EWincher field report
Those who are interested in easing their winch use, thinking about electric winches and/or those interested in “geriatrifying” their boat might consider an Ewincher. It is not in-expensive, but is far less expensive than electric winches after looking at both purchase and installation costs and the possible/probable need to increase battery service. Right angle drills of old with a “winch” bit were whimpy, the battery died quickly and were not water-proof nor did they like salt water. More modern higher voltage rt angle drills w/ lithium may have solved some of those concerns.
On Alchemy we have a somewhat awkward to launch (or retrieve) hard shell nesting dinghy. Ginger handles the winch and I keep the dinghy from swinging about hitting things. The EWincher has made this job far easier and easier/safer to control the dinghy.
I hoist the main at the mast till the last foot or so. The EWincher makes getting that last foot or so much easier. Same with setting reefs
It is probable that most use it a lot for their headsail. I have used it for jib topsail pulling in but often just do it by hand. Were I doing a lot of tacking, I would use the EWincher more, especially in higher winds.
We have never run out of power. The US company replaced a charger without any problem and doing the paperwork necessary to get it to Canada. It is reversable and, as you hold it in place, you have immediate feedback as to the tension being asked for and are therefore less likely to do damage or over-tighten a sheet or halyard (unlike electric winches). You are also less likely to get a finger or hand caught between the winch and line as has happened with electric winches. It also turns any winch into an electric winch.
And lastly, it can be used as a manual winch handle, although it is bulkier and heavier.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy