Sailing a sailboat requires physical effort. The larger the boat, the greater the effort. To make life easier for sailors, the winch has become a must. It multiplies human strength. But there is still one crank to turn...
For the assistance, these winches have been electrified. By adding an electric motor under the winch, it is controlled by pressing a button. No more cranks. Electric winches are now the reference solution for any sailor who needs a little help on deck. But this does not make it the ideal solution. There are other solutions, such as 4-speed winches or electric handwheels, which also offer an alternative. We will compare these three systems.
The electric winch: powerful, but sometimes too much
Known for their efficiency, electric winches are powerful, but represent a significant investment. The motorization of a single winch implies not only the purchase of the equipment (electric motor under the winch), but also its installation on board (from 500 to 800 euros of labour and supplies).
The price of electrifying a winch varies. It depends on two factors:
- The size of the winch is the first determining factor: a conversion kit for a 40 winch is sold between 2,000 and 4,000 euros, while the kit for a 60 winch is sold between 3,000 and 5,000 euros.
- The functions available to the winch. Three options are available with, in increasing order of price: the motorization of a single winch speed, the motorization of the two winch speeds, and finally the motorization with speed control on both winch speeds (by far the most complete and expensive option...).
To this is added the number of winches to which we add an engine, which multiplies the price by as much: two winches for the genoa, one winch for the GV halyard..
Without cruise control, electric winches pose two problems. First of all, they require extreme vigilance. Indeed, they are so powerful that the slightest rope that gets stuck can lead to breakage in a fraction of a second. Then they cannot be used for fine tuning on a GV étarquage, or to tuck in the last few centimetres of a genoa. The manual handwheel is always necessary for the last settings.
Electric winches are also a nightmare for service batteries: each time they are used, they require between 60 and 100 A. These very high and repeated discharge currents cause an accelerated ageing of the service batteries.
Finally, the installation of an electric winch is not always possible. Cockpits and deck plans do not always provide the necessary space to accommodate the electric motor.
Balance of the electric winch
- powerful tools, but not always adapted
- high prices
- power consumption
The 4-speed winch
On a regatta boat, it is forbidden to use the electric motorization. To overcome this problem and offer more efficiency to winches, the company Pontos (now acquired by Karver) has developed winches with "gearboxes" that offer greater manoeuvring speed. These 4-speed winches are available in 2 ranges: in overdrive versions to go faster or overdrive versions to force less. But if this technology is very advanced today, it does not provide any assistance in the manoeuvre. Always turn the crank handle. Offshore runners who are athletes can take advantage of these winches, but a yachtsman looking for help does not find it worth his while.
To better understand the interest and limits of these winches, imagine that you are on a bike and have a pass to climb. Having more speeds available will allow you to better manage your effort and therefore gain a little more speed to climb the pass. But the work you will have to do to climb this pass will remain unchanged.
While these winches, which are highly technological and therefore very expensive, can be interesting in competition to improve manoeuvring speeds, they are in no way an alternative to the electric assistance obtained by an electric winch or electric crank, which are the only assistance solutions that provide the additional energy you need to help you carry out your manoeuvres.
For comparison, the 4-speed winch would be the competition bike, and the electric winch crank on a classic winch is the electric bike!
Balance sheet of the 4-speed winches
- complex technology
- reserved for competition
- high price
Electric handwheel: the most logical solution
Electric winch cranks have the advantage of being adaptable to all winches, cheaper, and do not require any installation. A single electric crank handle is enough to electrify all the winches on board... Their functionalities vary according to the manufacturers, but their cost of 2,500 euros is still less expensive than the motorization of a single winch!
To operate an electric crank handle, it is held in the hand and the electric motor of the crank handle is activated. If something forces, unlike the electric winch, the crew member will immediately notice it because he will suffer abnormal traction in his arms. It can then quickly stop the motor and avoid breakage or blockage.
Balance of the electric crank handle
- Works on all winches on board
- Allows you to manage your strength
- No danger of equipment breakage
