Several months ago I said I would tell you my experiences with the WinchRite after I received it and used it on my boat. Some background information is necessary to explain some of my thinking and actions. My wife and I are just past our mid-seventies in age but still like to sail very much. Three years ago we downsized our Hunter 380 to a brand new Hunter 27, a daysailor and overnighter. Nice boat, we have enjoyed it. But we also had problems with pulling out the mainsail and bringing it in, it being a furling main in the mast. I had a hard time with it and my wife couldn't do it. While I pondered whether our age had caught us with us, I saw the WinchRite on the Miami Boat Show Web Site. It seemed perfect for us and I order it immediately. A week later it show up here on the Sailboatonwers web site.
When we received the WinchRite in late May, my wife and I went down immediately to our boat to try it out. The short story is that we broke the WinchRite unfurling the main at the dock. This prompted me to call my dealer and let him know of the problem with the main. Signature Yachts responded and we both found out that Doyle Sails had some problems with these sails on certain boats. My mainsail was shipped to Miami (the home office) and either repaired or I got a new one--I can't tell which. Either way I got my refurbished main back this week and had it put on the boat. Some tweaking and it is a hundred percent easier to hand winch out and in. I guess maybe I'm not as old as I thought I was getting.
On the other hand, Sailology had already sent me a replacement Winchrite. Nice people to work with... I am customer no. 5.
Yesterday my wife and I got to play with our toy boat....pulling the main out and then furling it back in with our WinchRite. The WinchRite just purred in both case--Lynn can do it. I plan to use the WinchRite primarily with my main sail. My jib is so small that I can generally just pull it in by hand when tacking. However, if I were to have a genoa, I would use the WinchRite for sure.
The Sailology people I think got it right. It is not heavy at just under six pounds--my wife can handle it with ease. It has two speeds for two speed winches although so far I've only used one speed. Although it has a lot of torque it doesn't yank you around--just does its job. Well made it fits just under my dodger when not in use. It comes with a 110 volt charger and a 12 volt trickle charger. This is perfect for me, just plug it in after an afternoon sail and it is ready for the next day sailing. I cannot think of any way of making an improvement on the WinchRite. By the way it recharges rather quickly....and I don't know how long it goes without charging. That knowledge will come later on in the summer.
Before anyone makes some comments, I do not have any connection with Sailology or the WinchRite. Just an old sailor who is now happy. And yes, I did look into the Winch Buddy and some right angle drills with attachments. Both were much heavier then my wife could manage. Recently I had a heart failure and there may be a time in the future where she has to bring the boat (and me) home so the device has to be easily handled. I also have fallen into the trap and wanting my boat to look good (what skipper doesn't want that?) and I just can't get pass looking at the right-angle drill and saying to myself, "that is nautical."
So for the moment and I suspect for some time the WinchRite has my two thumbs up. There are two things on my boat were I to order a new one would HAVE to have--the WinchRite and a Max prop. Must have.
Had I waited a week or so I could have ordered the WinchRite here on the Sailology web site. (Sorry Phil) About half the price of a right angle drill (even refurbished). Give Sailowners the business.
When we received the WinchRite in late May, my wife and I went down immediately to our boat to try it out. The short story is that we broke the WinchRite unfurling the main at the dock. This prompted me to call my dealer and let him know of the problem with the main. Signature Yachts responded and we both found out that Doyle Sails had some problems with these sails on certain boats. My mainsail was shipped to Miami (the home office) and either repaired or I got a new one--I can't tell which. Either way I got my refurbished main back this week and had it put on the boat. Some tweaking and it is a hundred percent easier to hand winch out and in. I guess maybe I'm not as old as I thought I was getting.
On the other hand, Sailology had already sent me a replacement Winchrite. Nice people to work with... I am customer no. 5.
Yesterday my wife and I got to play with our toy boat....pulling the main out and then furling it back in with our WinchRite. The WinchRite just purred in both case--Lynn can do it. I plan to use the WinchRite primarily with my main sail. My jib is so small that I can generally just pull it in by hand when tacking. However, if I were to have a genoa, I would use the WinchRite for sure.
The Sailology people I think got it right. It is not heavy at just under six pounds--my wife can handle it with ease. It has two speeds for two speed winches although so far I've only used one speed. Although it has a lot of torque it doesn't yank you around--just does its job. Well made it fits just under my dodger when not in use. It comes with a 110 volt charger and a 12 volt trickle charger. This is perfect for me, just plug it in after an afternoon sail and it is ready for the next day sailing. I cannot think of any way of making an improvement on the WinchRite. By the way it recharges rather quickly....and I don't know how long it goes without charging. That knowledge will come later on in the summer.
Before anyone makes some comments, I do not have any connection with Sailology or the WinchRite. Just an old sailor who is now happy. And yes, I did look into the Winch Buddy and some right angle drills with attachments. Both were much heavier then my wife could manage. Recently I had a heart failure and there may be a time in the future where she has to bring the boat (and me) home so the device has to be easily handled. I also have fallen into the trap and wanting my boat to look good (what skipper doesn't want that?) and I just can't get pass looking at the right-angle drill and saying to myself, "that is nautical."
So for the moment and I suspect for some time the WinchRite has my two thumbs up. There are two things on my boat were I to order a new one would HAVE to have--the WinchRite and a Max prop. Must have.
Had I waited a week or so I could have ordered the WinchRite here on the Sailology web site. (Sorry Phil) About half the price of a right angle drill (even refurbished). Give Sailowners the business.
