I hate to sound like an old fart (I'm not 40 yet...) but I've been using downriggers on at least fifty trips a year for the past 17 seasons. In all that time I have never (knock on wood) had an electric fail. I'm sure someone out there has but I have done my maintenance homework and have been fortunate. Scotty electrics have a manual crank handle for use in emergencys and are the best electric available as well as the least expensive! Good Luck!