Fishing and Gear Technology

Unit 13 - Purse seine design

12.11.Deck Equipment

12.11.2.Winches
Different types of winches are used. They may be placed fore and aft direction or athwart ship depending on the requirements. They are commonly used in trawlers, purse seiners and Danish seiner for releasing and hauling purpose.

Trawl winch can be single drum split type, two drum on one shaft or two or more drums on parallel shaft. The last type is most suitable for double rig trawling and purse seining. A winch may or many not have warping heads. Warping heads are used for auxiliary hauling requirements such as hauling of sweep lines, wings and split winches are common in large trawlers.

Winch can be driven either mechanically, electrically or hydraulically usually mechanical drive is preferred in smaller vessels. Power take – offs are used to take the power from the main engine to drive the winch. It is simple, easy to maintain and less expensive. Electrical drive is confined to large vessels. Hydraulic drive is popular in only larger vessels.