Electric winch handles

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IanJ

IanJ

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Nov 7, 2008
152
Hunter 31 Port Royal, CA
Guys. Anyone have an opinion on the electric winch handles available right now? There is a nice sleek $600 version, or a cordless drill with a special bit for about $300. Can either one be used to work windlass? Does the expensive one have easily replacable batteries? Which is best for the job? Is the drill more prone to rust? :confused:
 
stephen Penny

stephen Penny

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Nov 8, 2009
537
Hunter 386LE San Fancisco
I have been using the $600 WinchRite for furling the main sail in and out of the mast for almost a year. Works great and avoids stress on by elbows. It has a plastic or rubber coated housing so will not rust or scratch your boat. It also offers very good ergonomics. It has a built in battery that can charged by either AC or DC chargers provided with the unit.
 
Les

Les

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May 8, 2004
375
Hunter 27 Bellingham, WA
Like Stephen, I have been using the WinchRite since it was first introduced at the Miami boat Show. To put it simply it allows me to go sailing. I have an aneurism next to my heart and the docs don't want me to strain. I'm getting old so I respect their advice.

But I would hate to give up sailing so I now use the WinchRite to furl and unfurl my main and to furl the jib. It is a joy--an absolute joy to furl my sails. It is lightweight compared to the drill and is much easier for me to stow the WinchRite then the drill. I have a small boat so stowage is a problem. The WinchRite fits nicely on my chart table when at the dock and the trickle charger fits right into the 12 volt receptacle.

I'm serious when I say I couldn't sail without it. It does everything the company says it does.
 
stephen Penny

stephen Penny

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Nov 8, 2009
537
Hunter 386LE San Fancisco
I would like to add: Please do not operate it on "high" speed against a fixed resistance or it could fail. Otherwise it is an exceptional sailing tool and I would not be without it.
 
E

efhughes3

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Jan 9, 2012
15
Catalina 34 MKI San Diego
I wondered about the merit of these, but I will wonder no more. The fact that they allow people to keep sailing certainly justifies their existence to me now.
 
C

Cayennita

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Nov 28, 2009
495
Catalina 30 St. Croix
I bought a rebuilt Milwaukee 28V right angle drill directly from the factory. Bought an Allen wrench to match the winch and had it cut down and machined to fit the drill bit. It recharges very fast and cranked in the 130% genoa on my ex-Beneteau 51. Sold the boat but kept the drill to use on my J-36. All told, I spent $450.
 
Chuckbear

Chuckbear

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Jan 3, 2009
821
Marine Trader 34 Where Ever I am
I have a Milwaukee 0721-21 1/2 Inch 28 Volt Cordless Right Angle Drill including lithium battery, charger and spare chuck for sale for a great price. We used it as an electric winch handle on our sailboat Sea Trek and it worked great. We don't use it on the trawler now. PM me if interested. Chuck
 
DeniseO30

DeniseO30

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Feb 26, 2009
716
Oday 30 Anchor Yacht Club, Bristol PA
Can't help but wonder how many of these $500 toys have gone overboard!

I have a Dewalt right angle cordless. About all I would use it for is to raise the main and it's winch is on the cabin top for single handing.
Can't help but wonder how many of these $500 toys have gone overboard!
 
P

Phantomsailor

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Oct 1, 2008
61
Catalina C-42 mkII Alameda
I too went the Milwaukee 28V right angle drill with the winchbit from eBay. The drill combo is heavy and awkward. The drill battery would overheat and cut out when raising the mainsail. Switched to the Winchrite and never looked back. The Winchrite is smaller, lighter, ergonomic, and more powerful. They're easy to rig up a tether to keep it aboard as the handle is a closed loop.
 
Jim Seamans

Jim Seamans

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Mar 21, 2004
2,175
Hunter 356 Cobb Island, MD
Two different stories... H356 with in mast furling

First, I purchased the Winchrite before heading to the Bahamas last year. Seemed to be a fine addition to the boat. SLOW bringing in the main sail and jib. Bogged down trying to reef either sail and SLOW. Found that I could adjust sails much faster by hand, even though it was tough on the joints. Tried to use it to go up the mast. Would not raise me 5ft... So it went back....

Purchased the Milwaukee 28v drill.. It has taken me up the mast twice, raised the main and jib all on one battery charge on the same day. You need to be careful with this drill, it has a lot of power and can rip things if not paying attention...
 

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Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
and all this time I though that was why I had boys? All you have to do is put down a dare once, kill yourself doing it the first time in front of them (don't let them see you sweat) and you are set till they go to college.
 
Chuckbear

Chuckbear

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Jan 3, 2009
821
Marine Trader 34 Where Ever I am
Phantomsailor said:
I too went the Milwaukee 28V right angle drill with the winchbit from eBay. The drill combo is heavy and awkward. The drill battery would overheat and cut out when raising the mainsail. Switched to the Winchrite and never looked back. The Winchrite is smaller, lighter, ergonomic, and more powerful. They're easy to rig up a tether to keep it aboard as the handle is a closed loop.
Click to expand
We never had any of those problems with ours and the wife hauled me to the top of the mast on several occasions with it and she could not do that with a manual winch handle. No weight remarks. Chuck
 
P

Phantomsailor

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Oct 1, 2008
61
Catalina C-42 mkII Alameda
Chuckbear said:
We never had any of those problems with ours and the wife hauled me to the top of the mast on several occasions with it and she could not do that with a manual winch handle. No weight remarks. Chuck
Click to expand
I certainly did not have the same experience with the Milwaukee drill. In my case the drill wouldn't even lift me off the deck where the Winchrite hauls me up easily. Maybe I had a defective drill or battery.

Torque specs for the Winchrite are 1030 in/lbs versus 1081 inch/lbs for the Milwaukee so they are close in that regard.
 
SEMPERAVANTI41

SEMPERAVANTI41

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Jun 15, 2012
715
BAVARIA C57 Greenport, NY
Anybody know what size allen wrench I would use to make a winch bit for a Milwaukee Drill Right angle drill? I know it would have to be machined to fit the drill.
 
A

adirondacktom

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Aug 12, 2012
3
Kirby 8 Lake Champlain
winchrite still questionable

Have used it three times only to hoist the mainsail (only 140 sq ft). First complaint is the drive socket comes off the square drive too easily and I can anticipate it going overboard when removing the Winchrite from the winch. My solution thus far is to add a little hot glue to the socket. Hope it works because a replacement socket cost $25 plus shipping. I've also noticed that the unit wobbles a little when turning the winch. It could be the winch's fault but I doubt it - new Lewmar self tailer. Also, not sure how long the lithium battery is supposed to last and there is no indication that it is meant to be replaced by the user. Finally, Winchrite should lower the price by making the carrying bag an option. Kind of wishing I went with the Milwaukee system - at least I'd be left with a drill.
 
woodster

woodster

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Sep 15, 2009
6,243
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
SEMPERAVANTI41 said:
Anybody know what size allen wrench I would use to make a winch bit for a Milwaukee Drill Right angle drill? I know it would have to be machined to fit the drill.
Click to expand
an allen wrench will not work ...because it is a six sided tool and the wench socket is and 8 sided config...so you either have to use a 8 sided (octagon) bar stock or and 4 sided (sq) bar stock..you may find the adapter on here or on ebay.....

regards

woody
 
Florida sail

Florida sail

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Apr 3, 2008
166
Nonsuch Ultra 30 Gulfport, FL
I have the Milwaukee M28 which is the newer model of the V28. My main is 524 square feet and the Milwaukee has performed perfectly. My decision to get the Milwaukee was based on the fact that additional batteries are available and that many other Nonsuch owners have had good results. The fact that it is more powerul also added to my decision. I can get 4-5 mainsail raises out of one charge. In addition, if I need a right angle drill I have one available.
 
All U Get

All U Get

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Oct 2, 2008
3,810
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
Milwaukee 28V with the wincher socket, raised several 220ish lb gents to the anchor light to change the bulb. Brace yourself unless you want a ride.
Battery indicates the charge left and my wife will use it to pull the 135 Genoa. Never used the WinchRite.

All U Get
 
Chuckbear

Chuckbear

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Jan 3, 2009
821
Marine Trader 34 Where Ever I am
Chuckbear said:
I have a Milwaukee 0721-21 1/2 Inch 28 Volt Cordless Right Angle Drill including lithium battery, charger and spare chuck for sale for a great price. We used it as an electric winch handle on our sailboat Sea Trek and it worked great. We don't use it on the trawler now. PM me if interested. Chuck
Click to expand
Still available if anyone is interested. Chuck
 
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