GM wrote:

Many folks in the club I recently left in NE Ohio where dead set
against any kind of ground launching for they had heard how dangerous

Frankly, winch launching *is* dangerous if don't have the required
knowledge and aren't dead serious about it. But that's nothing new in
aviation.

it is and that you can not soar away out of a winch launch.

This depends on your location.

If you think of introducing winch operation at your site, then I suggest
you take the following steps.

1. Answer the following questions: How long will the cable be? How much
height can be achieved with this cable lenghth? Is this enough to get
away? (Always, sometimes, rarely).

2. Is a winch operation feasable at your site at all? (It mixes poorely
with scheduled Airliers.)

3. Calculate the cost.

4. Two or three pilots go somewhere where they have a winch operation.
Try it. Talk to them.

5. Best would be if you could hire a winch for a weekend at your place.
Together with the winch operator, of course, and a flight instructor.
Maybe obsolete if step 4 includes enough pilots.

6. Based on that experience, decide.

7. Most important: If you decide pro winch, get proper istruction, or
you *will* have fatalities. (Not panicking, I love winch launches. But
they *are* serious.)

Stefan