# Drill and winch bit **URL:** \ **Category:** Newsgroups Archive Prior to 2025\ **Created:** [May 19, 2019, 3:14am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/drill-and-winch-bit/7112 "2019-05-19T03:14:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 3:13am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/drill-and-winch-bit/7112/21 "2019-06-01T03:13:27Z")
kludge /kluːdʒ/ Also kluge. [J. W. Granholm's jocular invention: see first quot.; cf. also bodge v., fudge v.][2] 'An ill-assorted collection of poorly-matching parts, forming a distressing whole' (Granholm); esp. in Computing, a machine, system, or program that has been improvised or 'bodged' together; a hastily improvised and poorly thought-out solution to a fault or 'bug'. ... Mark Powers La Reina 26C Vancouver, B.C. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 3:26am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/drill-and-winch-bit/7112/22 "2019-06-01T03:26:00Z")
So if I get this correctly, kludge is sort of the opposite of the word I would use for the cordless drill solution : elegant The Cambridge Dictionary on “elegant” : An elegant idea, plan, or solution is clever but simple, and therefore attractive. That’s exactly the way I would describe the cordless drill as a power assist to raise sail. Paul M NS30U #211, Sandpiper Cowichan Bay, B.C. ---
**Author:** ![Todd\_O\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Todd\_O\_Smith](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Todd_O_Smith)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/drill-and-winch-bit/7112/23 "2019-06-01T14:43:35Z")
Two years ago I went to Homedepot and bought a Rigid brushless hammer drill that was on sale for $130. Lifetime guarantee, including the batteries. Works great. Pulls the sail to a couple inches of the top position. I usually raise the sail about 8- 10 times before changing batteries when the indicator LED is at 1/4". I'm not sure why you'd need to go with anything more sophisticated or expensive. As a friend of mine who ran a power boat marina told me, " Sailboat owners are notoriously cheap. They think that just because sailboat fuel is free that everything else should be. " I'm keeping up our reputation. ToddO Smith Wabasha, MN S/V Whisper N26C #142 ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 4:43am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/drill-and-winch-bit/7112/24 "2019-06-02T04:43:57Z")
I’ve learned two things from this discussion: 1. “Sailboat owners … think that just because sailboat fuel is free that everything else should be.” I share this view with Todd but prior to this discussion, I did not realize it was an opinion. I’d always assumed it was a fact. 2. “Kludge vs. elegant” doesn’t quite capture the distinctions. The split in thinking among the sailors contributing to this thread is reminds me of a difference between the US and the Russian space programs that was pointed out to me once when I was working with NASA personnel at Johnson Space Center. They pointed to the Fisher Space Pen as a good example. ;-)) – Bob Solar Wind Nonsuch 26C, #143 ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 4:53am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/drill-and-winch-bit/7112/25 "2019-06-02T04:53:07Z")
I love the intellectual and engineering skills involved in developing the space pen. I can only buy the No. 2 pencil, and then only on occasion. Mark Powers 🙂 La Reina 26C Vancouver, B.C. ---
**Author:** ![Todd\_O\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Todd\_O\_Smith](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Todd_O_Smith)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 2:20pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/drill-and-winch-bit/7112/26 "2019-06-02T14:20:28Z")
When using for raising the sail, the hammer drill feature is turned off. It's just a standard drill with about 700 inch pounds of torque with an extra hammer drill feature. Nothing any more exotic than the Hilton or the Makita. Even looks to be a bit smaller and compact. ToddO Smith S/V Whisper N26C #142 ---
**Author:** ![Brooks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@Brooks](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Brooks)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 5:20pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/drill-and-winch-bit/7112/27 "2019-06-04T17:20:54Z")
> Reading all the comments, thought I should post the solution on the N30U I bought in 2007 which I owned for 4 years and found perfect. > It was a windlass, connected to deck mounted self tailing winch. You just flipped on CB and when halyard was ready to go, stepped on on a big rubber floor button and tailed with both hands. > The real beauty of the installation was its perfect sizing, max torque wise. It would raise sail (or me - 155 lbs) no problem. But if there was the slightest extra resistance, such as a clew reef that had been used and not restored to no-reef position, it would stall out - if you (stupidly) kept trying, the fuse blew. After raising by hand a couple of times I bought a fuse and 4 spares. Of course, after first time, I was never stupid again. But always relieved me that there was 0 danger of shredding sail by an ignorant user. > > The interesting part is the windlass instructions specifically warned against using it for halyards. I am still mystified as to why since it worked so perfectly. > > I wish I could give more detailed info but I sold it in 2011 to downsize - ending up with my NS22OB. > Name was Solitude, NS30U, hull 290. Went to SF area. I’m sure present owner would provide particulars. Brooks Bridges NS OB 24 An B’ad Cambridge, MD on the Choptank [Previous page](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/drill-and-winch-bit/7112.md?page=1)