winch capacity
I have a Warn winch with a 600# capacity,
Is there a practical weight I should not exceed with the dingy? Like 80% of
load rating? Or can I really lift a 600# load?
Thanks, Jim
Jim,
Winches are not meant for lifting, and are not safe when used for that
purpose. Unfortunately, various winch makers have various "definitions" as
to what their capacities mean. For some, it may be the pulling tension in
the cable; for others, it means the weight of a boat it might be able to
pull onto a trailer (on rollers, in the water). A perusal of some winch
catalog pages will reveal that one winch rated at 1000 lbs is wired with #10
cable, while another may come without cable and recommend #2. Tables of
load vs. amps drawn is rarely forthcoming for winches.
Hoists are meant for lifting, and are rated as to their vertical lift
capability. They also have two safety features generally not found on
winches. Hoists never have a freewheeling capability, as engaging this
feature under load could have disasterous consequences. Hoists also have
brakes that engage automatically when power is disconnected, whether by the
switch or by loss of power to the hoist system. Warn makes both hoists and
winches, and is one of the more reputable makers. I recently installed a
Warn 1200 lb hoist for dinghy lifting on a K42. The hoist cost around $600,
as I recall, a lot more than most winches rated the same, but worth every
penny.
Mark Richter, "Winnie the Pooh", Ortona, FL on the Okeechobee Waterway
Mark's Mobile Marine, 863-517-1152
General boat repairs at my dock or yours
Specializing in electrical system design, installation and repair
----- Original Message -----
Subject: T&T: winch capacity
I have a Warn winch with a 600# capacity,
Is there a practical weight I should not exceed with the dingy? Like
80% of
load rating? Or can I really lift a 600# load?
Thanks, Jim
Since battery charging can take voltage over 15V, has anyone tried using
a solar charge controller to feed 12-13V to the load while providing the
higher voltage to the batteries? Or do these controllers not limit the
voltage to the load? My question is due to my fish finder sometimes
alarming of over voltage when charging.
Mike
Is it rated to lift vertical loads?
On Feb 26, 2011, at 14:45 , Quinces wrote:
I have a Warn winch with a 600# capacity..
[demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type application/pkcs7-signature which had a name of smime.p7s]
Thanks for the correction....I meant hoist!
I have a Warn Hoist rated for 600# and was wondering what the working
capacity would be.
It would seem to me that there would be a percentage factor in using a
hoist, something less that the rating.
The other practical concern I have is that on a boat there tends to be a
bouncing effect due to wind/waves/hoist action.
This would tend to put an additional load on your cable/hoist.
My dink has been on my boat since '96 and I'm thinking of a newer one that
would add some weight going from about ~300# to ~400#.
Thanks, Jim
From: "Mark Richter" richter-pooh@rocketmail.com
Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2011 9:39 AM
To: trawlers-and-trawlering@lists.samurai.com
Subject: Re: T&T: winch capacity
Jim,
Winches are not meant for lifting, and are not safe when used for that
purpose. Unfortunately, various winch makers have various "definitions"
as to what their capacities mean. For some, it may be the pulling tension
in the cable; for others, it means the weight of a boat it might be able
to pull onto a trailer (on rollers, in the water). A perusal of some
winch catalog pages will reveal that one winch rated at 1000 lbs is wired
with #10 cable, while another may come without cable and recommend #2.
Tables of load vs. amps drawn is rarely forthcoming for winches.
Hoists are meant for lifting, and are rated as to their vertical lift
capability. They also have two safety features generally not found on
winches. Hoists never have a freewheeling capability, as engaging this
feature under load could have disasterous consequences. Hoists also have
brakes that engage automatically when power is disconnected, whether by
the switch or by loss of power to the hoist system. Warn makes both
hoists and winches, and is one of the more reputable makers. I recently
installed a Warn 1200 lb hoist for dinghy lifting on a K42. The hoist
cost around $600, as I recall, a lot more than most winches rated the
same, but worth every penny.
Mark Richter, "Winnie the Pooh", Ortona, FL on the Okeechobee Waterway
Mark's Mobile Marine, 863-517-1152
General boat repairs at my dock or yours
Specializing in electrical system design, installation and repair
----- Original Message -----
Subject: T&T: winch capacity
I have a Warn winch with a 600# capacity,
Is there a practical weight I should not exceed with the dingy? Like
80% of
load rating? Or can I really lift a 600# load?
Thanks, Jim
I would think that with the right size wire, and frequent inspections,
a hoist can safely lift 75% to 80% of full load all day long, no wind,
so sway.
Where I use to work, we had alarms set at 80% or rated capacity on all
hoists and cranes.
Any time the alarm went off, well, 2 things happened. The operator got
disciplined and a before the lift could occur, a detailed inspection
of the hoist/crane had to be conducted and documented.
Since the discipline was one week off w/o pay, the operators were
really careful to make sure they got no where near to 80%. if they had
to, they got the inspection done, and then the alarm was raised to no
more than 5% over the calculated lift.
There were times when the hoist had to lift 100%. Thank God they were
few and far between.
So, Mark R, think this is about right?
Lee
Izmir
On Feb 27, 2011, at 14:40 , Quinces wrote:
Thanks for the correction....I meant hoist!
I have a Warn Hoist rated for 600# and was wondering what the working
capacity would be.
It would seem to me that there would be a percentage factor in using a
hoist, something less that the rating.
The other practical concern I have is that on a boat there tends to be
a bouncing effect due to wind/waves/hoist action.
This would tend to put an additional load on your cable/hoist.
My dink has been on my boat since '96 and I'm thinking of a newer one
that would add some weight going from about ~300# to ~400#.
Thanks, Jim
[demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type application/pkcs7-signature which had a name of smime.p7s]
Out of curiosity, I was perusing the Warn web site. As I looked through the specs on several of their hoists I notice that they not only specified the rated capacity, but also the number of wraps.
Since it is not clear as to whether the 600 lbs is the total load at x number of wraps and a lower safe working load should be established, or is the safe working load at x number of wraps, I think it would be wise to contact the company to establish what the 600 lbs indicates.
I remember one job where we were hoisting 55 gallon barrels of resin to the top of storage tanks. The hoist would do well, but as the barrel would get closer and closer to the top, it would slow down until about 5 feet from the top it couldn't get any higher... the diameter of the wraps was just too big. There was plenty of room for more wraps, but the motor just did not have the oomph to get that last few feet wrapped.
As you plan for your dinghy hoist, better oversize the hoist as often dinghies seem to, as do the rest of us, gain weight over time... all except Jill that is.
Rudy
Briney Bug, Panama City, Fl
While we are talking hoists, may I suggest a great substitute for wire rope?
It is synthetic line made from Dyneema, by a Dutch company I think.
Strongest stuff in the world. It is wonderfully soft and has terrific
spooling manners.
Here is the link to the Samson version:
http://www.samsonrope.com/index.cfm?ind=1&app=1&rope=190&inst=1
lots of places carry it, including West. It is sailboat running rigging,
but, as you see in the Samson link, it is considered a great substitute for
wire rope.
BTW, psychologically, buy a larger size than you really need. Mine just
LOOKS too small; I dont care what the specs say!!!
Bob
Robert Calhoun Smith Jr in DC
M/V MARY KATHRYN
Hatteras 58 LRC
Lying Stuart, FL