Paragraph 10

In the case of davits other than mechanically controlled single-arm davits, winch drums shall be arranged to keep the two falls separate and to enable them to pay out at the same rate. The leads of the wire ropes shall be such that they will wind evenly on the drums and lead blocks shall be arranged to give a fleet angle or angle of lead of not more than five degrees for grooved drums and three degrees for ungrooved drums. In the case of mechanically controlled single-arm davits the lead of the wire rope fall shall be such that the fall winds evenly on the drum.

Winch brakes shall be of robust construction and afford complete control and limitation of speed in the operation of lowering. The hand brake shall be so arranged that it is normally in the “ON” position and returns to the “ON” position when the control handle is not being operated. The weight on the brake lever shall be sufficient to operate the brake effectively without additional pressure. The brake gear shall include means for automatically controlling the speed of lowering to ensure that the lifeboat, Class C boat or other boat is lowered expeditiously without exceeding a rate of lowering consistent with safety. For this purpose, the automatic brake shall be set to give a speed of lowering of the lifeboat of between 18 and 36 metres per minute. Ratchet gear shall be incorporated in the hand brake mechanism of lifeboat winches. Where practicable the brake gear shall be so situated as to enable the man operating the winch to have the lifeboat, Class C boat or other boat under observation during the whole process of its being launched into the water, provided that winches serving emergency lifeboats shall in any case be so placed.

Each winch shall be capable of lowering and holding a test load of 1·5 times the working load as defined in paragraph (c) of Part I of this Schedule.

Winches shall be so constructed that the crank handle or handles are not rotated by moving parts of the winch when the lifeboat, Class C boat or other boat is being lowered or when it is being hoisted by power, and provision shall be made to allow the falls to be manually unwound.