I was wrong to trust Italians (winch was manufactured and shipped from Italy) with their metals and sea water knowledge.
Only rust flakes alarmed me that something is wrong with $2.5k purchase.
Vertical winch will not "drop rust flakes", so you will not be alarmed.
Please remove drum(s) on your Quick winch and check if circlip on shaft is carbon or stainless (pref 316 non magnetic).

Reminds me of the three Alfa GTVs I had. Looked nice, burnt rubber, but started rusting and falling to bits after a year. Thanks for mentionng twohulls, my foredeck crew have suggested we get an anchor winch and Ive been wondering whats around.

i have a sized one sitting in my office i replaced off a government boat 5 years old regular use and maintenance not a good add

Thanks for the heads-up Twohull. Those photos are shocking really.

But then I recently poked around an outboard engine by Yamaha, and the factory had used non-stainless washers and nuts on stainless bolts around the area that clamps the engine to the transom. What did Yamaha think will happen to plain steel fasteners on a sea-going outboard?
Similar issues on a Tohatsu - non-stainless fasteners welded together by rust. Factory saves a few cents on a 2k engine.

I suppose if you bought a winch from a local Whitworths and part of it rusts, you can go back, put it on the counter and ask for redress. Being boaters, you'd think they will accept and deal with it - but then, you don't just want a replacement that will soon show the same signs.