Bow Tie Down

[speedgater]

I need to replace the bow tie down winch on the trailer. What size do I need to get for a 19' boat, is 2500lbs over kill?

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Bow Tie Down

would really like more info on your boat like weight, I don't think you can get overkill on the bow winch but as soon as I say that someone will tell you they have a 25,000 lb winch they will sell you cheap! Here's the thing, have you ever broke the bow winch before? It really sucks! hummmm no I don't think a 2500 lb bow winch is overkill but if you are hard on them you can break them too, you don't have to winch the boat all the way onto the trailer but what if you need to for some reason? Better to be safe then sorry. Here's the winch section here on iboats http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Trailer-...9142893--**********.897414286--view_id.217616 Others will surely voice there opinions but if you can get a weight on your boat or at lest more info it would help, bow rider or CC, inboard or outboard/size of motor?

 

[speedgater]

Re: Bow Tie Down

I never had one break but the one I got now look rough and I don't want it to break. It is an I/O 5.7 Volvo Penta engine, bow rider and wieghs around 2200lbs dry.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Bow Tie Down

Yes, that's overkill. You are pulling the boat onto the trailer, not lifting it. But there's no real downside, unless the gear ratio means you need to do a lot of extra cranking.

 

[JB]

Re: Bow Tie Down

The winch is for moving the boat, not tying it down. You need a seperate chain or turnbuckle to tie the bow down.

 

[speedgater]

Re: Bow Tie Down

I understand that I am not lifting the boat with the winch and not tying it down and that the winch is ment to pull the boat up to the stop on the trailer and to hold it there while trailering down the road. If 2500lbs is over kill, what lbs should I buy?

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Bow Tie Down

Speedgator, I understand your frustration in not getting a straight answer. I am also looking into replacing my strap and did a search to get an idea of what rating I should get. Here on iboats, I found a thread where dingbat stuck his neck out and threw out an approximate strap rating based on a boats weight. That one is here: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=209034
The next best answer I've seen is to go to a dealer and ask.

I can also understand reluctance to put out an actual number if you don't know for sure. I'd sure hate to be the one putting out bum dope on a possible safety issue. Hope this helps.

 

[JB]

Re: Bow Tie Down

the winch is ment to pull the boat up to the stop on the trailer and to hold it there while trailering down the road.

Not what I meant, speedgater. The winch is not meant to hold the boat, only to move it. You need a solid tiedown, usually a chain or a turnbuckle to keep it in place in the event of collision or other abrupt shock. Tie it down to the trailer frame, not the winch stand. Otherwise you may find your boat in the back seat or bed of your tow vehicle.

As to the size of the winch: The heavier rated winches are slower to crank but otherwise can't be too strong, but don't get one stronger than the rating of the strap. I have used 1500# winches on 2000# boats with success. How easy it is to use depends on the slope of the ramp.

 

[cribber]

Re: Bow Tie Down

My boat weighs 2300 pounds dry so nearly 3000 pounds loaded and the winch I have is rated at 1200 pounds. So a 2500# winch may be overkill but it will likely outlast your setup. I only keep tension on my winch between the house and the ramp along with the safety chain. The strap only keeps it snug and the chain will keep attached to the trailer God forbid the worst happens.

 

[speedgater]

Re: Bow Tie Down

Thanks to all who responded, I found out that my boat, like "cribber", also takes a 1200lbs whinch.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Bow Tie Down

Like a lot of things, if you go too small (weak) you may have a problem, but if you oversize it you''ll never have a problem and what's the difference if its stronger! It can be too weak but it can't be too strong.

When you go up to the 2500 lb model, you get 2 speeds, which will cover any possible condition you may encounter. A single speed winch may give you a backache when you get older....LOL.

Just a quick look at the catalog sitting on my desk and the price difference is only 25 bucks. Its a no-brainer.

BTW, I have a 19' boat as well, and my winch is rated for 2400 lbs.

PS - Now, remember that everybody here answered your question without even basic knowledge of your setup. Is the boat an aluminum jon with a 9.9, or is it a fiberglass Cobalt with a 5.0 liter? Is the trailer a float on, or an all roller EZ-Loader?

 

[gozierdt]

Re: Bow Tie Down

I like to use a larger rated winch with a high gear ratio because I use a 2" nylon strap, not a rope. As the strap winds
up on the winch drum, the diameter gets significantly bigger, lowering the effective gear ratio. It can get pretty hard to
bring the boat up the last foot or two if you have a lighter rated (and lower gear ratio, usually) winch.

 

[mh1042]

Re: Bow Tie Down

My 3000 pound Rinker has a 1200 lb winch on the trailer...no worries......think about it....you are essentially pulling it up the last foot or two, while it is floating...heck, not much at all..