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.
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.
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
I’ve learned two things from this discussion:
“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.
“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.
To address the need to be able to reliably record notes in a vacuum, at zero gravity to multiple G’s, in any other orientation, in a temperature range of several hundred degrees C, the Americans spent a bit over $1 million USD (in 1960 dollars) to develop the Space Pen, which you can buy today for $19.95. The Russian space program’s solution to the same problem was (and still is)… the Number 2 Pencil.
There are lots of alternative solutions, just differing in their tradeoffs between time, money and ideas about what’s interesting. For the record, I personally enjoy both space pens and No. 2 pencils.
;-))
– Bob
Solar Wind
Nonsuch 26C, #143
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.
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
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