What is the function of limit switch in life boat davit system?

The limit switch serves to cut power to the davit winch motor before the davit arms reach the hard stops. 46CFR states that the limit switch must be wired into either the control circuit or the power circuit and stop the arms a minimum of 12 inches before hard contact will occur. If the davit winch motor were to pull the arms all the way to the hard stops, catastrophic damage could occur to either the motor, the gear box, or the wire ropes.