On Thu, 26 Oct 2006 20:54:27 -0700, Evan Gatehouse2
wrote:

Just make sure it has a guard. Electric winches can rip a sail pretty
fast if they start turning by accident.

Yes. I prefer to take two or three wraps on a non-electric sheet
winch and then lead the line to the electric winch only when needed
for trimming. That has the secondary advantages of leaving the
electric open for some other purpose if needed, and no harm done if
accidently activated.