Winch cable length?

[Darrenmb]

How long should it be? Will be replacing, currently reaches about 15 ft beyond trailer, bunk style dual axle trailer, with 22 ft boat. Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Darren

 

[Starcraft5834]

having a longer cable wont matter much one way or the other... typically, when the boat starts floating off the trailer,, all u need

 

[oldjeep]

That seems really long, and it is pretty rare to actually have a winch cable - normally it is a strap.

Typically you wouldn't be hooking up your winch strap with more than 3 or 4 feet out unless you are really shallow launching a roller trailer

 

[Darrenmb]

That seems really long, and it is pretty rare to actually have a winch cable - normally it is a strap.

Typically you wouldn't be hooking up your winch strap with more than 3 or 4 feet out unless you are really shallow launching a roller trailer

I thought it seemed a bit excessive, its actually 1/4 steel cable, guessing thats overkill as well.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I can't recall ever needing my winch strap to go much farther than the end of the trailer... I usually hook or unhook it when the bow eye is within 5-6' of the winch.

Also, you likely will be much happier with a nylon strap, rather than a cable. Straps don't throw off finger-stabbing wires as they get older...

 

[On Holiday]

My strap only gets pulled out about 6 feet at the most, I think my strap is 25 feet long. The first couple of feet of the strap often gets worn/faded and what I do is cut off the bad section and resew the hook and I basically have a new strap again.

 

[dingbat]

Electric winch with 1/4" stainless cable. 22' boat on 24' trailer. Cable will reach 5-6' past end of trailer. None to long on a couple occasions.

Combo of tide and sand on ramps...can never have too much winch cable

 

[Silverbullet555]

My strap only gets pulled out about 6 feet at the most, I think my strap is 25 feet long. The first couple of feet of the strap often gets worn/faded and what I do is cut off the bad section and resew the hook and I basically have a new strap again.

Hey, I know you. ;-)

I only use the first 10' of mine. I have 25' but can't imagine where I would need it.

 

[dwco5051]

I always put on more that what I needed to help fill the winch drum. Gave extra for when the exposed cable got weak and made cranking faster. You wouldn't spool a fishing reel with only the amount that matched the distance of a cast.

 

[ahicks]

I would caution that a cable or strap any longer than necessary only increases the effort required to crank the boat in due to the increase in pulley diameter. With a nearly empty pulley you have quite an advantage on the load. As the pulley diameter increases, that advantage decreases, possibly leaving you grunting unnecessarily in some situations.

My vote would be no longer than required to reach the back of the trailer at maximum.

 

[Darrenmb]

Thanks for everyones input, going to go back with stainless cable, to reach about a foot past end of trailer, i always have a tow strap handy, so if by chance i needed more length, i could use the strap attached to end of cable to pull boat to where cable alone will reach.
Darren

 

[dennis461]

..... You wouldn't spool a fishing reel with only the amount that matched the distance of a cast.

Where you watching the day I sent all my line out with the best cast ever?

Looks like the OP got his winch set up.
Yesterday I needed every inch of my winch cable due to a combination of mis-reading tide table (and having one more drink at the Sweetwater Casino).
Bow was just past end of trailer and sue to shi&*&& ramp design, could not get trailer and boat any closer together.
Most trailer boat winches cannot really accept more cable than what they came with.

 

[ondarvr]

I would caution that a cable or strap any longer than necessary only increases the effort required to crank the boat in due to the increase in pulley diameter. With a nearly empty pulley you have quite an advantage on the load. As the pulley diameter increases, that advantage decreases, possibly leaving you grunting unnecessarily in some situations.

My vote would be no longer than required to reach the back of the trailer at maximum.

Yes

 

[R055]

You guys must have some shallow ramps, I only need 3 feet to launch and 4 feet max to retrieve. And no I don't power load.

 

[ondarvr]

90% of the time I might use a foot of strap, but you need to be prepared for the that difficult situation.