• Use a Fail Safe Device to prevent damage in the event of glitching or battery failure.
• Never connect the battery to the Rx with the winch plugged in as well. Battery should ONLY go to the winch. Change large plug to suit your setup. Watch polarity. The switch can be removed, red and black wire soldered together and heat shrink applied if you prefer to plug on and off.
• When setting up, always position the Tx stick in the middle so when the winch is powered on, it does not stall at one end. The adjusting screw is VERY precise and does NOT rotate 360 deg. Clockwise increases throw. Start with the minimum turns and gradually increase throw, checking both the close-hauled, and running position including trim lever, the splined output shaft enables this to be done very precisely. On a One Metre boat, arrange fairlead on Main about 195 mm from gooseneck and 210mm from Jib swivel. This will give about 3.5 turns on winch. Finally don't forget to tape up the adjusting screw when you have finished.
• When close hauled, the main boom MUST be held down by the Kicking strap or vang. Control the leech shape and twist with the kicking strap not the winch!! On a Marblehead 'A' swing rig employing a 'Gizmo control', ensure that the winch is not stalled when fully close hauled. Adjust boom angle with beads on mainsheet.
• When changing rigs, make sure you check the winch throw, adjusting the rig to match the No 1 rig setup.

NEVER LEAVE YOUR BOAT SWITCHED ON, WITHOUT THE TRANSMITTER BEING ON. INTERFERENCE FROM OTHER Tx's COULD CAUSE THE WINCH TO STALL AT ONE END OF ITS TRAVEL AND BURN OUT THE MOTOR AND AMPLIFIER.

The Futaba 5801 winch has a superb performance and thousands are being used World Wide. Look after it and you will get power, resolution and speed to enjoy your Racing.

Happy Sailing,
Ken Binks

• email Ken
• FUTABA
• WINCH FAIL SAFE UNIT