I'd say that using it completely submerged would not be advisable. Warn says about the 9.5ti:
"RESISTS WATER: Extreme duty winch sealing system enables superior water resistance and features full-face contact drum seals, motor and end housing gaskets."
and...
"The new shape not only looks great, but sheds the elements like no other winch on the market: seals at the key points give extreme-duty water resistance."
These statements do not lead me to believe that I can use my winch UNDERWATER. Water resistance is not the same as water-proof? I discovered this factoid long ago when I went skuba diving for the first time.
If you are stuck and have no other choice --- you might decide to throw caution to the wind and try it --- but, the better way to recover your submerged H2 would be to use another vehicle's winch that isn't in the drink.
I'm not sure exactly, but I seem to remember that the maximum depth you are supposed to subject the H2 to is around 20 inches? My 9.5ti sits about 24 inches high... So, unless I have sunk it beyond the recommended depth --- the winch will work fine.
Notice in this picture that it is NOT actually
below water:
Of course, YMMV...
