My buddy is completely hooked on gliders and is now flying in the Eastern Soaring League. Smart guy, yes?

So now he wants a winch so he can practice and really push those new Supras to the moon.

He lives in Rhode Island but will be at the ESL contest in Birdsboro PA in 2 weeks. So a possible pick-up along that route could probably be worked out.

Anyone got a winch for sale where we might be able to match up between pilot with seller to avoid shipping these heavy things?

A PM would be great! If things make sense I will match you guys up!

(match maker, match maker, make me a match, find me a winch so I can launch high! Let's get my glider up high in the sky, so find me a winch tonight!)

Ed

Wait a minute. He can do a nice job building a SGP, but he doesn't want to make his own winch? Wood winch frames are the way to go, since they come out light, and he's very good with wood. Aren't we just talking about a drum, a pulley for the turnaround, two really good solenoids, and possibly a motor? Or are there now two ESL guys from RI?

Come to think of it, one could probably make a very sturdy drum from wood, fiberglass, and epoxy.

My first winch was made of a cut off rolling pin , 3/4" plywood sides, ( not circles but hex sided ) . It was bolted together with some kinda' lag bolts. The starter motor shaft had a spliced on shaft extension and it was all held down to a plywood base with plumbers tape. (The 1" stuff with all the holes punched in it ) . After 25 years I gave it away I bought a new Superskeg winch. The old one still lives and pulls reliably every weekend.
Any questions ?

This won't help you because i live on the left coast and there are time constraints for your event.

That said and for future considereation, I have a "Little Big Winch" that works fine, costs a lot (to me anyway).

basically the LBW is the pro version of this but the home brew winch is probably 1/4th the price

Or the human powered kind of winch...

Originally Posted by aeajr

Anyone got a winch for sale where we might be able to match up between pilot with seller to avoid shipping these heavy things?
Ed

ask and you will receive -

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1741996

I recently bought a kit from Comet Winches. It is great.

http://www.mgertech.com/COMET-WINCHES.htm

Alan

Might as well chime in here with the OneWinch.

A full system weighs 5 pounds and offers a variety of ratios to match puller's power to wind and plane size. We launch planes from 10 to 80 ounces with no equipment changes.

Tim

Tim,
He's already got one.

Dennis

Thanks, Dennis.

I think you're saying that aeajr has a OneWinch. And even if his friend who is looking does not, I'm sure he's told him about it.

In any case, as I saw several alternative approaches being mentioned I decided to bring it up for others who might be looking for a launcher and may read the thread.

Regards,
Tim

Little Big Winch and One Winch are very nice, but they're not very much like what's used in contests and they won't zoom as hard. Hmm...One Winch and a horse? Still not much like contest winch.

Take a Fiat 500, jack up one front wheel and replace with empty wheel with winch line. Still not like a contest winch but surely powerful enough.

I don't understand why those guys are using hand cranks instead of pedaling that human powered winch.

Ha Ha,
Believe me, I've thought of several alternative power sources for the OneWinch, but you're on your own to try them. All you need is steady pressure, not high speed.

We have a Lab Rotweiler mix that has some power...

Ed,

Did he ever get a winch???

Frank

Still looking as far as I know, but he has the link to this thread.

yes I have a OneWinch but it won't work for his purpose. He is looking for the same kind of launch he gets off the Eastern Soaring League winches which are high power FLS winches.

Must be able to break 200 or 300 lb test line on zoom! ;-p

I've got one. Rahm, works great, pedal, turn around, too. Hook up your battery and you're ready to go. Can meet him half way. Have him pm me.