Electric Boat Winch

[Rico]

Any one out there have any opinions on electric as to manual winches?

EDIT: Soliciting is not allowed. JB

 

[fishntoss]

Re: Electric Boat Winch

My opinion... One is work the other not so much....Wouldn't mind having one if I had the money.

 

[JoeCrow]

Re: Electric Boat Winch

For me,
cranking the winch to pull in my 20' Bayliner is usually no big deal
But when the tide is out and the ramp is high,
I'd give anything to have an electric
then again, I have bunk boards

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Electric Boat Winch

I prefer a manual winch on most smaller boats. The only way I'd want an electric winch is if the boat was really huge, over 28' or so or over 5,000 lbs.
My biggest problem with an electric winch is that the tow vehicle must be wired to work with that winch or trailer. If a buddy tows the boat that day he may not be able to work the winch. The same goes for having more than one tow vehicle, each one will need wiring for the winch.

 

[arks]

Re: Electric Boat Winch

I prefer a manual winch on most smaller boats. The only way I'd want an electric winch is if the boat was really huge, over 28' or so or over 5,000 lbs.
My biggest problem with an electric winch is that the tow vehicle must be wired to work with that winch or trailer.

I feel the same. I've owned many trailer boats (up to 23' long) and never ONCE thought "Gee, I wish we had a power winch". For my larger boats I used a 2 speed winch- it made a big difference!
IMHO it's just another expensive item that can break.

 

[Scorpion 210 LTD]

Re: Electric Boat Winch

I prefer a manual winch on most smaller boats. The only way I'd want an electric winch is if the boat was really huge, over 28' or so or over 5,000 lbs.
My biggest problem with an electric winch is that the tow vehicle must be wired to work with that winch or trailer. If a buddy tows the boat that day he may not be able to work the winch. The same goes for having more than one tow vehicle, each one will need wiring for the winch.

My used trailer and boat trailer came with an electric winch- I have grown to love it. I had the same reservations about the wiring so instead I mounted a battery box on the trailer itself, threw a decent battery in there. I just charge it 2-3 times a year.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Electric Boat Winch

i have found electric winches extremely slow, holds up the ramp. a 2 or 3 speed manual is less money and does almost the same thing, with larger boats. you can also use a strap, rather than that aggravating cable.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Electric Boat Winch

Don't forget that manual winches come in different ratios. So if your boat seems heavy when cranking the winch, count the teeth on the gears and look for a winch with a bigger ratio. It will make cranking that much easier, and avoid the whole electric wiring/corrosion issue.

 

[leoo24]

Re: Electric Boat Winch

My used trailer and boat trailer came with an electric winch- I have grown to love it. I had the same reservations about the wiring so instead I mounted a battery box on the trailer itself, threw a decent battery in there. I just charge it 2-3 times a year.

same here, except i have the battery in the car boot, juts open the door and hook it up. Has an 8m control cable too so i can be at the back of the boat in the water whilst still winching it in, makes loading a big boat solo a doddle

 

[AZMinyard]

Re: Electric Boat Winch

. . . car boot . . . 8m control cable . . . doddle

Yer not from around these parts, are ya?

 

[JB]

Re: Electric Boat Winch

Yer not from around these parts, are ya?

And you're not from around those parts.

The older and feebler I get the more attractive an electric winch sounds.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Electric Boat Winch

My biggest problem with an electric winch is that the tow vehicle must be wired to work with that winch or trailer. If a buddy tows the boat that day he may not be able to work the winch. The same goes for having more than one tow vehicle, each one will need wiring for the winch.

I get around this problem by using a jump box. 4200 lb winch on a 5200 lb boat, no problems at all......except for the day I left the jump box at home. I had to winch the boat on the trailer by hand using the auxiliary crank. My shoulder hurt for a week after that.

 

[109jb]

Re: Electric Boat Winch

I guess for me it would depend on the boat. I have a 16' Sea Ray, and a 16' Starcraft, so I never even considered one. If I had a bigger boat I might have to think about it. The only benefit I can see for the boats I have now is it would save me from having to balance on the tongue of the trailer to winch the boat up when retrieving at some ramps.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Electric Boat Winch

Manual winch for me. Less to go wrong yet still really easy to use. Get a ratio that suits your needs and all will be well.

 

[leoo24]

Re: Electric Boat Winch

Yer not from around these parts, are ya?

hehe, nope UK

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Electric Boat Winch

hehe, nope UK

Where in U.K. ???
I am originally from Liverpool.

 

[leoo24]

Re: Electric Boat Winch

cool, originally from Warrington but have lived in spain for 25 years, nice to see another brit, european on the boards