replacing manual to 12V power winch

[prettybeatup]

I would like to replace the manual hand winch to a 12V power winch on my boat and motor that weighs approximately 5000#. Since the boat is buoyed by the water would a 2000# winch suffice and would it be strong enough to keep the boat secure while traveling? I would use an extra strap to secure it down as well. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Anton.

 

[NYBo]

Re: replacing manual to 12V power winch

That should be more than enough. You're pulling the boat onto the trailer, not lifting it. A safety chain or strap is a must; you are smart not relying solely on the winch and its strap.

 

[dingbat]

Re: replacing manual to 12V power winch

#2000 of pull would certainly work, but what is at issue is how winches are rated.

Winches are rated with the spool empty. By the time you get all the strap / cable back on the spool, the winch might only be capable of supplying 1/3 of its rating.
In a manual winch, this loss of pull manifests itself as you needed to crank harder and harder to get the same amount of pull out of the winch. On an electric winch the input power is fixed. You can?t crank harder and harder to maintain the necessary pull. You just start running out of power. If the winch is not properly sized, the load will just stall the motor and burn it up.

My boat weighs roughly the same on a roller trailer. I have a #4200 winch on it. The winch really strains the last 5-6' of travel. Really needs a #6000 winch.

Calculations and recommendations from an earlier post
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=420390&highlight=dingbat