Please select your home edition
Edition
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - LEADERBOARD

Why not power a winch on your sailboat?

by ewincher 14 Sep 2022 16:30 PDT
ewincher in action © ewincher

What about powering a winch on your sailboat?

Tired of having to grind your winches by hand when you, your friends and family go sailing? Are you frustrated with not sailing because of the lack of crew to grind those winches? Does it make you wish you had a powerboat?

If any of these describe you, we may have found the answer to your question: the innovative Ewincher2 electric winch handle.

The Ewincher was designed by sailors for sailors. By fitting any traditional winch, the lightweight, and ergonomic Ewincher converts all of your manual winches to powered winches without the cost and power consumption of an electric winch.

What is Ewincher? Why do I need an electric winch handle?

The Ewincher can be used to turn the winch without breaking a sweat. In addition to trimming jibs spinnakers or code zeros, the Ewincher can also be used to cycle in reel lines, drive top-down reelers, lift dinghies out of the water, and even lift crew up the mast safely - even a weak sailor can easily lift a heavy one. It can also be a lifesaver when a halyard is used to drop a person into the water.

The Ewincher has three operating modes:

  • Electric: motorize easily all your winches

  • Manual: like a classic winch handle

  • Combined: you can turn the handle while the motor is working for a higher speed

The Ewincher also has a knob to change direction, allowing you to take advantage of your boat's multi-speed winch. Its high-efficiency lithium-ion battery lasts all day and charges in 1.5 hours using a 12-volt, 110-volt or 220-volt charger. The Ewincher is an ideal addition to any boat from 30 to 60 feet.

Ewincher was put to the test by a specialized magazine in the US: Windcheck.

They started the test on small boats with undersized winches. Pulling up the mainsail on small keelboats like an Alerion or a Graves Constellation can be annoying. The tiny two and-a-half-inch drums are pretty useless as winches. But as you are usually only hoisting the main once, a bit of effort is not prohibitive.

They tried to raise the mainsail with the Ewincher on the high speed mode and they appreciated the easiness of the manoeuvre.

"No awkward stance from the companionway or grinding the last four feet forever!".

It was the same on the Graves' 150% genoa.

Next up, they put it on the self-tailing jib winch of a J/109. On high-speed, the jib came in too quickly. That made them aware of the importance of mastering the modes of the handle. The torque of the handle is important -90NM. After a few manoeuvres, using the Ewincher became a breeze.

Finally, they used the Ewincher on a few larger boats such as a Dehler 38, an older Frers 46, and J/120 and they got better at using it each time.

"It started to feel like we need to investigate what the handicap penalty would be for using it while racing!".

Extend your ability to sail with the Ewincher

You can easily imagine how this product might keep an older sailing couple cruising more enjoyably for years to come. Adapting your boat to your own physical condition seems to be the right solution to not give up on your passion. Anticipation has to remain a basic rule and will allow you to avoid making movements hastily and in an uncomfortable position.

With the Ewincher electric winch handle on board, manoeuvres that require strength and energy are simplified. You can take full advantage of the pleasure of sailing while keeping perfect control and feeling confident.

More information on ewincher's electric winches here

Related Articles

Transat Paprec Day 6
A high-tension weekend At sea for six days, the competitors have already completed a quarter of the Transat Paprec course. After crossing the Bay of Biscay, rounding Cape Finisterre, and sailing down the Portuguese coast, the fleet has now stretched out. Posted on 25 Apr
56th Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères day 5
Israel deny China triple gold On a day of high pressure - in all senses - and drama in all the Medal series, team power and individual brilliance produced some of the closest board Finals in Hyères history. Posted on 25 Apr
Sled looking to avoid 2024's late season slide
As the 52 Super Series starts next week in Saint-Tropez Fourth overall last season, 2024 and fourth also on 2022's final standings, fifth in 2023 Takashi Okura's USA flagged Sled team start 2025 looking to find the small percentage gains here and there. Posted on 25 Apr
Smarter at the Dock, Safer at Sea
How Upgrades Are Changing Cruising The service being offered by yacht manufacturers leaps forward every year - responding to a market which demands the highest quality in every aspect. Posted on 25 Apr
2025 O'pen Skiff North American "Un-Regatta
More than seventy junior sailors from as far as Switzerland traveled to Pensacola More than seventy junior sailors from as far as Switzerland traveled to Pensacola Yacht Club to experience the O'pen Skiff "Un-Regatta" vibe. Posted on 25 Apr
Transatlantic Race 2025 Preview
A North Atlantic adventure like no other The Transatlantic Race 2025 from the East Coast of the United States to the shores of the United Kingdom stands as one of sailing's most time-honored and demanding challenges. Posted on 25 Apr
A+T Instruments 10th Anniversary Celebrations
"We set out to make the World's Best Yacht Instruments" Globally recognised yacht instruments company A+T Instruments is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year after a decade of successful growth by pushing the boundaries of quality and customer service. Posted on 25 Apr
Is the Côte d'Azure set to deal a dose of déjà vu?
All set for the 52 SUPER SERIES 2025 season opener next week Teams from the 52 SUPER SERIES, the world's leading grand prix monohull circuit, have been hard at work through the winter and spring preparing for the 2025 season, technical updates giving way recently to on the water training. Posted on 25 Apr
Ficker Cup sets stage for Congressional Cup
Eight international match racing teams prepare to do battle Eight international match racing teams will prepare to do battle at the Ficker Cup this weekend, 25-27 April, an official qualifying event of the World Match Racing Tour, hosted by the Long Beach Yacht Club. Posted on 25 Apr
56th Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères day 4
Kiteboarders and windsurfers go for Friday gold as shifts play havoc with process On a day in which fortunes shifted as much as the winds, French Olympic Week will have its first Medal Races on Friday as the top 8 men and women kitesurfers and windsurfers battle it out for the podium. Posted on 24 Apr
Lloyd Stevenson - AC Alinghi 1456x180px BOTTOMPredictWind - GPS 728x90 BOTTOMDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_SY BOTTOM