CHECK THE WINCH 
The hand lever on the winch serves as both brake 
and clutch. It has three positions: (1) When it is 
vertical, the winch is in neutral and can turn in either 
direction. (2) When it is pulled inboard to the en- 
gaged position, the motor turns the drum in such a 
way that the wire is wound onto the drum. (3) When 
the lever is pushed outboard to the braking position, 
the brake is set, and the drum cannot rotate. 
With the winch lever in neutral, turn on the motor 
for a moment to make sure that power is available. 
The shaft bearings should be well lubricated, and 
the drum should turn easily by hand. 
The winch installation should be such that the wire 
comes across the top of the drum. The hand lever 
NEUTRAL 
BRAKE 
should move toward the operator to engage the 
motor, and away from the operator to set the brake. 
Check these operating positions to make sure that 
the installation is correct and that the drum revolves 
freely in neutral. 
PUT THE BT OVER THE SIDE 
When permission has been obtained from the Officer 
of the Deck, pick up the BT, pull the sleeve down 
over the slide holder, and set the winch lever in 
neutral. With one hand, hold the BT at the rail, and 
with the other take up the slack wire, turning the 
winch drum by hand. When all slack is retrieved, 
set the brake. Set the counter at zero. 
DROP THE BT INTO THE WATER 
Turn on the winch motor, so that power is instantly 
available for the rest of the operation. Lower the BT 
into the water to such a depth that it rides smoothly, 
just below the surface. Put on the brake and hold 
the BT there for 30 seconds to enable the thermal 
element to come to the temperature of the surface 
water. 
LOWER THE BT 
Move the lever to the neutral position and allow the 
wire to pay out freely. Success in reaching the maxi- 
mum depth with the BT depends primarily on two 
factors: having the winch-drum and towing-sheave 
