I own a 37.5 Hunter tall rig, and it's getting more difficult to raise the mainsail. Looking into self-tailing electric winches, they're really expensive. I heard of an "electric winch handle". You plug it into a 12 volt socket, clip it onto the winch, and turn it on. And it grinds away!! Could there be something like this on the marketplace, or is it just a dream? The closest I found to this was a 1/2 inch socket that fits into a power drill. Any help??
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Not to mention...
sucking down a big draw of amps on the battery. "Honey, I'm thinking of sailing right into the slip."
sucking down a big draw of amps on the battery. "Honey, I'm thinking of sailing right into the slip."
Article in Good Old Boat
the aurthor took an old winch handle and had a piece added to the socket part after cutting off the handle, put that on a (i believe) 14V right angle coordless drill, same performance, other than not waterproof, his wife used it to lift his 250 Lbs. body to the masthead. it was in an edition less than a year ago i think. Hope that helps.
the aurthor took an old winch handle and had a piece added to the socket part after cutting off the handle, put that on a (i believe) 14V right angle coordless drill, same performance, other than not waterproof, his wife used it to lift his 250 Lbs. body to the masthead. it was in an edition less than a year ago i think. Hope that helps.
It exists
There was a guy at this past fall's Annapolis show displaying one. It was based on Milwaukee cordles drill parts. The weight, while up there was probably managable for a reasonably well conditioned male. The price, which I don't remember exactly, was right up there also. I paid attention to it only as an oddity because I can't see something like that being used on a regular basis. Just too much weight, complication, and expense. I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest there might be something asconce with the systems supporting your main. Same littany: lube track with teflon spray, check/lube sheaves, inspect everything, including the winches. Speaking of which, do not assume they are properly sized. Manufacturers tend to go undersized to save a penny here and there. I know Hunter would never do that but it's worth a look.
There was a guy at this past fall's Annapolis show displaying one. It was based on Milwaukee cordles drill parts. The weight, while up there was probably managable for a reasonably well conditioned male. The price, which I don't remember exactly, was right up there also. I paid attention to it only as an oddity because I can't see something like that being used on a regular basis. Just too much weight, complication, and expense. I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest there might be something asconce with the systems supporting your main. Same littany: lube track with teflon spray, check/lube sheaves, inspect everything, including the winches. Speaking of which, do not assume they are properly sized. Manufacturers tend to go undersized to save a penny here and there. I know Hunter would never do that but it's worth a look.
Another Possible Solution
Hello Bob, Check out this site for another idea, I know it works I have used them on my friends boat. Jack
Hello Bob, Check out this site for another idea, I know it works I have used them on my friends boat. Jack
I have cordless handle
I have a cordless winch handle. I bought the big Milwaukee 18 volt battery right angle drill ($310 on internet) and a $90 winch bit that has a reverse thread set screw inside it and it screws in after the removal of the 1/2" chuck. It is great! Furls and unfurls that main and jib and raises the spinnaker. This is all on a Hunter P42. Charges in 1 hour, and charge at the end of a day of sailing for use the next day. The bit on the link in the post above goes into the chuck on any drill. The $90 bit I bought is a permanent replacement for the chuck in the Milwaukee drill. It is sold by Cinch Winch.
I have a cordless winch handle. I bought the big Milwaukee 18 volt battery right angle drill ($310 on internet) and a $90 winch bit that has a reverse thread set screw inside it and it screws in after the removal of the 1/2" chuck. It is great! Furls and unfurls that main and jib and raises the spinnaker. This is all on a Hunter P42. Charges in 1 hour, and charge at the end of a day of sailing for use the next day. The bit on the link in the post above goes into the chuck on any drill. The $90 bit I bought is a permanent replacement for the chuck in the Milwaukee drill. It is sold by Cinch Winch.
Bob, I feel your pain...
My 37.5 is pretty hard to raise as well. I eye the electric winches with envy constantly. Maybe we could get a discount on 2 ?????
My 37.5 is pretty hard to raise as well. I eye the electric winches with envy constantly. Maybe we could get a discount on 2 ?????
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