WinchRite Sounds Fantastic!

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shorty

shorty

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Apr 14, 2005
298
Pearson P34 Mt Desert, ME
The video shows it pulling loads that most would not need a winch for, very slowly. It's also a very small winch. I have doubts about it hauling a genny under load.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
About the same price as a good two speed winch. If a winch grinder can hang onto this then that person can pull a crank handle. I was in Sailorman in Fort Lauderdale and saw an 18 inch long winch handle. That would double your power on a winch.
 
Rick D

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,204
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
WinchRite Sounds Great!

I totally disagree. The speed is as fast as my electric winch. The package seem ergonomic, well engineered and really economical compared to a bit and right angle drill and all the issues that go with that. The speed does not seem slow when counter rotated for the full speed winch application. I think this is a winner.

After watching some older crew try to handle the sheet and main lines this last weekend in a heavy wind regatta with lots of turning marks, I'd say it has possibilities (for cruising, not racing). I think it has earmarks of a winning product. Good luck to them; it's the kind of engineering and imagination we need for our sport.
 
P

Paul356

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Jun 7, 2004
265
- - Milwaukee
How is it hauling up a conventional main rather than pulling out a roller-furled main?
 
sailingdog

sailingdog

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Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
Personally, I'm not a big fan of powered winches or powered winch handles. It is far to easy to destroy stuff with a powered winch or winch handle. It also seems to me that the batteries are likely to fail just when you need it most... and then there is the price... it's awfully expensive for a single purpose, heavy, awkward device like that.

I'd point out that the horizontal grip probably gives you less leverage than you'd have with a vertical grip. That means you will have more trouble resisting the winchrite as it tries to turn when the winch is heavily loaded...
 
S

Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Well I have got to tell you that I am a big fan of powered winches. I just wish I had one on the port side too. If you have a main sail that is 8oz+ cloth that is about 500 sq ft or more, maybe you could appreciate it.

The really good thing is going aloft. Easy on the crew and the dummy that is going up the stick.
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,323
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Overpriced?... the only powered winch handles I've seen cost 4-5 times that. Though I have no use for the device, I was surprised that the cost was that reasonable. ($549) BTW, show me a two speed, self-tailing winch priced under 800 bucks. Biggest issue is durability, power consumption and ergonomics... but I think the price is fair.
 
petersea

petersea

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Sep 26, 2008
566
- - Noank CT.
OK here is my take on this. I like the product and it seams a reasonable price compared to others on market. The only objection I have or maybe the thing I would like to see added is a lanyard of some sort so that if you would drop it you would not lose it overboard. Admittedly a easy fix even if no more then a piece of line fashioned into a lanyard or wrist strap.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
I very rarely use a handle on my sheet winches, but then again I don't race. The design of this devise looks to me like it would get in the way and could obscure the view of the winch drum. Could it be used as a conventional handle if the battery were dead?
 
BobM

BobM

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Jun 10, 2004
3,269
S2 9.2A Winthrop, MA
I had been considering buying a considering a purchase along these lines since I had so much fun using a bosun's chair last year. On my boat there wasn't a convenient way to get the line to the sheet winch and the cabin top winch worked, but was really too wimpy. When I researched using a chuck for a right angle drill I found lots of info that said 18V was fine for sheets and normal use but 28+V was required to pull a static load, like a sailor, up a mast. I bagged the idea for that and decided that some sort of ascender system or mast ladder was best. I did watch ebay and ended up buying a Ryobi 18V right angle drill that matched my One Plus set of home tools for about $60 last year. I have had tennis elbow in one elbow for over a year from roof raking and then developed it in the other from overuse while nursing the left elbow. After seeing this device listed on this site for $549 I decided to buy a bit for the right angle drill to try this season. I got it off ebay for about $28. The guy also sells a neoprene sleeve for your right angle drill to protect it from bumps and bruises for $30. The bit has the same problem that I believe the Winchrite has...they don't lock in your winch so be careful or you may break your record for expensive items unable to swim donated to the briny deep. A lanyard of some sort is worth considering. Perhaps something long enough to allow you to reach each winch but short enough to prevent loss. You could mount it off the guard and build a holder for the unit onto the guard.

Anyway, I will try it this season and perhaps shoot a little video to show you all.

First is has to stop snowing though...
 
DougM

DougM

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Jul 24, 2005
2,242
Beneteau 323 Manistee, MI
Cheaper to buy a high quality cordless drill, adapt it by adding a 90 degree chuck and a proper head... Probably more powerful too. When (and if) the drill motor wears out, keep the chuck and buy a new drill motor. The ability to quick change batteries is an asset too. The WinchRite doesn't look like it has the torque to hoist somebody up the mast in a Bosun's chair. The WinchRite just seems to be overpriced like every other device made for a "marine" application.
 
T

tommays

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Oct 2, 2006
1,517
Jboat J24 commack
We will have to see how well the plastic holds up AND just how water proof the charge port is :)

While saying 2.8 AH not much info about how many minutes of use you get ?
 
sailingdog

sailingdog

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Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
Doubt it... since the handle really sucks in terms of ergonomics, especially if you have to turn it...

At least with the right-angle drill that Chuckbear links to, the handle is vertical and gives you a far better grip on the tool if it should torque around... I can't see holding the horizontal handle of the WinchRite very long if it should start to twist... since my wrist just doesn't bend very well in that direction.
Ross said:
I very rarely use a handle on my sheet winches, but then again I don't race. The design of this devise looks to me like it would get in the way and could obscure the view of the winch drum. Could it be used as a conventional handle if the battery were dead?
Click to expand
 
Dragon

Dragon

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Mar 25, 2009
32
Hunter 38 Belleville
I like the idea but as with all NEW products, I'll wait for the improved version.
 
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