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Hi my name is Dean Forster, the mastermind behind the development of the Stress Free Anchor Winch.
12 years ago, I decided to leave secured employment as an engineer and turn my lifelong enthusiasm for fishing into a business where I could transfer my knowledge and passion for angling to other people. I designed and built a 9 metre craft to survey over a period of 9 months. The craft was fitted out with modern conveniences and the latest electronic devices. In fact, the boat had everything that one could possibly want, with the exception of an electric winch.
The boat had to have an electric winch, there was just no compromise. I researched the market for potential products. I wanted a product that was unobtrusive, out of site, fast, reliable and low maintenance. I was unable to find a winch that met all of the key criteria so I decided to put on my engineer's hat and design my own. The research process including consumer feedback identified that the traditional gypsy type winch was not ideal for trailer boats due to the minimal fall in the anchor well, causing the rope to twist and jam on retrieval causing the winch to malfunction.
My concept was to develop a user friendly product with a drum where the rope and chain spooled on and off. This design would eliminate the risk of malfunction inherent of the traditional type winch. |
Dean with his son, Jay and wife, Shauna
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A prototype was constructed and trialled on Stress Relief 11, our craft used for chartering. As a charter operator we fish many grounds in a day, so the winch was certainly given a workout. I soon realised that I was able to pull up anchor and shift quickly to the next ground whilst the boaties around me were still thinking about moving off. Boaties started to show interest and asked where they could buy one. We started making to order from our domestic shed but within 5 years, found we could not keep up with the demand and moved into dedicated premises where we could start producing in bulk.
The visible difference of the Stress Free to well known brands initially got the sceptics talking and challenged the market; however, through word of mouth, increased presence on the water, targeted advertising and now some years on the proven reliability has got boaties and the industry taking notice.
Through years of research and development, the Stress Free has been refined, improved and modified so that we have the best product that we can possibly have on the market. The process of refinement is evolutionary and will continue to ensure we have a product that meets the needs and expectations of our customers. |
The winch has been built out of the highest quality materials. The motor and gearbox are built to industrial grade and designed to work 24 hours per day. The Stress Free is a completely sealed, fully waterproofed unit fitted with grease impregnated bearing brushes to eliminate the need for servicing or routine maintenance. Every aspect of the winch making process has been mapped. Flaws or possible faults have been identified and fixed and we now have a product that is robust and produced to the same quality every time.
The reliability of the Stress Free Anchor Winch is backed up with a 36 month warranty to recreational users and 12 months to professional fisherman and/or charter operators. Warranty does not apply to wiring Looms, rope kits, anchor swivels and rope and chain guides.
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Customers are told –‘just use it and enjoy’. Hence the name ‘Stress Free’, we believe the brand says it all. We hear so often ‘my mate has one, loves it and I just have to have one too’. So this is where it all started, the Stress Free Anchor Winch – the first and the original drum winch was born 12 years ago.
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