Drill and winch bit
Ernie, what model of Hilti to you use? I would be interested in a lower cost solution than the Milwaukee, which sounds ideal but seems to cost as much in Nova Scotia as Ontario.
Thanks,
Greg Silver
Misty Cat 26C #121
St. Peter’s, Cape Breton
Hi Greg -
My drill is a HILTI SF 10W A22. It is a 22 volt model and I bought the smaller of the 2 available batteries. You don’t need bigger.
It’s possible that this model is out of date. I went into a HILTI store and explained what I wanted (small machine, HIGH torque… to raise a sail and that’s all). This drill is used by plasterers and concreters to mix buckets of whatever, all day. The drill, battery and charger cost me $441.00 all in. I paid around $90.00 for the WinchBit with shipping, exchange, etc. It came from California.
I’d go into the HILTI store (don’t do this online) and just talk to them. I am sure that a drill very similar to this one exists and can be had. These are VERY well-made machines, way better and way cheaper and WAY more useful than the WinchRite, as an example. And 1/3 the weight of a Milwaukee.
Good luck - lemme know if you have success.
Ernie A. in Toronto
Almost forgot …
The WinchBit requires a 1/2 inch chuck which is what this drill comes with.
Ernie A. in Toronto
Hi Guys I’ve been following this thread. The Drill mentioned is not available any longer. Hilti recommended the following tool. Do you think this would be adequate? Thanks
https://www.hilti.ca/c/CLS_POWER_TOOLS_7124/CLS_IMPACT_DRIVERS_WRENCHES_7124/CLS_CORDLESS_IMPACT_WRENCHES_7124/r4265?combo_content=9eb6b3af5e2d37779e17cff71d6f9927&itemCode=2149753
Also could you point me to the company that would supply the winch bit.Thanks
Guys -
Go to www.winchbit.com for the bit.
As for the drill, the link that is posted takes us to a hammer drill. It appears to have massively hi-torque (close to 4000 inch pounds). I’m afraid of this beast. Can you disengage the hammering action ?? Is it a variable speed ?
Possibly another company sells a drill that’ll put out 800 - 900 inch pounds (which should be enough).
Ernie A. in Toronto
Late breaking news -
I just found this Makita drill on Amazon. I bet it would do the trick.
Ernie A. in Toronto
That Makita looks like a winner. However anyone with a dodger should check for clearance above their halyard winch. I have the Milwaukee with right angle drive and even it is a tight fit against the dodger window. No standard pistol style is an option for me.
Paul M
NS30U #211, Sandpiper
Cowichan Bay B.C.
Also, while a standard drill is probably great for the 22's sail, for the 30, even with a smooth halyard run and tides sail track, lifting the sail weight takes a lot of torque on the winch, making it a lot easier to do with the right angle drill. On the other hand with a 2 speed winch and a little patience it's not essential..
I happily use a Bosch DDS 181-02 with 600 in-lb torque, batteries and charger included, for $136 tax and shipping included from Black Rock in Canada. I made my own driver from !/2" steel pipe cut into 8 segments at one end, then expanded a bit, twisted, then stabilized with a bit more 1/2" epoxied inside the flare. I jammed it into the winch socket wrapped in plastic to set the right size. I later drove a bolt inside the 1/2" pipe to make it even stronger.
600 in-lb gets the sail at least 7/8 up. I’d be scared to have more torque without a right angle drive in case I had direction wrong and sprained my thumb.This would have lots of power for a 26. Do not get the similar DDB 181 with only 350 in-lb. It’s a nice compact ,easy to store drill as well. The direction on a 2 speed winch for max torque snugs the grip onto my right handed wrist for reasonable effort.
Dale Myrfield
Duck Soup
NS30U 382
Collins Bay
Wow … Dale -
What a good solution. good to know there are alternatives including “homemade” winch bits.
Ernie A. in Toronto
Thanks, very good to know. If I don’t have the inclination to make my own winch bit would any 1/2 inch work??
Yes Greg, it’s a 1/2" drill so any commercial bit should work. “The Cranker” from their website at US$35 +$10 shipping to Canada seems a good bet.
Sorry maybe I’m just not savvy but now I can’t find the thread with regard to the latest drill solution. A Bausch I believe, Thanks
Guys:
What’s with all this gab about Rube Goldberg hand-held electric drill modifications to power winches? There are a plentiful variety of splendid electric winches already on the market that can more safely and effectively do the job of raising your sail or trimming the main sheet without having to worry about charging the thing, dropping it overboard, overloading it, or finding a convenient and dry place to store it. Sure, the portable drill will be a bit cheaper, but if you are that worried about cost, just find an eager young grinder to sail with you and shepherd the regular winch handle!
Barry Stott
Ummm … with the greatest respect, Barry -
I personally know 2 sailors who have lost fingers (yup, chopped clean off - no guff) courtesy of these “splendid electric winches”. These devices cost the earth (especially in Canada - a tough but real reality). The motors protrude seriously into the cabins (especially on an N22). They have to be “installed” with the resulting mess and expense. They have to maintained in situ (not just returned to Home Depot). You need TWO to hoist the sail and trim the mainsheet. With one of these “Rube Goldberg” affairs, you also get one hell of good drill/screw gun. I could go on …
While a “drill” onboard may lack a certain “saltiness” or be considered “untraditional”, the last time I looked at any Nonsuch, I saw a most untraditional vessel, sailed (invariably) by an untraditional skipper. Heck, half the fun of this whole experience is coming up with out-of-the-box solutions that allow all of us, each with their own challenges (sometimes brought on by the inescapable process of ageing), to solve problems and come up with good, ever-so-cool ideas to make sailing our wonderful boats even more fun and interesting. Furthermore, most of the time, I sail by myself (a true pleasure). That way, I don’t have to put up with the company of an eager young grinder… when I don’t want it !!
At least, that’s my take on all of this.
Fair winds.
Ernie A. in Toronto
Ernie:
I, too, love to sail solo, although I am a bit less agile now at 77 than I was 25 years ago, but I am almost 6’6” and I am aiming for another Nonsuch 36 at the moment, mostly for the headroom below.
Ever since I clumsily dropped a perfectly good winch handle into the briny deep on a bareboat charter of a Beneteau 52 in the BVI’s many years ago, I have been been a fan of electric winches, potential lost fingers notwithstanding. However, i didn’t mean to rain on Dr. Kludge’s parade…
Barry Stott
Rain away Barry! I think a powerful electric winch could wreck my sail when a batten snags on a jack line or wishbone. Too much power for Dr Kludge!
Self tailing winches or windlasses are the ones that chop off fingers and I consider them extremely dangerous. At 79, I can raise my sail to the top of my 30 with minimum effort due to the Strong Track and a few ounces of soapy water and then a grind or two. I also have a non-selftailing electric halyard winch for when I don’t want to leave the cockpit. It’s kind of hard to lose a finger with those. Not all electric winches protrude far into the cabin. You’d have to go out of your way to bump your head on mine.
Joe Valinoti
S/V IL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
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It’s OK, Barry.
Dr. Kludge notwithstanding (and I’m not certain who Dr. Kludge is), like me, you have an opinion gleaned from years of experience. So we disagree a little - so big deal. Welcome to the planet Earth. Hell, i’d still buy you a beer (with the $$$$ saved by buying a drill). And to be very honest, I would not go as far as to try to build my own bit. (Kudos to Dale, though.)
It all makes for interesting reading, no ??!! Just don’t whack your noggin on the winch motors (and watch those fingers, eh !!).
Ernie A. in Toronto
