Cordem winch

[Ed Tanzer]

I wanted to take the dingy down today, and knew I had a problem when the remote switch box had water dripping out !! It would run in the "up" position but not the "down" position....removed the cover and saw lots of cruddy connections.....so, question; the manufacturer has a newer version, but the price is $380+ ???? Does anybody have a working remote.???
thanks, ed
JJFLYGIRL
Lighthouse Point Fl

 

[MikeP]

Good chance it only needs cleaning. Open the remote and "hose it down" internally with Corrosion X. It works great for such issues. Give it a try before buying a new one.

 

[GJH]

I had the same thing happen to my ancient control. After effing around with it for awhile I decided it was it was just too far gone so I bought the new one. Much nicer and robust compared to the old one. You get whole new control circuitry in its own box as well as just the switch. Now if you drop the switch you are not shaking up the braking circuit board. It is also better protected from the elements. It is not quite as simple as the old two button models, I think as a means of protecting the motor a little more. Overall, a very nice upgrade IMO. But you should go through your old one as thoroughly as you can, sometimes it is one simple thing.

 

[Angela]

We just went through exactly this last weekend. Mario and Ed tried to salvage and clean up the control which was replaced just 2-3 years ago. It was so far gone that it just fell apart into dust and chunks in their fingertips, and the guys tossed it. Ed spoke to Cordem/Golo and gave us some options. First, we can buy a new one that is exactly like the old one (yeah, that's what we did 2-3 years ago). We can also get a quick disconnect so that the controller is not left outside anywhere - we can disconnect it and store it inside the boat which will make it last longer. Water always finds its way into that box on the davit. Second, we could go to the "push button" style control, but we would have to also replace the "brains" of the control box with one that has a circuit board in it. Cordem/Golo did not recommend that for a box that is located in an outdoor environment.

Result is that there was not a good answer to this problem. So, it looks like we'll keep buying those controllers every so often, but this time, I'm getting the quick disconnect, that is, assuming I have enough clearance to turn the davit - that thing adds about 4" to the box.

 

[Ed Tanzer]

Thanks for all the info....Tomorrow I will remove the entire controller and remote from the winch...looks like I will need to disconnect the wires from the motor....then see how 'deep" i can get into the switch, and if all else fails bite the bullet and get the new improved version.....BUT, will take a ride down to sailorman 1st....
ed

 

[Angela]

Thanks for all the info....Tomorrow I will remove the entire controller and remote from the winch...looks like I will need to disconnect the wires from the motor....then see how 'deep" i can get into the switch, and if all else fails bite the bullet and get the new improved version.....BUT, will take a ride down to sailorman 1st....
ed

Be very careful taking it apart and perhaps take photos so you know how it goes back together. It's like a wedding cake in there, layer after layer all wired together, and can become a "jack-in-the-box" when you start pulling it out. There are springs in there that are usually rusted/corroded beyond salvage. For the second time, ours just crumbled in our hands.

 

[MikeP]

First don't take any part of the switch apart - just spray the Corrosion X in there!

 

[GJH]

We just went through exactly this last weekend. Mario and Ed tried to salvage and clean up the control which was replaced just 2-3 years ago. It was so far gone that it just fell apart into dust and chunks in their fingertips, and the guys tossed it. Ed spoke to Cordem/Golo and gave us some options. First, we can buy a new one that is exactly like the old one (yeah, that's what we did 2-3 years ago). We can also get a quick disconnect so that the controller is not left outside anywhere - we can disconnect it and store it inside the boat which will make it last longer. Water always finds its way into that box on the davit. Second, we could go to the "push button" style control, but we would have to also replace the "brains" of the control box with one that has a circuit board in it. Cordem/Golo did not recommend that for a box that is located in an outdoor environment.

Result is that there was not a good answer to this problem. So, it looks like we'll keep buying those controllers every so often, but this time, I'm getting the quick disconnect, that is, assuming I have enough clearance to turn the davit - that thing adds about 4" to the box.

That's interesting. Mine is over two years old now. I keep the switch wrapped up in a water proof bag. The controller box is in turn covered by a fiberglass removable box that attaches to the davit. Everything is as good as new. To Mike's point, proactively spraying a little Corrosion X into the box is probably a good idea. I took mine apart a month or so ago trying to diagnose a problem that proved to be in the winch mechanism itself. The box innards looked brand new. I sent the whole thing, motor, winch controls back to Cordem who did a re-build, they pronounced the motor and controls in good health as well. They ended up just having to work on the gear box and related mechanical pieces. I was tripping the breaker raising the Whaler and was sure it was something electrical.. shows what I know. Works great now.

 

[Angela]

Mine is set up like yours, but I still get water in there. I used to keep the thing in a plastic bag, too, until I found the bag full of water one time which is when we replaced the switch last time. I just can’t get anything to be waterPROOF in there. I even position the switch in there so that water runs down/out of it rather than it laying in there on its side where water can get trapped in there. I suppose I could make some canvas for it (or a tent for the whole boat), but it seems to me that the only sure-fire way of keeping water out of that “wedding cake” of a control switch is to now replace it again and this time with a quick disconnect (a somewhat new feature from Cordem), which is about $250 in addition to the new switch, and keeping the switch inside the boat. That thing is a love-hate relationship.

 

[GJH]

Mine is set up like yours, but I still get water in there. I used to keep the thing in a plastic bag, too, until I found the bag full of water one time which is when we replaced the switch last time. I just can’t get anything to be waterPROOF in there. I even position the switch in there so that water runs down/out of it rather than it laying in there on its side where water can get trapped in there. I suppose I could make some canvas for it (or a tent for the whole boat), but it seems to me that the only sure-fire way of keeping water out of that “wedding cake” of a control switch is to now replace it again and this time with a quick disconnect (a somewhat new feature from Cordem), which is about $250 in addition to the new switch, and keeping the switch inside the boat. That thing is a love-hate relationship.

I use a bag made by Calcutta to protect fishing reels. Then strap it to a railing. Has done the job through some real deluges coupled with high winds. A dry bag secured to cord with heavy duty rubber bands would likely do as well or better, but I got the reel bag for free and it is padded a bit.