Would need 3/8” to 1/2” adaptor, but very light both financially and physically.
Richard Lane
NS 26c #35 Swoose
Port Townsend
Where can one find an adapter?
Howard Wright
NS26C Merrythought
It seems to me that this would be great for raising a Sunfish sail. My 3/8” air ratchet couldn’t come close to raising my sail.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
[details="(attachments)"]
[/details]I bought a Winch Rite electric winch handle from Defender Marine last winter. It is very powerful! It is great for hoisting the sail on my 26, but be prepared for it to fight you a bit in the late stages of the hoist.
Ross MacDonald
“Claymore” N26
Collins Bay, Ontario
Boy, this topic has a half-life of 90,000 years !!
Dick - Joe is bang-on. Much has been written about many, many drills that might (or might not) raise a sail. Obviously, it’s all about torque. Two-speed winches help a LOT. The Winchrite, mentioned above, puts out around 80 ft.lb which seems to be the benchmark needed to raise a sail. You’ll note that Ross said that it has trouble getting the sail on an NS26 to the top.
My little Hilti drill puts out 110 ft. lbs. It sure gets my buddy’s NS26 sail to the top. It gets my (still new and stiff) NS22 to the top VERY quickly. Personally, I don’t like the Winchrite as I question the build quality, the quality of the “mystery meat” components and the really problematic “repair scheme”.
I suggest buying a good name brand 1/2" drill that puts out a minimum 80 ft. lbs. Anything less will bring tears …
Ernie A. in Toronto
As I stated on this list some years ago, I have used a Sears 29v drill for some years, it came in a kit for$99 US, works fine, requires their 12v input charger, is rather clumsy and heavy and
has torque overkill with lubed bronze sliders. Since I use the Cunningham to tighten the luff anyway, it occurred to me that the powered ratchet might work. I have no experience of such device durability.
NS26c, #35
Swoose.
Richard Lane
Port Townsend
Dick
Looks like it should work fine. I currently still use my Sears drill with 400 inch pounds of torque which is equivalent to 33 foot pounds of torque. It raises my NS 30U sail with no problem. The only thing I wonder about how you would adapt the Winch Bit to the rachet since it does not have an adjustable chuck like my drill does.
Mike
BIANKA
1986 30U
biankablog.blogspot.com
As I stated on this list some years ago, I have used a Sears 29v drill for some years, it came in a kit for$99 US, works fine, requires their 12v input charger, is rather clumsy and heavy and
has torque overkill with lubed bronze sliders. Since I use the Cunningham to tighten the luff anyway, it occurred to me that the powered ratchet might work. I have no experience of such device durability.
NS26c, #35
Swoose.
Richard Lane
Port Townsend
Hi all, The problem with the Halyard winch on a Nonsuch is that it is installed next to the dodger so that you cannot use the advantages of a two speed winch. A simple winter project is to switch it from the outside to inside position as shown in this photo of Mascouche moored stern to the wind. The winch in the photo is a Harken 40 two speed self tailing that I picked up on sale. I would have preferred a smaller Andersen, but one could not pass up a bargain.
I use the high speed up to the half way point or more and finish off with the low speed. I much prefer raising the sail by hand as one can observe when the effort becomes too great usually due to the sail fouling something. An electric winch will get the sail up regardless of what it is fouling so something might give and that can be expensive. Also, the manual winch is safer to use and a healthy exercise for those of us in our 80’s
John Newell
Mascouche 26C 1
Toronto
I have no interference whatsoever from my style of Bimini/dodger.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
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[/details]The reality is that it is all about the winch. The bigger the winch, the more ooomph. And, TWO speeds = far less torque or Popeye-power to raise that sail. THREE speeds, you say ?? A HAND drill would raise the sail.
On my NS22, my halyard winch is a manual Lewmar #18 ST SINGLE-SPEED jobbie. A good small winch but a single speed. It ain’t a #30 or #40. Healthy exercise but not for a buggered-up shoulder. That’s why I use a drill. I’d never use an electric winch - too risky for me.
Ernie A. in Toronto
I bought a Winchrite ( even though I have an electric halyard winch ) when they first come out at least ten years ago. I still use it today and it works as well as it did when new. I have never abused it ( read try to haul up crew in a bosuns chair ) or try to Haul up a sail without lubricating the slides or leave it for days on charge.
No fuss, twin speed and easy to store. I have also used it on the mainsheet in real heavy air for trimming.
Cheer
Brian McCuaig. NS30u
Whitby, Ontario
“Having a Nonsuch is reason for being more cheerful than most."
Another alternative to the Winch Rite or right angle drill is https://www.ewincher.com/en/. While more $ it is a lot less costly and safer than a fully electric halyard winch. After 16 years of struggling to raise my #10 Dacron sail on my own last Christmas I rewarded myself with the an eWincher - and love it. It functions like another winch handle which locks in place until I finish sailing for the day. We are used to the ergonomics of a regular winch handle and for that reason I like the feel better than a Winch Rite or right angle drill. Unfortunately, this year Binnacle.com is now offering a newer/stronger black & white version (eWincher2) for the same price as what I paid for my Yellow & Gray version.
Herb G. Huber, MISTOFFELEES NS30C#91, Point Edward/Sarnia, Ontario