Electric winch failure prompts safety guidance for yachts
Alexandra
Accident overview and regulatory focus
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) found that the absence of a local isolation or emergency-stop for the yacht’s 24-volt direct current electric winches was a decisive factor in the fatality 2.8nm south‑south‑west of the Needles Lighthouse off the Isle of Wight. The casualty, Lyall Babington, aged 74, was living aboard the 57ft steel yacht Mollie and was pulled into an inboard aft winch drum after a control switch exhibited an intermittent defect.
Sequence of events
On 5 August 2025 Mollie departed West Wittering bound for Poole with four crew. While beating upwind in the Western Solent, the skipper directed the crew to hoist the storm jib using the halyard led aft to the pedestal-mounted electric winches controlled by a switch typically operated from the cockpit. Earlier that day the same winch had been used to hoist the tender and the hoist line remained wrapped around the drum.
When the skipper moved to clear the hoist line the winch unexpectedly activated due to an intermittent switch defect and trapped his hand. The winch continued to turn, drawing the rope and the skipper’s body against and then around the drum. The crew attempted to stop the winch with the control button; after several tries it stopped and a Mayday was issued. Rescue helicopter R175 and Yarmouth RNLI attended. RNLI volunteers later reported the winch activated again without warning, releasing the skipper; cardiopulmonary resuscitation was attempted but he was later pronounced dead.
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MAIB conclusions and technical findings
- Primary cause: Entrapment by rope on the rotating winch drum, most likely initiated by the right hand.
- Winch defect: The inboard aft winch had a known intermittent fault in its control switch that could allow the winch to continue running after release of the control.
- Power isolation: No local emergency stop was fitted to the aft winches and there was no means to isolate the winches from the vessel’s 24V DC power system except by turning off batteries in the forward cabin.
- Installation source: The powered winch had likely been installed by a small boatyard, suggesting variable installation standards and limited documentation for retrofits.
Key engineering and human-factors issues
Investigation highlighted two complementary risks: the mechanical hazard of moving drums and lines, and the electrical/control hazard where a failure mode leaves the actuator powered. The lack of an easily accessible local emergency-stop or power isolator at the winch pedestal increased response time and complicates crew intervention under stress. Crew unfamiliarity with intermittent faults and the residual hazard of lines left on drums also increased the likelihood of entanglement.
Practical safety recommendations for owners and charter operators
Owners, yards and charter operators should treat powered winches as a single safety system consisting of drum, control switch, pedestal, and power source. Reducing risk requires both hardware modifications and consistent crew procedures.
Immediate actions to implement
- Install a clearly labelled local emergency-stop at each powered winch pedestal.
- Provide an isolated, accessible method to cut the 24V DC supply to winches without entering forward compartments.
- Document and rectify any intermittent switch behaviour; replace switches showing intermittent operation.
- Ensure routine pre-departure checks include removal of unnecessary lines from winch drums and verification of winch controls.
- Instruct all crew on emergency isolation procedures, including who can operate battery isolators if needed.
Retrofitting and maintenance guidance
Small boatyards frequently perform retrofits; owners should demand documentation and electrical schematics. Consider installing mechanical line stoppers, remote kill switches, and redundant control logic where possible. Regular maintenance schedules and load testing reduce the probability of latent switch failure.
| Item | Check |
|---|---|
| Winch control operation | Operate all winch controls under load and release; confirm no continued rotation |
| Lines on drum | No unrelated lines left wrapped; halyards cleared |
| Emergency stop | Local stop fitted and operational |
| Power isolation | 24V DC isolation accessible without entering insecure compartments |
| Crew briefing | All crew briefed on winch hazards and emergency procedures |
Implications for charterers, renters and the leisure market
For those hiring boats for day trips or extended charters, powered deck machinery safety is a non‑negotiable check. Charter operators must ensure that safety-critical equipment is properly installed, tested, and that documentation is available. Renters should request a brief equipment and emergency briefing before departure, and verify that pedestal switches, emergency stops, and battery isolators are present and explained.
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Highlights and experience
The incident underlines important themes: mechanical hazards around winches, the hidden risk of intermittent electrical faults, and the need for clear isolation methods. Experiencing a new location is always a multifaceted process — you learn about the culture, nature, the indescribable palette of local colors, its rhythm of life and also the unique aspects of the service. If you are planning your next trip to the sea, you should definitely consider renting a boat (boat rentals, rent a boat, rent a yacht), as each inlet, bay, and lagoon is unique and tells you about the region just as much as the local cuisine, architecture, and language GetBoat.com
Planning your next voyage: what to do now
Option 3 (Focus on Planning): The direct global tourism impact of this single incident is minimal, but its safety lessons are highly relevant across yachting communities. It's important because vessel safety expectations shape charter standards and guest confidence. Start planning your next seaside adventure and make sure to book the best boat and yacht rentals with GetBoat before the opportunity sails away!
Summary and final thoughts
The MAIB report into the fatal entanglement on Mollie highlights a clear combination of equipment fault and insufficient local isolation for electric winches. Owners and charterers should prioritise installation of emergency-stop mechanisms, accessible 24V DC isolators, robust maintenance of control switches, and thorough crew briefings. These pragmatic steps reduce the chance of entanglement incidents and improve overall vessel safety for owners, captains and guests.
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