Rather than motorising your winches, why not install a crank handle on them that will incorporate an electric motor? The idea is not new and many attempts have already been made, all of which have resulted in commercial failures. Too often the product was unsuitable for the environment, too heavy, with an awkward wired electrical connection or not powerful enough.
A high-performance and well-finished product
Today, the eWincher crank handle comes onto the market, which we find really interesting. Let's just say right away that it is not a first-rate product! Indeed, at 2700 euros, its purchase requires some thought. But after careful consideration, this price does not seem unreasonable or unreasonable.
By way of comparison, this is about the price of electrifying a winch on board. The eWincher crank can be used on all winches on board. From piano winches to genoa winches. The eWincher crank alone replaces at least 4 electric winches..
Proven technology
The technological side of the crank is also to be taken into account in the price. Totally waterproof IPX6, almost floating (it lacks 200g of buoyancy to see it stay above water), this crank is equipped with a variable speed drive motor whose speed is adjusted according to the pressure on the action button (from 15 to 80 rpm).
The on-board battery, a Li-ion model, offers good autonomy for a full day's sailing. This model recharges in 12 or 220 V in 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Same features as a standard crank handle, plus motor
Above all, this crank is exactly the same size as a standard crank (250 mm) with the same square hook. It therefore fits all winches and all deck plans. It works in 3 modes:
- Manual (buttons are not used)
- All electric (just hold the crank and press the button)
- Mixed (the motor speed is combined with the hand speed)
The use is totally intuitive with even the possibility of using the 2 speeds of the winch by reversing the rotation.
A connected crank handle
The icing on the cake, this crank also has its mobile application. From your smartphone, you can set the crank (and especially its maximum power if you want children to use it without being trained like on the merry-go-round around the winch!), or to check the state of the load or to visualize the maximum efforts of the day.
Weighing in at just 2.2 kg, this is a crank that becomes almost indispensable when you start sailing often and far away.
