7.3.3 SWL/Capacity

The maximum load that can be taken at the drum (first wrap of rope) is sometimes referred to as the line pull of the winch. However, the actual line pull will vary with the number of layers of rope wound onto the drum, i.e. as the number of layers increases so the line pull diminishes. For lifting applications, the SWL of a winch should be based on the line pull when the drum is full of rope or has all of the rope for that application fitted.