and all they really do is make pulling in lines easier.

So do good, have fun and sail far.

Related Articles

Capt Chris German is a life long sailor and licensed captain who has taught thousands to sail over the last 20 years. In 2007, he founded a US Sailing-based community sailing school in Bridgeport, CT for inner city youth and families. When Hurricane Sandy forced him to abandon those efforts, he moved to North Carolina where he set out to share this love for broadcasting and sailing with a growing web-based television audience through The Charted Life Television Network.

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My Sailing Fix

Electric Winch Cranker

Please see my update at the bottom of this post before ordering!

I’m a lazy bum! Well, maybe not really, but I do attempt to make sailing aboard Priorities as easy and comfortable as much as I reasonably can.

Sometimes sailing can be hard work, though, especially when shorthanded or solo. Grinding a winch to raise the mainsail or trim in our overlapping jib is one of the first things to come to mind.

Permanently installed electric powered winches are awesome, making hoisting or trimming a large sail more of a mental exercise than a physical one. But at a cost of well over $1000 per winch, multiplied by three or four winches, they get expensive.

We’ve had excellent results with a more affordable electric winch grinder. I use and highly recommend The Ultimate Cranker attached to a Milwaukee Tools M28 Right Angle Drill . A dock neighbor suggested it eight years ago when I bought Priorities , and I heeded his advice.

It’s made a HUGE difference in our enjoyment of the boat! We have a traditional (non furling) mainsail, and jumping the halyard is difficult when shorthanded… which is nearly every time we sail. Using our electric winch cranker to raise the main is super easy. We also use it for sheeting the jib, making us/me more willing to get the trim just right since it’s not a lot of physical work, and making a singlehanded beat inside the Milwaukee harbor very doable and fun.

Initially we used the more basic The Cranker, merely a stainless steel bit that fits in the Milwaukee drill’s chuck. It lasted for about three years of hard use and abuse, but eventually got bent after fatigue. I replaced it with the more substantial Ultimate Cranker, which actually replaces the entire chuck of the drill. It’s lasted five years, and will last many more. There’s also a soft cover for the drill, too, which makes holding it more comfortable and might help reduce gelcoat scratching.

The Milwaukee Tools M28 Right Angle Drill is a powerful tool, requiring us to be be SUPER careful when using it! I’ve learned to be very hesitant to let inexperienced crew use it for fear of ripping sails or dropping the tool overboard when loaded up. We also need to be careful to keep it perpendicular to the winch during operation, too, or the bit can bend, it can shake loose from our grip, or can leave metal shavings in the winch top.

I’ve also noticed I can’t use it at full speed to raise the main… I think there’s too much friction in the self tailor that results in a heat buildup in the winch, and the plastic parts of the winch can melt and partially seize. This may be a function of the type of line I’m using perhaps, too.

It’s also NOT waterproof, and I don’t know how salty air will affect it since we sail “Priorities” on the freshwater Great Lakes.

While I may sound like I have a long list of precautions, it’s easy to use properly if you have moderate experience with power tools and don’t force things. I have had inexperienced crew that really did not understand these concepts, though!

Battery life is good enough for about a day of use: raising the main 2-3 times and maybe a dozen tacks. Charging the battery takes about 40 minutes and uses AC power, but my small 400W inverter can charge it if we’re away from shore power. Originally the drill came with a “V28” battery, an inferior design that died in the first year. The “M28” battery, however, has lasted over 7 seasons.

At the end of this past season, after 8 seasons of hard use, the trigger switch on the Milwaukee tool malfunctioned. Their website has parts diagrams, and parts can be ordered online for DIY repairs to the expensive tool. I brought it to their repair shop (there’s a bunch all over the world, though I brought it to company headquarters here in Milwaukee) and they quoted me a flat fee of $175 total to replace the $45 switch. I left it to the pros to do the work, and they ended up repairing it for no charge. So, I’m pretty happy with the whole setup. I highly recommend!

Update as of September 26, 2020:

I’ve had a few readers complain about the lack of responsiveness from the seller of “The Cranker” and “Ultimate Cranker.” I just tried emailing them, and the email bounced back as undeliverable. I’ve also noticed a few online forums noting this same lack of response. Their webpage hasn’t been updated since 2013 from what I can tell. Bummer!

Pending any further changes, I do not recommend “The Cranker” to anyone at this time. There are one or two other options out there, though, including a “Winch Bit” available from Bayou King that might be worth a try.

If anyone has any other information, I’d love for you to comment/give me feedback.

Additionally, after only two seasons of use with the replaced switch on the Milwaukee 28v drill, the switch failed again a few days ago and required service again. I was actually raising the main and the switch stuck in “full on,” putting a bunch of tension on the halyard and requiring me to remove the battery to stop it. Professional repairs were about $150. More things to fix!

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2 thoughts on “Electric Winch Cranker”

I ordered from EBAY here and it arrived fine. Looks like same system. https://www.ebay.com/itm/233961905681?hash=item3679375e11:g:Z40AAOSwzVxgcQAn

This is also handy since the speed is slower and batteries MUCH less expensive and long lasting!!! https://www.ebay.com/itm/114560873894?hash=item1aac5c35a6:g:U90AAOSw~kFfzxRA

The Cracker LLC is still in business as of 2023. http://www.thecranker.com

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

US deploys rarely seen nuclear sub while Putin holds war games in the Med

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A US Navy nuclear-powered submarine has made a rare appearance in a show of force this week.

The USS Tennessee ballistic submarine popped up in the Norwegian Sea on Tuesday and was accompanied by a guided-missile cruiser and two naval aircraft.

It’s thought the sub surfaced as a show of force after Russia sent a nuclear-powered submarine and naval fleet to Cuba .

It comes as the Kremlin plays war games in the Mediterranean Sea with its own show of force.

It what appears to be further sabre rattling from Putin, Moscow has deployed the missile cruiser Varyag in the Med to conduct drills and demonstrate his capability.

The 611ft-long warship simulated attacking an enemy ship, destroying a submarine, and destroying kamikaze drones and other airborne weaponry.

The Kremlin is projecting its maritime power by maintaining his Pacific Fleet flagship in the Mediterranean, calling at the Libyan port of Tobruk after taking part in a joint exercise with the Egyptian Navy.

USS Tennessee can carry up to 20 Trident nuclear missiles and surfacing demonstrated ‘multi-domain readiness in action’, a spokesperson for the US 6th Fleet said on X.

One of the naval planes, an E-6B Mercury, took part in an operation off the coast of Norway on Sunday.

Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, said the flight ‘indicated forward operations with nuclear missile submarines’ – and described the USS Tennessee surfacing as ‘a blunt signal to Russia’.

The locations of nuclear submarines are rarely publicised by the US Navy, but since 2020 it has been making its presence known in the North Atlantic and other nearby seas much more often, Business Insider reports .

Russia is also often intentional when revealing the locations of its own nuclear submarines, including one of its Severodvinsk-class submarines which was spotted in Cuba earlier this month.

The drills involving Varyag come amid high tension over Putin’s war in Ukraine .

Under international agreement, Putin can’t move the Varyag or other Pacific Fleet vessels to the Black Sea, despite the significant weakening of his Black Sea Fleet due to Ukrainian missile and kamikaze drone attacks.

‌ NATO member Turkey under the Montreux Convention is restricting access to the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits for Russian warships.

‌The Varyag – which arrived in the Mediterranean in April – is expected to sail to Latin America as Putin seeks to show Russia as a world power challenging the West.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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Orlando Cepeda dies

US and allies clash with Tehran and Moscow over Iranian nuclear program at UN Security Council

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UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States and its key European allies clashed with Iran and Russia over Tehran’s expanding nuclear program, with the U.S. vowing “to use all means necessary to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran” in a U.N. Security Council meeting on Monday.

The U.S., France, Britain and Germany accused Iran of escalating its nuclear activities far beyond limits it agreed to in a 2015 deal aimed at preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, and of failing to cooperate with the U.N. nuclear watchdog , the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran and Russia accused the U.S. and its allies of continuing to apply economic sanctions that were supposed to be lifted under the deal, and insisted that Tehran’s nuclear program remains under constant oversight by the IAEA.

The clashes came at a semi-annual meeting on implementation the nuclear deal between Iran and six major countries — the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany — known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Under the accord, Tehran agreed to limit enrichment of uranium to levels necessary for the peaceful use of nuclear power in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Then-President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal in 2018. Trump said he would negotiate a stronger deal, but that didn’t happen.

The council meeting followed an IAEA report in late May that Iran has more than 142 kilograms (313 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60% purity , a technical step away from weapons-grade level of 90%. The IAEA said this was an increase of over 20 kilograms (45 pounds) from February.

The IAEA also reported on June 13 that its inspectors verified that Iran has started up new cascades of advanced centrifuges more quickly enrich uranium and planned to install more.

U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood told the council that the IAEA reports “show that Iran is determined to expand its nuclear program in ways that have no credible civilian purpose.”

Wood said the U.S. is prepared to use all means to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran, but said it remains “fully committed to resolving international concerns surrounding Iran’s nuclear program through diplomacy.”

The three Western countries that remain in the JCPOA — France, Germany and the United Kingdom — issued a joint statement after the council meeting also leaving the door open for diplomatic efforts “that ensure Iran never develops a nuclear weapon.”

They said Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium is now 30 times the JCPOA limit, and stressed that Iran committed not to install or operate any centrifuges for enrichment under the JCPOA.

Their joint statement also noted that “Iranian officials have issued statements about its capacity to assemble a nuclear weapon.”

Iran’s U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani blamed “the unilateral and unlawful U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA” and the failure of the three European parties to the deal “to honor their commitments,” saying it is “crystal clear” they are responsible for the current non-functioning of the agreement.

In the face of U.S. and European sanctions, he said, Iran has the right to halt its commitments under the JCPOA.

Iravani reiterated Iran’s rejection of nuclear weapons , and insisted its nuclear activities including enrichment are “for peaceful purposes” and are subject to “robust verification and monitoring” by the IAEA.

The Iranian ambassador strongly endorsed the JCPOA, calling it a hard-won diplomatic achievement “that effectively averted an undue crisis.”

“It remains the best option, has no alternative, and its revival is indeed in the interest of all of its participants,” he said. “Our remedial measures are reversible if all sanctions are lifted fully and verifiably.”

But France, Germany and the UK said some of Iran’s nuclear advances are irreversible.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said U.S. promises “to abandon the policy of maximum pressure on Tehran and to return to the nuclear deal remained empty words.”

He accused some other JCPOA parties, which he didn’t name, of “doing everything possible to continuously rock the boat, jettisoning opportunities for the implementation of the nuclear deal.”

Nebenzia urged the European parties to the agreement and the United States to return to the negotiating table in Vienna and “demonstrate their commitment to the objective of restoration of the nuclear deal.”

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, the coordinator of the JCPOA, said the compromise text he put forward two years ago for the U.S. to return to the JCPOA and for Iran to resume full implementation of the agreement remains on the table.

US and allies clash with Tehran and Moscow over Iranian nuclear program at UN Security Council

The United States and its key European allies clashed with Iran and Russia over Tehran’s expanding nuclear program, with the U.S. vowing “to use all means necessary to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran” in a U.N. Security Council meeting

UNITED NATIONS — The United States and its key European allies clashed with Iran and Russia over Tehran’s expanding nuclear program, with the U.S. vowing “to use all means necessary to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran” in a U.N. Security Council meeting on Monday.

The U.S., France, Britain and Germany accused Iran of escalating its nuclear activities far beyond limits it agreed to in a 2015 deal aimed at preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, and of failing to cooperate with the U.N. nuclear watchdog , the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran and Russia accused the U.S. and its allies of continuing to apply economic sanctions that were supposed to be lifted under the deal, and insisted that Tehran’s nuclear program remains under constant oversight by the IAEA.

The clashes came at a semi-annual meeting on implementation the nuclear deal between Iran and six major countries — the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany — known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Under the accord, Tehran agreed to limit enrichment of uranium to levels necessary for the peaceful use of nuclear power in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Then-President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal in 2018. Trump said he would negotiate a stronger deal, but that didn’t happen.

The council meeting followed an IAEA report in late May that Iran has more than 142 kilograms (313 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60% purity , a technical step away from weapons-grade level of 90%. The IAEA said this was an increase of over 20 kilograms (45 pounds) from February.

The IAEA also reported on June 13 that its inspectors verified that Iran has started up new cascades of advanced centrifuges more quickly enrich uranium and planned to install more.

U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood told the council that the IAEA reports “show that Iran is determined to expand its nuclear program in ways that have no credible civilian purpose.”

Wood said the U.S. is prepared to use all means to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran, but said it remains “fully committed to resolving international concerns surrounding Iran’s nuclear program through diplomacy.”

The three Western countries that remain in the JCPOA — France, Germany and the United Kingdom — issued a joint statement after the council meeting also leaving the door open for diplomatic efforts “that ensure Iran never develops a nuclear weapon.”

They said Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium is now 30 times the JCPOA limit, and stressed that Iran committed not to install or operate any centrifuges for enrichment under the JCPOA.

Their joint statement also noted that “Iranian officials have issued statements about its capacity to assemble a nuclear weapon.”

Iran’s U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani blamed “the unilateral and unlawful U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA” and the failure of the three European parties to the deal “to honor their commitments,” saying it is “crystal clear” they are responsible for the current non-functioning of the agreement.

In the face of U.S. and European sanctions, he said, Iran has the right to halt its commitments under the JCPOA.

Iravani reiterated Iran’s rejection of nuclear weapons , and insisted its nuclear activities including enrichment are “for peaceful purposes” and are subject to “robust verification and monitoring” by the IAEA.

The Iranian ambassador strongly endorsed the JCPOA, calling it a hard-won diplomatic achievement “that effectively averted an undue crisis.”

“It remains the best option, has no alternative, and its revival is indeed in the interest of all of its participants,” he said. “Our remedial measures are reversible if all sanctions are lifted fully and verifiably.”

But France, Germany and the UK said some of Iran’s nuclear advances are irreversible.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said U.S. promises “to abandon the policy of maximum pressure on Tehran and to return to the nuclear deal remained empty words.”

He accused some other JCPOA parties, which he didn’t name, of “doing everything possible to continuously rock the boat, jettisoning opportunities for the implementation of the nuclear deal.”

Nebenzia urged the European parties to the agreement and the United States to return to the negotiating table in Vienna and “demonstrate their commitment to the objective of restoration of the nuclear deal.”

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, the coordinator of the JCPOA, said the compromise text he put forward two years ago for the U.S. to return to the JCPOA and for Iran to resume full implementation of the agreement remains on the table.