Electric Boat Winch

[LuvBoating]

Since my wife's strength isn't what it was years ago, we have been seriously thinking about having an electric winch installed on our trailer.

When we lived in Colorado, 28 miles south of Denver, the ramps of both lakes we would launch at, had floating docks. I'd back the boat down the ramp, next to the floating dock, and wife would pull the boat off of the trailer with a line tied to the bow and one tied to the stern. I'd quickly get out of our Durango and help her tie the boat up to the dock. When we'd retrieve the boat, we'd temporarily tie up to the dock, I'd get the Durango/trailer and back it down the ramp, stop and connect the winch to the bow eye and pull the boat up on the trailer with the winch.

We are making plans to leave northeastern Florida and go back to Colorado, but northern Colorado this time. The one lake, Boyd Lake, has one floating dock, but four launch areas where the dock it. If, by chance we can't use the floating dock to launch our boat, we have to launch it directly into the water. That would mean that she would have to use the winch to launch and retrieve. Turning the winch we have, might be too much for her strength. She will be 71 at the time of our move (next year). Seriously thinking that an electric winch would be great for her. Simply push the remote button and down goes the boat. Push a different remote button and up comes the boat.

So, anyone here use an electric winch? How did you hook it up to the tow vehicle? Run wires along the vehicle chassis and to the battery under the hood? Had thought about installing a car battery in the rear (corner) of the Durango, but also thought that we'd have to keep the hatch open when using this battery. Would also have to recharge with a charger.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[MTboatguy]

I have used an electric in the past with no problems at all, they are pretty straight forward and they make launch and recovery pretty easy once you figure the system for you and you wife. For power, I already have wired my truck for a 13,000lb winch on the rear during the winter, so all I had to do was make a 8 ft harness uip and plug it in when I am at the ramp. The wiring I have back there is set up to handle several hundreds of amps when I have to do a winch operation during the winter when I have the snow plow on the front of the truck, so it will easily handle a boat winch on a trailer.

The one thing I did on my last one, I got rid of the metal cable and I replaced it with one of the synthetic winch lines. Worked out well.

 

[dingbat]

My truck has a factory tow package. Just needed to run a power line from the battery to the back of the truck. Used the same wire way (under the truck) as the tow harness.

I have a dual post battery (side and top) in the truck so I used a battery clamp to connect the lead back to the winch. Used the factory ground lug in the back. Pretty easy actually.

Here is the type connector you want to use. Install a mate on the winch

https://m.grainger.com/mobile/produ...er-Connector-3BY21?fc=PDAP&analytics=altItems

 

[MTboatguy]

My truck has a factory tow package. Just needed to run a power line from the battery to the back of the truck. Used the same wire way (under the truck) as the tow harness.

I have a dual post battery (side and top) in the truck so I used a battery clamp to connect the lead back to the winch. Used the factory ground lug in the back. Pretty easy actually.

Here is the type connector you want to use. Install a mate on the winch

https://m.grainger.com/mobile/produ...er-Connector-3BY21?fc=PDAP&analytics=altItems

Yup, same kind of connector I have on the front and that back of my truck, my wire size is 1/0 to handle the heavy duty winch, it is big overkill for a boat winch, but the exact same connector.

 

[dennis461]

My electric winch only runs in one direction, in (retrieve).
For launching, I back until the boat floats.
For floating dock, I tie a couple of lines, unhook the bow and drive off.
For ramp only, I use a long bow line tied up to truck with a lot of slack, drive off slowly pulling up slack, then eith put the bow on the ground of move boat to a tie off point..

I find it easy to winch up with a wireless remote control and a boat hook while standing next to boat (yes I get wet.)

 

[LuvBoating]

Just bought a Fulton XLT Electric Boat Winch from Trailer Parts Superstore online. Same place and brand of Trailer Guides we bought in 2009. They only had two left in stock, from a rather large order they got in a week or so ago. Actually, yesterday afternoon, when I called them, they had four left in stock. Two were sold in 24 hours! Sure glad I ordered when I did (just now).

Talked to our Mercruiser Marine Mechanic and he said he'd install for me, since the boat and trailer are in Dry Storage right next to the marine service. Instead of connecting to Durango SLT battery, will see if a new battery can be installed on the front of the trailer, down and behind the new winch. That way, we can take the battery home and recharge when boat not being used.

This electric winch is going to make retrieving so much easier for my wife. No more cranking to retrieve the boat onto the trailer, if there is no dock to walk the boat onto the trailer with.

When boaters get to a certain age and some arthritis sets into the hands OR the strength that use to be in the hands is no longer there, "got to do what you got to do" to pull the boat in...……...aka, Electric Winch and Remote.

 

[dingbat]

Instead of connecting to Durango SLT battery, will see if a new battery can be installed on the front of the trailer, down and behind the new winch. That way, we can take the battery home and recharge when boat not being used.

Been there, done that.

Besides inviting thief and or sabotage, dealing with the battery on a continuing basis is a pain. Run the cable from the battery and be done with it.

 

[LuvBoating]

I'd have to find someplace that would do the wiring. Am going to check with local Dodge Dealer and see what they say. I know about the possibility, perhaps high, of theft, but. Believe me, if we can have the wiring done directly to the battery, we definitely will.

 

[LuvBoating]

It states that this thing is "water resistant", but just how much? I only found one cover, but that cover was only for a certain brand that we aren't getting. Will the winch need a cover from rain and/or snow? Guess we could buy a piece of water resistant plastic, like I used to cover my old motorcycle, and make a cover out of that.

Any ideas about a cover for this new winch?

 

[JimS123]

Wiring is really a piece of cake. I connected the neg is to a frame member in the trunk of the car. There was already a post there for the lights. All I had to do was remove the bolt and connect the winch line to it. I fed the pos under the back seat, lifted the edge of the carpet thru the car, and then drilled a hole in the firewall to feed into the engine compartment. The end is merely added to the pos terminal on the battery.

 

[LuvBoating]

No matter how it is done, would have to pay to have it done. I sure couldn't do it. I'm lucky I can still crawl around on our boat the way I do.

 

[dingbat]

I'd have to find someplace that would do the wiring. Am going to check with local Dodge Dealer and see what they say. I know about the possibility, perhaps high, of theft, but. Believe me, if we can have the wiring done directly to the battery, we definitely will.

You will be happy you did the first time you go to use the winch only to realize you forgot to charge the battery or better yet, ran off and left the battery at home.

 

[Horigan]

Wiring is really a piece of cake. I connected the neg is to a frame member in the trunk of the car. There was already a post there for the lights. All I had to do was remove the bolt and connect the winch line to it. I fed the pos under the back seat, lifted the edge of the carpet thru the car, and then drilled a hole in the firewall to feed into the engine compartment. The end is merely added to the pos terminal on the battery.

Be sure to install a fuse on the positive wire between the battery and the penetration through the firewall, in case it wears through and shorts to the firewall.

 

[JimS123]

Be sure to install a fuse on the positive wire between the battery and the penetration through the firewall, in case it wears through and shorts to the firewall.

Mine is a PowerWinch brand. The pos line came fused from the factory. The firewall hole was fitted with a rubber grommet.

 

[LuvBoating]

Is this the connection I need to buy for this winch? [h=1]Battery Quick Connect Disconnect Electrical Plug 2-4 Gauge 175 Amps for Recovery Winch or Trailer [/h]

4.2 out

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Price:	$13.99 & FREE Shipping

Get $50 off instantly: Pay $0.00 upon approval for the Amazon Rewards Visa Card.

• UNIVERSAL: Allows quick connect and disconnect for winches or other electrical devices
• CURRENT RATING: For high-current use; true rated capacity 175 amps
• VOLTAGE: Designed for low-voltage (12-36 volts DC) use
• GAUGE: Accepts 2-4 gauge wire
• SIZE: Connectors measure 3-1/8" long x 2-1/8" wide x 1" thick and measure 5-1/4" x 2-1/8" x 1" when connected as a set

 

[dingbat]

Is this the connection I need to buy for this winch? [h=1]Battery Quick Connect Disconnect Electrical Plug 2-4 Gauge 175 Amps for Recovery Winch or Trailer [/h]

4.2 out

---

Price:	$13.99 & FREE Shipping

Get $50 off instantly: Pay $0.00 upon approval for the Amazon Rewards Visa Card.

• UNIVERSAL: Allows quick connect and disconnect for winches or other electrical devices
• CURRENT RATING: For high-current use; true rated capacity 175 amps
• VOLTAGE: Designed for low-voltage (12-36 volts DC) use
• GAUGE: Accepts 2-4 gauge wire
• SIZE: Connectors measure 3-1/8" long x 2-1/8" wide x 1" thick and measure 5-1/4" x 2-1/8" x 1" when connected as a set

Yes

 

[LuvBoating]

Now, the problem is...…….some places won't install something bought by a customer, so, not sure about getting this connection until after talking with Dodge Dealer and electrical shop that I found. We are lucky that our marine mechanic will install the winch, being that it is a marine service, not a trailer service. But, am pretty sure he won't do the wiring on our vehicle.

Our marine mechanic installed a Trim Pump we bought on Amazon, because the pump would have cost us double if the marine service would have bought it for us. The service can guarantee the install, but can't guarantee the pump, because we bought the pump.

So, before buying this connection, which the mechanic can install on the winch, but most likely can't do anything with our vehicle wiring.

 

[JimS123]

It looks like a nice plug and all, but I can't see why you would need it.

Somewhere a wire has to be connected to the car's battery. That puts a permanent wire in the car. The other end of that wire has the plug that connects to the winch. Why would you need a disconnect in between? (maybe I'm missing something here).

The easiest way is to buy a small 12V battery, put it in the trunk when you go boating and connect the wire to that battery. No disconnect needed. You can even cut the wire a mile shorter because the trunk is close to the trailer. A tractor battery or a jetski battery should work fine and be real light. When you get home charge it back up. You won't need a mechanic to connect 2 wires to that battery.

 

[MTboatguy]

Like I said earlier, those are the plugs that I use for my Winch and snow plow hookup on my truck, now that I think of it, look up the amp draw on your boat winch and you might be able to wire it right into the 7 prong trailer plug you have in the back of your truck now that you plug the trailer into for lights and such. What year and model of Dodge do you have?

What model of winch did you get?

 

[LuvBoating]

Like I said earlier, those are the plugs that I use for my Winch and snow plow hookup on my truck, now that I think of it, look up the amp draw on your boat winch and you might be able to wire it right into the 7 prong trailer plug you have in the back of your truck now that you plug the trailer into for lights and such. What year and model of Dodge do you have?

What model of winch did you get?

I was told that there wasn't enough amps in the connection for the trailer lights, but will have to check.

Model of winch: Fulton XLT Electric Boat Winch from Trail Parts Superstore online for $269, plus shipping. On the phone, a store salesman told me that they got in around 100 of these a couple of weeks ago and they've been selling like hot cakes. The day I called to ask about it, they had 4 left, the next day I called to make sure they still had the four, they only had two left. I got one of the two. I was told that this was an excellent price for an electric winch with 10,000 lbs pull for a max of 26 foot boat. Our boat weight is around 3,500 lbs and 20 feet long.

Our towing vehicle is a 2005 Dodge Durango SLT (not a Hemi).

Also found out the local Dodge Dealer could do the work, but has a mechanic has to physically see the Durango, which couldn't be done today. Service person also told us they could install the Amazon bought connection, if we bought it, but they couldn't guarantee the item, only the install.