Request info about windlass hand held remote control unit for Lofrans windlass
We're in the process of putting a new Lofrans Tigres windlass on
Sanderling and am to the point of deciding how to operate the windlass.
Other than boring two holes in the deck or creating an inset under the
anchor platform for foot switches (up and down), an option is to use a
hand held remote control unit at the windlass itself (not wireless, but
tethered). We'll also put rocker switches at the two steering stations,
so this would be a control unit at the windlass itself.
One that I've located is manufactured by IMTRA, is not Lofrans specific,
and is sold by Defender at
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|10391|29596|326019&id=589685
and Pyachts.com at http://www.pyacht.com/imtra-remote-controls.htm
Does anyone have experience with this handheld unit and what do you
think of it?
--
<><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young Manatee Cove Marina
MV Sanderling Patrick Air Force Base
DeFever 41 Trawler Melbourne, Florida
Bob. Imtra makes Lofrans but I would contact them to be sure it is compatibly.
Use the phone since it takes them forever to answer emails. Chuck
To follow our adventures, go to
http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/
--- On Sun, 2/22/09, Bob McLeran rmcleran@ix.netcom.com wrote:
We're in the process of putting a new Lofrans Tigres windlass on
Sanderling and am to the point of deciding how to operate the windlass.
Other than boring two holes in the deck or creating an inset under the
anchor platform for foot switches (up and down), an option is to use a
hand held remote control unit at the windlass itself (not wireless, but
tethered). We'll also put rocker switches at the two steering stations,
so this would be a control unit at the windlass itself.
One that I've located is manufactured by IMTRA, is not Lofrans specific,
and is sold by Defender at
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|10391|29596|326019&id=589685
and Pyachts.com at http://www.pyacht.com/imtra-remote-controls.htm
Does anyone have experience with this handheld unit and what do you
think of it?
Bob, Just took a look at the handheld and it is made by Quick. They are not
yet big in the US market but are trying to make inroads. They are another
Italian Manufacturer and were originally using Lofran parts for their units.
Last I heard they were having some issues but nothing clear cut. There are
just not enough of them out there to make any kind of judgement as to quality.
Chuck
To follow our adventures, go to
http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/
--- On Sun, 2/22/09, Bob McLeran rmcleran@ix.netcom.com wrote:
We're in the process of putting a new Lofrans Tigres windlass on
Sanderling and am to the point of deciding how to operate the windlass.
Other than boring two holes in the deck or creating an inset under the
anchor platform for foot switches (up and down), an option is to use a
hand held remote control unit at the windlass itself (not wireless, but
tethered). We'll also put rocker switches at the two steering stations,
so this would be a control unit at the windlass itself.
One that I've located is manufactured by IMTRA, is not Lofrans specific,
and is sold by Defender at
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|10391|29596|326019&id=589685
and Pyachts.com at http://www.pyacht.com/imtra-remote-controls.htm
Does anyone have experience with this handheld unit and what do you
think of it?
I have the Quick tethered handheld windlass control. It is nothing more than two switches contained in a molded housing with a spiral cord. It works ok.
But one night I forgot and left it on deck and the windlass breaker on. Both of which I have learned not to do. In the wee hours of the morning a rain shower came through, soaked the control and it started the windlass up with a huge clattering noise that jolted me out of bed. Fortunately the chain snubber jammed in the bow roller and tripped the breaker. No damage done except to my heart rate and sleep.
The next morning I took the unit apart, noticed that it was simply two switches, ie no electronics. I dried it out in the sun and it now works fine.
But having said all of the above, I greatly prefer two foot switches on deck. You can use both hands for an anchor washdown with a foot switch. So, I would recommend the instalatiion headache of makeing a place for foot switches.
David
---- Chuck and Susan sea_trek_2000@yahoo.com wrote:
Bob, Just took a look at the handheld and it is made by Quick. They are not
yet big in the US market but are trying to make inroads. They are another
Italian Manufacturer and were originally using Lofran parts for their units.
Last I heard they were having some issues but nothing clear cut. There are
just not enough of them out there to make any kind of judgement as to quality.
Chuck
To follow our adventures, go to
http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/
--- On Sun, 2/22/09, Bob McLeran rmcleran@ix.netcom.com wrote:
We're in the process of putting a new Lofrans Tigres windlass on
Sanderling and am to the point of deciding how to operate the windlass.
Other than boring two holes in the deck or creating an inset under the
anchor platform for foot switches (up and down), an option is to use a
hand held remote control unit at the windlass itself (not wireless, but
tethered). We'll also put rocker switches at the two steering stations,
so this would be a control unit at the windlass itself.
One that I've located is manufactured by IMTRA, is not Lofrans specific,
and is sold by Defender at
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|10391|29596|326019&id=589685
and Pyachts.com at http://www.pyacht.com/imtra-remote-controls.htm
Does anyone have experience with this handheld unit and what do you
think of it?
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Bob McLeran rmcleran@ix.netcom.com writes:
Does anyone have experience with this handheld unit and what do you
think of it?
It's just as easy to make your own. I used a nifty one-piece reversing
solenoid I got from Burden Surplus:
<
http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2009022313442984&item=11-3169-12&catname=
You can make the handpiece out of a piece of ABS pipe, or use the handpiece
from a cheap-o ATV winch.
A few other comments:
First, I would not recommend using foot switches to control the full
amperage. The foot switches will leak and fail, and the arcing from
controlling a DC motor will be excessive. Use a solenoid, that's what they
are for. Plus, it's a pain in the butt standing on the footswich when you are
trying to hose off the anchor. Much easier to just hold the control in your
hand. I have both a footswitch and a handswitch and use the handswitch 100%
of the time.
Second, I initially used a 3-pin connector on the handswitch cord so I could
disconnect the handswitch and store it. Bad move. The connector corrodes if
it's in the weather. A much simpler solution is to hard-wire the handswitch
cable inside a deck locker. When you need to use the windlass, just open the
locker and pull out the switch. When you are done you put it back. No muss,
no fuss, no failing connector to replace every 3 years.
Finally, windlasses are dangerous. To prevent the unaware from amateur
amputation, I added a keyswitch in the pilothouse. The windlass only runs
when the keyswitch is on. That way even if some lubber steps on the
footswitch while a 6 year old is playing with the chain, nobody looses their
fingers. Get in the habit of leaving the switch off except when you use the
windlass.
Scott Welch
Product Manager, Open Text Collaboration Solutions Group
www.firstclass.com
"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn
out." - John Wooden
Scott, I have to disagree that a foot switch will leak. Ours is over 2 years
old has been over 5,000 miles of cruising, with mostly anchoring and has not
yet leaked or failed. On the other hand we have met many cruisers with hand
held units 1/2 the life of our foot switches and they had already failed in
one way or another. Chuck
To follow our adventures, go to
http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/
--- On Mon, 2/23/09, Scott H.E. Welch scott@firstclass.com wrote:
It's just as easy to make your own. I used a nifty one-piece reversing
solenoid I got from Burden Surplus:
<
http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2009022313442984&item=11-3169-12&ca
tname=
You can make the handpiece out of a piece of ABS pipe, or use the handpiece
from a cheap-o ATV winch.
A few other comments:
First, I would not recommend using foot switches to control the full
amperage. The foot switches will leak and fail, and the arcing from
controlling a DC motor will be excessive. Use a solenoid, that's what they
are for. Plus, it's a pain in the butt standing on the footswich when you
are
trying to hose off the anchor. Much easier to just hold the control in your
hand. I have both a footswitch and a handswitch and use the handswitch 100%
of the time.
Second, I initially used a 3-pin connector on the handswitch cord so I could
disconnect the handswitch and store it. Bad move. The connector corrodes if
it's in the weather. A much simpler solution is to hard-wire the handswitch
cable inside a deck locker. When you need to use the windlass, just open the
locker and pull out the switch. When you are done you put it back. No muss,
no fuss, no failing connector to replace every 3 years.
Finally, windlasses are dangerous. To prevent the unaware from amateur
amputation, I added a keyswitch in the pilothouse. The windlass only runs
when the keyswitch is on. That way even if some lubber steps on the
footswitch while a 6 year old is playing with the chain, nobody looses their
fingers. Get in the habit of leaving the switch off except when you use the
windlass.
Scott Welch