I have an issue with my electric winch that I use as a halyard winch. I have to order parts which will take a month or so.
Does anyone have a Nonsuch 36 and haul up the sail with a manual two speed winch? How hard is it to raise the sail. How many cranks? I have the original Barient halyard winch on the port cabin top. The electric is a Harken 48 on the port coaming.
I thought about using my winch rite (which I use for the choker) but was advised by the manufacturer that my sail may put a strain on the winch rite.
I am going to try hauling the sail up on the Barient at the dock on Friday.
Phil LeVine, NS 36#3 San Pedro CA MeSays
My sail was extremely hard to raise with my original Barient halyard winch, even after I added a Tides Strong Track and accompanying sail cars (with the topping lift fully applied and choker slack). I installed a reverse cam cleat on the mast so I could jump the halyard up by hand as far as I could before going to the winch. Still lots of hard cranking to get that last two feet of luff up there. The Winchrite makes it possible, but I finally decided to replace the Barient.
The Selden product contains the motor inside the winch. It has three speeds and is self tailing (safety says raise the sail without using the self trailer). In order to fit inside the winch, the motor operates at 40 or so volts, so two electric boxes had to be mounted down below to do the voltage step up from 12 volts. The nice thing is that no modification of the coach roof panel is needed - just a couple of wires exit the bottom of the winch. A weird “feature” of the winch is that it cannot be operated using a winch handle!
John Batchelor
Wind Rose NS36#27
Kirkland WA, RVYC
I purchased one of these at the sailboat show in Annapolis last week for $625. Works great! Worth having as a backup to an electric winch.
https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?id=2553334
Bob Gehrman
NS30U #396 “Quickbeam”
Baltimore, Maryland
That’s a great price you got at the show!
Jim Cosgrove
FATE 30U #343
Galesville MD
My research of two WinchRite owners was that it eventually broke down. A newer and stronger product is the https://www.ewincher.com/en/. The ergonomics are such that it feels familiar and it can be locked in place until you finish sailing for the day.
Herb G. Huber, MISTOFFELEES NS30C#91, Bridgeview Marina, Sarnia/Point Edward, Ontario
Herb,
Did you purchase the ewincher? How do you like it? Looks like it may run about $2K US. That’s cheaper than installing an electric winch, more expensive than the Winchrite and various drill solutions.
Jim Cosgrove
FATE 30U #343
Galesville, MD
I’m kind of surprised no one has mentioned the Milwaukee right angle drill yet. Perhaps because the popular 28V one has been discontinued. Mine raises my NS30 sail in <30 seconds and while it wasn’t cheap, it was less than either Winchrite or the Ewincher.
It also pulls the sheet in quickly under full load.,
Paul M
NS30U #211, Sandpiper
Cowichan Bay, B.C.
Paul is right on (and right-angled, too !!) . This is a very popular and much-discussed topic. I use a small but very torquy (torque-eee ??) Hilti drill that fires my sail up in half the time of a Winchrite. The Ewincher is a huge improvement over the Winchrite (which I have seen lots of negative anecdotal press about and have tried and didn’t like). The Ewincher costs the earth up in Canada. And, it’s one heavy sucker, to boot.
Better to spend your $$$$ on a power tool with an impeccable reputation that can be easily repaired by companies that properly warrant their products. And … the very best drills are much cheaper than “purpose built” winch “assisters”. Even though Paul has adapted his drill such that it doesn’t function as a drill (out of necessity, I believe), I still use my Hilti as a drill around the house and it’s unbeatable.
My two cents …
Ernie A. in Toronto
Someone mentioned 2K for a power tool to raise the sail?? I can’t believe you can’t find a new or used non self tailing power winch to raise the sail.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Ernie, I actually altered my drill to make it the most efficient for the job. I have lots of drills for any other jobs that come up. Can’t have too many tools you know… 
I would expect the Milwaukee drills to be on ebay for a long time…
https://www.ebay.com/itm/154688009255?hash=item24041fb427:g:2sIAAOSwdw9hhuvH
I have the Milwaukee heavy duty right angle drill—battery version. Started using it last year when I began having shoulder problems. Works great although a bit on the heavy side.
Used corded versions are out there too.
Jim Cosgrove
FATE 30U #343
Galesville, MD
Yes it not cheap but I did purchase it & like it very much. You might want to check pricing with different suppliers. The cost of an eWincher is still a lot less than an electric winch, except that with an electric winch I could remain behind the wheel while it work it. Didn’t care for the feel and handling of a right angled drill & if a WinchRite is not built for our heavy sail why buy it.
Herb G. Huber, MISTOFFELEES 30C#91 Bridgeview Marina, Sarnia, Point Edward, Ontario