Considering the expense of electric winches and power winch handles, I have an idea to put forth. Has anyone ever made a tool bit that you could put into the chuck of a cordless drill for powering your winches ?
- Status
Winch Bit
Get a Winchbit from the link below and use a cordless electric drill. They recommend the cordless 18 volt Milwaukee because the torque is about 600 inch lbs. I cut off the stud, welded a stud that would fit a 3/8" bit and bought a DeWalt 3/8 18 volt cordless right angle drill. The torque on it is about 300 to 350 inch lbs if my memory is correct. I can furl the jib, use to bring out and furl my mainsail, use to raise and lower my 66 lb dingy from the front deck to the water and back. Not strong enough to raise someone up the mast. To do that, you need to buy the 18 volt Milwaukee. There is a company that packages the Milwaukee with the winchbit as a package with a neoprene cover that protects against salt air. The unit sells for about $875 to $950. This is much higher than the winchbit and either of the drills. One potential problem is you must be careful not to rip something apart with either unit as it is not likely using the manual winch handle because you feel the resistence, but with the winchbit, you do not.
Get a Winchbit from the link below and use a cordless electric drill. They recommend the cordless 18 volt Milwaukee because the torque is about 600 inch lbs. I cut off the stud, welded a stud that would fit a 3/8" bit and bought a DeWalt 3/8 18 volt cordless right angle drill. The torque on it is about 300 to 350 inch lbs if my memory is correct. I can furl the jib, use to bring out and furl my mainsail, use to raise and lower my 66 lb dingy from the front deck to the water and back. Not strong enough to raise someone up the mast. To do that, you need to buy the 18 volt Milwaukee. There is a company that packages the Milwaukee with the winchbit as a package with a neoprene cover that protects against salt air. The unit sells for about $875 to $950. This is much higher than the winchbit and either of the drills. One potential problem is you must be careful not to rip something apart with either unit as it is not likely using the manual winch handle because you feel the resistence, but with the winchbit, you do not.
Already done.
This article explains how to construct a powered winch handle and where to get the parts. http://www.catalina380.org/article_display.asp?ID=140 Jim
This article explains how to construct a powered winch handle and where to get the parts. http://www.catalina380.org/article_display.asp?ID=140 Jim
Power keel winch?
Has anyone ever made some kind of powered driver for a swing keel winch? I think it would be slick to be able to lower / raise the keel from the cockpit! It seems the biggest issue would be to find a small, efficient motor that could overcome the initial resistance of the winch clutch when LOWERING the keel. Jack
Has anyone ever made some kind of powered driver for a swing keel winch? I think it would be slick to be able to lower / raise the keel from the cockpit! It seems the biggest issue would be to find a small, efficient motor that could overcome the initial resistance of the winch clutch when LOWERING the keel. Jack
I use an electric winch handle
I have the Milwaukee 18 volt right angle drill, 2 batteries and a charger. The bit screws into the chuck fitting and replaces the chuck, which lowers the profile of the drill nose. I use it for all furling and unfurling and raising my drifter on a P42. It is great! Got the bit from Cinchwinch 3 years ago. He was at the Annapolis boat show last year near the Phillips Restaurant.
I have the Milwaukee 18 volt right angle drill, 2 batteries and a charger. The bit screws into the chuck fitting and replaces the chuck, which lowers the profile of the drill nose. I use it for all furling and unfurling and raising my drifter on a P42. It is great! Got the bit from Cinchwinch 3 years ago. He was at the Annapolis boat show last year near the Phillips Restaurant.
- Status