A removable winch handle assembly for engaging a winch gear within a gearbox comprises: a handle receiver having at least a portion thereof exposed outside the gearbox, a seal between the handle receiver and the gear box, an engagement mechanism in the gearbox, the engagement mechanism coupled to the handle receiver to rotate with the handle receiver, wherein rotation of the engagement mechanism engages the winch gear, and a winch handle selectively coupled to the handle receiver, wherein, rotation of the winch handle causes rotation of the handle receiver when attached, the winch handle detachable from the handle receiver, wherein the gearbox opening is sealed by the seal when the winch handle is detached from the handle receiver.

An actuating device is provided for a manually actuatable winch for operating a line. A first end of an actuating lever is configured for interaction with the winch, and the actuating lever is substantially elongate. A line deflection element is mounted on the actuating lever at a predeterminable distance from the first end of the actuating lever. Here, the actuating lever is connected to a resetting device by means of which a predeterminable force is exerted in a predeterminable direction on the actuating lever. A winch may be provided with the actuating device interconnected therewith.

A removable winch handle assembly for engaging a winch gear within a gearbox comprises: a handle receiver having at least a portion thereof exposed outside the gearbox, a seal between the handle receiver and the gear box, an engagement mechanism in the gearbox, the engagement mechanism coupled to the handle receiver to rotate with the handle receiver, wherein rotation of the engagement mechanism engages the winch gear, and a winch handle selectively coupled to the handle receiver, wherein, rotation of the winch handle causes rotation of the handle receiver when attached, the winch handle detachable from the handle receiver, wherein the gearbox opening is sealed by the seal when the winch handle is detached from the handle receiver.

A winch handle (10, 20) locking system comprising a winch handle (10, 20) with a bit (11, 22) adapted to mate with a socket (11, 12) in a winch (10). The bit (11, 22) employs a first magnetic member, a magnet guide (23), interacting with a second magnetic element, a permanent magnet (12), inside the socket (11, 12). The magnet is fixed to the winch (10) at a position allowing the winch handle bit (22) to mate with the socket (11, 12) and securing a desired attraction force between the winch (10) and the winch handle (10, 20). Furthermore, a magnetic sensor (25) is placed at the magnet guide (23) in the bit (11, 22) and sends a trigger signal to electronics in the winch handle (10, 20) when the bit (11, 22) is fully mated into the socket (11, 12). An NFC antenna (24) in the bit (11, 22) is tuned to pick up a unique signal from an NFC tag (14) inside the socket (11, 12) of the winch (10) to allow the electronics in the winch handle (10, 20) to uniquely control a motor connected to the winch (10).