If you are going to only use it for raising sails why bother? The sails are
not that large on any of the boats mentioned and if you jump them from the
deck they are most of the way up prior to needing the winch.

I can see where you would want a RA drill for hauling someone up the mast if
you have no help but then the 120 ac model is fine at dock. On our old boat
I surged my wife up the mast with two halyards and no winch handles when the
kids are around. When the kids were not around I used a winch handle. Our
current boat has electric winches but we still raise the main by hand for
the first 75-80 feet then manually winch from there. Habit.

"Marc" wrote in message
...
There is no "resistance problem" The Milwaukee is a right angle drill,
D handle drill, approx 18" long. It is easily held and kick back is
readily controlled.

Since I do not have a generator or full sized inverter on board, I
prefer the Cordless unit. A small Inverter handles the recharging.
Also, it is Cordless, a major convenience.

Respectfully, you are overthinking this matter. $350 all up is your
downside risk and you can sell it on ebay if you are not happy. Since
I introduced this setup to my marina, 3 other mid size boat sailors
have followed suit. A Freedom 36, a Nonsuch 36, a C & C 40 and a
Hunter 40 all use this system.




On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 08:33:38 -0500, Courtney Thomas
wrote:

Marc,

What do you do, if anything, regarding the previously referred to
[potential] problem of....the drill's reaction force of ~50 lbs ?

Evan suggested a tether. Thoughts ?

Also, since a much less expensive AC drill can be had with similar
capabilities, why did you think the DC unit worth the difference,
especially since the batteries must be recharged anyway ?

Appreciatively,
Courtney



Marc wrote:

The Milwaukee 3109-24 right angle 18 volt drill delivers 600 inch lbs
of torque at the low side rpm of 350. I use this drill with a winch
head bit on the low speed side of my barient 27's to hoist a 500 sf
full batten main. Works out to approx 30 rpm at the winch at full
speed. Works like a charm. I get 4 hoists to a charge. No drawbacks
and I can decouple the tool and use it for other tasks. Buy an extra
battery and charge it off your inverter. $350.00 all up.


On Fri, 29 Oct 2004 10:09:50 -0500, Courtney Thomas
wrote:


I would like to try powering my main winches [Barient 28s] by a
[preferably] portable drill/impact wrench/etc., as at least an emergency
option.

Has anyone successfully done this ?

If yes, how'd you determine what you needed ? I see that there are now
numerous new portable ones that range up to 24v.

If portable ones are insufficient, how 'bout such as DeWalt and
Milwaukee 1/2" corded models ?

What has been found unsatisfactory about such an application ?

Appreciatively,
Courtney