I thought I would create a new thread rather than burying this in "A New Rig For Leeway".  After reading Arne's article on the WinchRite, I thought a powered winch handle could be a very useful thing.  Using a Dewalt Angle Drill and a winch bit I think I have something workable.  I think the WinchRite is likely a better and more powerful tool.  However, it took under $100CAN to put together a used Dewalt Drill and a winch bit.  There are lots of used 12V tools around with dead batteries, with a bit of patience it shouldn't be hard to find an old angle drill for next to nothing that can be converted to run of the boats 12V power.

Arne Kverneland wrote:

Now I checked some of those Dewalt angle drills. Their torque does not impress me, compared to the Winchrite’s 130Nm (1150inlb or 96ftlb). However, the torque needed on a 3-5 part halyard is not big, but it depends on the size of the winch drum or if it has several gears.

I tested the 12V Dewalt 965 angle drill with "The Cranker" winch bit.  I don't have masts or sails on the boat right now, so I simulated with a 240lb (108kg) bucket of lead with a 3 part halyard.  I don't think the drill would be useful as it comes, the batteries would not be up to much more than raising my 50m² sail once or twice.  However, I adapted my drill to run directly off the house batteries through a 12V accessory port at the helm.  Like this, the power doesn't sag with use and the drill seems happy enough to run continuously, although it is warm when done the equivalent of raising my two sails.  The drill only works when its mechanical gear switch is switched to the more powerful low gear.  Coupled with a Barient 28 winch (power ratio 38:1 with a 10" winch handle) and using the more powerful gear on the winch, it hauls in line at one foot per second with the 240lb load.

The Dewalt drill is definitely a second best solution, but compared to the cost of an electric winch, or even the WinchRite, it might be useful to some.  It does have the advantage of running off the house batteries so it is unlikely to run out of power and doesn't need charging.