Bob,
I did see a note on one of my
charts, out further off the coast, where there is an unexploded depth charge. ;-> Seriously, I am sure a few old salts from that area are rolling their eyes and saying nobody sails there; they just motor down the channel out to good water. A more legitimate spot is between Harkers Island and Shackleford Banks if going the back way from Beaufort to Lookout. It's a motor boat ride in a crowded corridor, but if you draft only a couple of feet you would have a few options (some potential sailing lanes open to you).
My keel wench is in the cockpit, so it is feasible to mess with it while sailing. The instructions actually recommend pulling it part way up when reaching or almost all the way when running:
http://web.utk.edu/~pdf/newport/newp.../N17_MAN_2.gif
It is not specified as a "drop it and forget it" operation and they don't have a warning about cable stress except when trailering.