Need new trailer winch advice

[badbowtie]

After a long camping and fun boating weekend when time to load the boat up last night my wife said the winch was actinging wierd would not lock climberd over the bow and sure enough acts worn out. I replaced the bow strap last year. But know I need a new hand winch. It is on a 21 foot cuddy boat that weighs that is pretty heavy. All the winches I see on iboats, walmart, and basspro all say 2000 pounds I know my boat weighs more than that. I think the boat weighs around 4,000 but never checked didn't really matter.

 

[springhead]

Re: Need new trailer winch advice

The general rule is to select a winch with a capacity rating of at least half the combined weight of your boat, motor, fuel and gear.

 

[BoatNoobie]

Re: Need new trailer winch advice

That's the rule? lol I never knew or heard of that. I always assume it should be whatever weight you have on the trailer.

On my trailer, right now it has a 1000lb rated winch, at least according to the label on the side. It's a little old/worn and I'm replacing it. Just ordered a 1500lb rated winch. I hope it fits the factory holes.

 

[BoatNoobie]

Re: Need new trailer winch advice

That's the rule? lol I never knew or heard of that. I always assume it should be whatever weight you have on the trailer.

I dont get it. Are you copying me to mock me? Or you agree with my statement? Or are you trying to quote but didnt finish the statement?

 

[badbowtie]

Re: Need new trailer winch advice

I figured it was not for the weight of the boat since I did finally find a 3500 pound and I know thier are allot of boats that weight more than that.

 

[skargo]

Re: Need new trailer winch advice

People don't winch boats straight up off a cliff. You are not putting the full weight of the boat on a winch.

http://www.boatus.com/boattech/twinches.htm

 

[dingbat]

Re: Need new trailer winch advice

Use a winch that has the same capacity as the weight of your boat, at a minimum, if you don?t want to be breaking your back getting the boat on the trailer.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=401941

 

[CatTwentyTwo]

Re: Need new trailer winch advice

Maybe all you need is a ratchet repair kit, they run around $10.00 or so.

 

[skargo]

Re: Need new trailer winch advice

You do NOT need a winch rated for the entire weight of your boat.

All of these links state the same basic thing, 2-1/boat-winch rating.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=383887&highlight=winch+size

http://www.ehow.com/how_5798434_size-boat-trailer-winch.html

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...Id=11151&catalogId=10001&page=Trailer-Winches

http://www.etrailer.com/question-5299.html

http://www.winchreviews.com/winch-information/boat-trailer-winch/

Show me a 5K pound rated hand winch for my 5K pound boat.
http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Trailer-Hand-Winches/dm/view_id.217616

I winch my boat with it's 2500lb winch with one hand pretty easily. I only winch 12-18" anyway. If you are winching more than that, your setup is wrong, and should be corrected.

 

[Floatsum]

Re: Need new trailer winch advice

Go for the under $100 Vortex electric on Ebay!
Comes with everything. Wires and all.
Simple install.
... And it's oh so nice at the end of the day.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Need new trailer winch advice

Electric is nice but their slow.

I tend to judge what winch I need by the type and weight of the boat. I would never even consider an electric winch for my 14' boat. To be honest, I rarely even use the winch, I back in enough to get the boat up on the first keel roller, grab the bow and pull it on and drive up the ramp.
On my large boat, I use a two speed winch, but it's also on a roller trailer, the high speed is great for making better time taking up the first few feet and then I shift lower if needed.

I have one electric winch, it's on a trailer that has both, mounted high and low. The electric winch is mounted high, the manual winch is mounted low. I can haul the boat up and on the bunks with the electric winch, then secure it and buckle it down once on the trailer fully.

 

[tboltmike]

Re: Need new trailer winch advice

My 2,000 lb trihull came with an electric winch. Since, it frequents salt water, I try to avoid/minimize the underwater exposure to the hubs, even with Bearing Buddy. Thus, I am winching in 15 or so feet.

The catwalk down the side of the trailer and the electric winch make this an easy job. I can be off the ramp in 3 to 6 minutes.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Need new trailer winch advice

Power winch and rollers, and keep your axles dry! Nothing is waterproof and everything rusts.

The above advice is standard operating procedure among experienced boaters on salt water. True there are some boats too large to launch or retrieve "dry" although it appears a boat of any size will launch extra dry--that is, 20' from the water--if yo unhook the chain early. But the larger boats tend not to be lauched and retrieved for every use.

Sadly so many trailers today are sold as "drive-on's" and roller set-ups are harder to find. I guess they are cheaper to assemble than rollers. But 20 years ago, people at the ramp (locals in the lawn chairs with coolers) would laugh at the trailer dunkers.

And because nothing is waterproof, you unplug your lights before getting the trailer in the water. Of course, I've forgotten many times and never had a short, yet, but who can say what slow damage is done to the connectors, light fixtures etc--which have need replacing over the years.

 

[badbowtie]

Re: Need new trailer winch advice

Okay well I finally called Dutton Lainson and just ordered a new ratchet repair kit like ryoung suggested and cheaper than a new winch will be here monday or tuesday. Thanks for all the help

 

[Mark42]

Re: Need new trailer winch advice

You do NOT need a winch rated for the entire weight of your boat.

All of these links state the same basic thing, 2-1/boat-winch rating.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=383887&highlight=winch+size

http://www.ehow.com/how_5798434_size-boat-trailer-winch.html

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...Id=11151&catalogId=10001&page=Trailer-Winches

http://www.etrailer.com/question-5299.html

http://www.winchreviews.com/winch-information/boat-trailer-winch/

Show me a 5K pound rated hand winch for my 5K pound boat.
http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Trailer-Hand-Winches/dm/view_id.217616

I winch my boat with it's 2500lb winch with one hand pretty easily. I only winch 12-18" anyway. If you are winching more than that, your setup is wrong, and should be corrected.

This is from etrailer.com, a site that I trust for trailer parts and info, and you linked in your post:

Boat-size-to-winch capacity is generally 2 to 1. With good rollers and short winching distances, you could increase the ratio to 3 to 1. With wooden bunks and long winching distances, reduce the ratio to 1 to 1. Special consideration should be given to pontoon boats and other boats with special hull designs.

It all depends on your situation. Anywhere from 1 to 1 to 3 to 1, depending on how heavy the boat, how far to winch it, and what the trailer setup is (rollers or bunks).

 

[jtmarten]

Re: Need new trailer winch advice

My trailer has a 2500lb winch, looks to be the '86 original, original trailer for the boat as well. Boat is in the 6-6.5K neighborhood loaded.

 

[skargo]

Re: Need new trailer winch advice

This is from etrailer.com, a site that I trust for trailer parts and info, and you linked in your post:



It all depends on your situation. Anywhere from 1 to 1 to 3 to 1, depending on how heavy the boat, how far to winch it, and what the trailer setup is (rollers or bunks).

Agreed, they said in some cases. In my case, it's bunks, and heavy BUT a very short distance to winch because my trailer is setup perfectly. I use multiple ramps too.

They said generally, 2-1 which jibes with every other link I posted