I have had my warn 3.0 under water several times even running it underwater a few times, never a problem with it. They are a lil more $ to get in the beginning BUT yo get what you pay for. The warn 3.0 IIRC is the only sealed winch out there. I have YET to even clean or touch my winch in the 2yrs Ive had it. The only thing I have EVER done was to pull off the steel cable and put on the plasma rope. THATS IT. Still works like new.