On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 06:27:36 GMT, Dick Locke
wrote:

Anyone have Arco winches? Dealt with the company? Prices look good but
they have no US representation. Googling gets one really angry ex
customer and a few general "they're fine."

I'm investigating some size 55-60 electric primaries. Am I right in
dismissing single speed electrics? One criteria is to be able to get
the sheets tight quickly as they tend to flail and beat on the dodger
(or the poor soul on the winch.) I'm expecting one speed would either
be too slow initially or too much strain on the motor for final
tightening.

The only makers of two speed electrics seem to be Harkin and Arco.
Arco is about 30% cheaper.

With just Jean and I usually sailing our 44ft ketch by ourselves, the
2 Masport Barlow 44's we had were just too hard to use. So we
replaced them with four 52/57ST Self Tailing Arco Winches a couple of
years ago.

To date, touch wood, and I know it's only a short time, we've had no
problems.

We went with Arco for three reasons. Firstly - of course - cost.
Secondly, they are Australian and heaven knows, our local industry
needs all the support it can get (especially now with our PM licking
your President's tonsils via his fundemental back orifice with a so
called FTA).

Thirdly, and most important for us, they were realy helpful. A chap
called Allen Hutton at Arco took the time to talk through our needs as
two handed cruisers and gave us a couple of considered alternatives.
Reps from the other couple of winch companies we talked to just about
managed to read a price from a list.

I know nothing about electics - beyond our means - but would suggest
dropping Arco an email or giving them a call.

For what it's worth, my personal opinion. I hope it helps.

Best wishes

Peter

www.oceanodyssey.net
"Do not measure your life by the number of breaths you take,
Rather by the number of times life just takes your breath away"