"Steve Hill" wrote in message
...

How much does a really nice Winch cost?? And where do you buy one, and how
much real estate do you need to get a 1500 ft agl launch??


I'd really like to see what the actual costs are for a club to purchase a
good winch.



Steve.

Used Tost winches are going for $3500 in Germany. I have no idea what the
shipping would be.

4000 feet of runway will get you 1500 feet AGL. With lightweight synthetic
cable and a little wind, you can get higher. More runway will get you still
higher.

If you do a spreadsheet of costs and revenue, you find that even an
expensive winch pays for itself in a very short time. Thereafter, it is a
"money printing machine" that will fund a new glider every year or so.
Figure a cost of $2 per launch and charge $6 to $10.

There's a lot of good information at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/winchdesign/

Bill Daniels