WinchRite Sounds Fantastic!

[catsailor]

What is the battery life under full load? How are you going to feel, half way up?

I hadn't thought of that, a real bonus if the Admiral can winch you up the mast.

And do cruisers really winch hard? Don't we round up a bit to unload the sail, and then bear off again after it is in? There are many ways to make work easy. I get less tired sailing now than I did 20 years ago; I work smarter.

I agree that a long 2-handed handle would be better. As SD pointed out, that handdle is going to be hard to hold at full load. If too much, perhaps there is too much sail up... if you are of a certain age. I'm not trying to be cute; if you have aches and pains, and I do, when it's too much sail to grind in it's too much to manage safely should anything change for the worse.

That said, if it works for someone....

 

[Chuckbear]

Sorry I can't find the info, but there is a fellow that sells a bit for the right angle drill that he makes specifically to fit the winch. I believe he sells them on eBay. Chuck

 

[Chuckbear]

Found it, http://www.winchbit.com/ . Chuck

 

[nick8489]

Sorry I can't find the info, but there is a fellow that sells a bit for the right angle drill that he makes specifically to fit the winch. I believe he sells them on eBay. Chuck

I appreciate all the stuff on converting power tools but it looks a bit unwieldy for a having around the cockpit to say nothing of what happens when a greeny comes over the side!
I still think the WinchRite looks like a good bit of purpose buit kit. Still no reports from anyone who has bought one.

 

[Chuckbear]

I appreciate all the stuff on converting power tools but it looks a bit unwieldy for a having around the cockpit to say nothing of what happens when a greeny comes over the side!
I still think the WinchRite looks like a good bit of purpose buit kit. Still no reports from anyone who has bought one.

Worked fine for me cruising all over the Caribbean on our 40 foot ketch and hauled me up the mast more than once, but to each his own. Must be a reason no one has experience with the WinchRite. Chuck

 

[sailingdog]

I think it is because the WinchRite is brand new...

Worked fine for me cruising all over the Caribbean on our 40 foot ketch and hauled me up the mast more than once, but to each his own. Must be a reason no one has experience with the WinchRite. Chuck

 

[martin 1918]

I personally saw the WinchRite at the Miami International Boat Show. I spoke with the designer who was at the booth. They had several there to handle and a #30 Lewmar 2 speed winch to drop them into. I have one of those Milwaukee drills which weighs over 10lbs. The WinchRite was under 6lbs. The cog was a scoket. My drill when used in reverse on my single speed winches snaps the retaining screw and the chuck threads off. The retaining screw is left hand thread and hard to get! I handled the WinchRite and the thing is light! It had non-skid rubber on one side and was designed for sailing usage. I believe the device to be well enginnered and I will order one for my boat. I saw the innovation award for new gear on the booth table. I over heard a conversion from one of the other exhibitors that the innovation award is not given without a lot of scunity from the judges. I paid a lot of dough for my drill-I guess its good for drilling holes!

 

[cephius (Dave)]

I'm with Ross. The handle stays in the pocket for the sheets.

Heck, my 300lbs pulls any main most of the way up the mast before I even take a turn around the winch. Any mechanical advantage just slows the raising down. I only use the handle to trim the luff once the sail is up.

Petersea, I had to smile. A while back I was scratching my head over what kind of hardware I could purchase to fly an ensign in a specific location. Then I recalled all the historical reading I'd done, got some small stuff and lashed the flag in place.

Back in the wooden ships and iron men days everything needed could be created out of the ship's stores. I'm sure we, of all consumers, can manage to add a lanyard to a piece of equipment.

My hand-held VHS has a lanyard snugly tied around what is suppose to be the quick release holster nob. It was the only protrusion a line could be tied to.

 

[nick8489]

At Last Someone Who Has Seen It

I personally saw the WinchRite at the Miami International Boat Show. I spoke with the designer who was at the booth. They had several there to handle and a #30 Lewmar 2 speed winch to drop them into. I have one of those Milwaukee drills which weighs over 10lbs. The WinchRite was under 6lbs. The cog was a scoket. My drill when used in reverse on my single speed winches snaps the retaining screw and the chuck threads off. The retaining screw is left hand thread and hard to get! I handled the WinchRite and the thing is light! It had non-skid rubber on one side and was designed for sailing usage. I believe the device to be well enginnered and I will order one for my boat. I saw the innovation award for new gear on the booth table. I over heard a conversion from one of the other exhibitors that the innovation award is not given without a lot of scunity from the judges. I paid a lot of dough for my drill-I guess its good for drilling holes!

Thanks Martin I was waiting for some confirmation like this

 

[Scott B]

Just a plug for SBO .... on sale to the end of March.

WinchRite

 

[NotCook]

And do cruisers really winch hard? ....

At least for me, the issue is not so much winching hard, but how many cranks.

I do wonder about the 110 NM of torque, if that is enough. What is the torque required to turn a winch under load? I also haven't been able to get a sense of the capacity of the battery relatice to the consumption. I see the 2.8AH capacity, but what is the consumption under load?

Any of you engineer types want to provide some insights as to the loads involved, that we can compare to the specs, to see if this device is up to the task?

Martin, thanks for the first hand review. We are looking closely at this. If we decide to get one, I'll post a review after we launch this spring.

 

[catsailor]

At least for me, the issue is not so much winching hard, but how many cranks.

I do wonder about the 110 NM of torque, if that is enough. What is the torque required to turn a winch under load? I also haven't been able to get a sense of the capacity of the battery relatice to the consumption. I see the 2.8AH capacity, but what is the consumption under load?

Any of you engineer types want to provide some insights as to the loads involved, that we can compare to the specs, to see if this device is up to the task?

Martin, thanks for the first hand review. We are looking closely at this. If we decide to get one, I'll post a review after we launch this spring.

81 foot-pounds. Bare in mind, it is going to be a bit hard to hold, but that should be enough.

2.8 AH at 18v seems thin. With all your sails, I doubt it would stay charged all day. But that depends so much on use (load and turns). It would be great to know how long it would run at a specific load (say, up the mast).

Even a big old anchor windlass is not intended to pull a boat up to the hook, and they have a huge amp draw. We need more numbers, you are right.

 

[Les]

I don't mean to extend this thread longer then people are interested in it, however, I have been using the WinchRite on my 2009 Hunter 27 during this past summer and into this fall. My wife and I are in our mid seventies and I recently had a heart failure--the WinchRite has kept us sailing.

I have two Lewmar 30 two speed winches on our cabin top but because of the dodger we cannot use a winch handle all the way around including an eight inch handle. Ratchet back and forth is all we can do. Unfurling the main is not that bad, just tiring but furling it back in is harder on us. She can't do with the winch handle.

The WinchRite has solved our problems. It pulls out the main and jib quite steadily but the main joy is when we ready to head back into our slip, is furling up both the main and the jib. It does a great job.

Weight is important to both of us so the six pounds is a useable weight. It also stows well under the dodger and is there when we need it (although I do put it away when we leave the boat before any wag starts on me). At the moment I do not have a single complaint about the unit...and I've used it the entire summer. For us "older sailors" it is a dream made in heaven. Just what we need to still enjoy our sport.

Les

 

[nick8489]

I don't mean to extend this thread longer then people are interested in it, however, I have been using the WinchRite on my 2009 Hunter 27 during this past summer and into this fall. My wife and I are in our mid seventies and I recently had a heart failure--the WinchRite has kept us sailing.

I have two Lewmar 30 two speed winches on our cabin top but because of the dodger we cannot use a winch handle all the way around including an eight inch handle. Ratchet back and forth is all we can do. Unfurling the main is not that bad, just tiring but furling it back in is harder on us. She can't do with the winch handle.

The WinchRite has solved our problems. It pulls out the main and jib quite steadily but the main joy is when we ready to head back into our slip, is furling up both the main and the jib. It does a great job.

Weight is important to both of us so the six pounds is a useable weight. It also stows well under the dodger and is there when we need it (although I do put it away when we leave the boat before any wag starts on me). At the moment I do not have a single complaint about the unit...and I've used it the entire summer. For us "older sailors" it is a dream made in heaven. Just what we need to still enjoy our sport.

Les

When I started this thread in February I was amazed at all the naysayers and luddites who seemed to have firm opinions on something they had never seen or used. The idea of having a big cordless drill floating around the cockpit in a seaway seemed ludicrous compared with a custom designed piece of kit which will stick to the deck at almost any any of sailing. I have had my Winchrite since May and it is perfect and I agree with everything you say Les. The big bonus is that it will take me up the mast, a task previously impossible for my wife to accomplish. Thus those things up high now get regularly checked.
Let's give more encouragement to innovators!