The National Science Foundation West Coast Winch Pool

Deep-sea traction winch
The West Coast Winch Pool's deep-sea traction winch in use aboard a UNOLS research vessel in 2012.

Contacts | Inventory | Sponsor

Scripps Institution of Oceanography maintains the National Science Foundation (NSF) West Coast Winch Pool for the benefit of U.S. ocean scientists. The winch pool is a shared-use facility that procures, maintains, upgrades, and makes available a variety of portable oceanographic winches that are used by scientists aboard a broad range of research vessels. Winches are shared following community-based scheduling methods administered by the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS).

The West Coast Winch Pool also serves as a ready source of technical assistance for UNOLS scientists and institutions.  We have a licensed engineering staff equipped with state-of-the art analysis tools, and we’re well versed in the design of oceanographic handling systems, as well as pertinent regulations such as UNOLS Safety Standards (including Appendix A and B).  Call on us to resolve your engineering issues.

The West Coast Winch Pool also manages the SIO Equipment Pool, another source of portable equipment available for short-term use.  The SIO pool includes winches, spooling equipment, portable cranes, and a variety of other gear.

Contacts

Heather Galiher  Winch Pool Manager 858.534.1643 hegaliher@ucsd.edu
Aaron Davis, PE Winch and Wire Engineer 858.246.0376 aed001@ucsd.edu

Inventory

Dynacon Traction Winch

Dynacon Traction Winch

Heavy-duty oceanographic winch for ROV and towed instrument deployment

Lebus Double-barrel Capstan

Lebus Double-barrel Capstan

Double-barrel capstan with fixed and swiveling capstans for ocean mooring deployments and recoveries

Hawboldt Mooring Winch

Hawboldt Mooring Winch

Portable general-purpose winch typically used for ocean mooring deployments and recoveries

Hawboldt Light-duty Winch
Hawboldt Light-duty Winch
Portable light-duty winch typically used for water sampling, net tows, array deployment.  Drum can accommodate mechanical cable, conducting cable, and soft lines.
Dynacon Mooring Spooler
Dynacon Mooring Spooler
Large capacity mooring spooler for deployment and recovery of instrument strings and tethers (not for anchor deployment and recovery)
TSE Mooring Spooler
TSE Mooring Spooler
Medium capacity mooring spooler for deployment and recovery of instrument strings and tethers (not for anchor deployment and recovery)
Markey Tensioning Spooler
Markey Tensioning Spooler
Custom-made equipment designed for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography for the purpose of tension spooling oceanographic wire rope and cable onto and off of seagoing vessels.  Handles wire rope and cable diameters ranging from 0.250 in. diameter to 0.681 in. diameter.

The West Coast Winch Pool is supported by National Science Foundation award OCE-1219328.