Using Worm Gear Winch Versus Brake Winch for Hoisting Small Dinghy

Question:

I have a boat davit in need of a winch. The maximum load I will ever lift is about 300 to 500 pounds a small dingy with small outboard motor but most times I will be just lifting a kayak. The worm gear design appeals to me if the following features are built into the winch: 1. Can I use a 18 V battery drill to raise and lower the load or do I need to use an AC powered, heavy duty drill? 2. How resistant to salt water are worm gear winches? The brake winches seem to be at least galvanized 3. Can I use synthetic rope instead of wire rope? 4. It would seem that a single, solid gear vice 3 thinner, laminated gears would be more durable - true?

asked by: Vance T

Helpful Expert Reply:

If you are wanting to use a drill to ease operation of the winch, the Dutton-Lainson # DL11011 would be a much better choice. This winch is specifically designed so that the handle is easily removable for use with a drill. Using the shaft directly connected to the drill chuck is not recommended, but the input shaft has a hexagonal cross-section, that can be used with a 5/8 inch socket or driver attached to a drill.

Keep in mind that the 1500 lb capacity for the jack is based on having one layer of cable wrapped around the spool. As each additional layer of cable is wrapped around the spool, the capacity is diminished by 10 percent as the thicker the line on the spool gets, the gear ratio changes and the winch has to work harder.

The body and gears of the jack are powder-coated steel, which offers very good corrosion resistance as long as the finish is cared for. The handle and drive gear assembly is zinc plated steel, which also offers good corrosion resistance. This being said, nothing constructed of steel, regardless of the plating, will last forever in a salt-water environment.

Typically, this winch should only be used with steel cable, but since the winching distance is short and you are very far below the capacity, synthetic rope could be used, but you might have difficulty attaching the rope to the spool of the winch, since the holes that the rope would pass through are about 3/8 of an inch in diameter. I have provided a diagram showing how the rope should be attached to the winch spool.

Given your application, I would expect that the laminated gear featured in the # DL11011 would be just as strong as a solid, one piece gear.

expert reply by: Mike L