Boat trailer winches
Submitted by Gilbo on Wed, 2019-03-06 16:30
I’ve decided that I’m getting too old to hand winch a boat up onto the trailer. Well to be more accurate my various crew members are complaining that their getting too old (hey - it’s not the Skippers job is it? 
).
I’m usually a person that says you get what you pay for. So I was looking at these USA made winches that have been around forever… www.whitworths.com.au/electric-trailer-powerwinch-912 - and it’s even on special at the moment (cheaper than the next smallest one)
But you can buy 3 of these (www.whitworths.com.au/electric-trailer-winch-3500) for the price of the USA version.
I really don’t use the boat all that often but with other ‘marine’ equipment, life is more about time elapsed than amount of use. It would be nice to get something that may last me say up to 20 years.
Also the problem is that ‘cheap’ stuff will often fail when you need it most. I don’t want to be a couple of thousand kilometres away from home/repair for a couple of weeks only to have my winch fail at the start of the trip. I’m guessing that using any of these winches in manual mode is only for emergencies – you wouldn’t want to do it every day for a couple of weeks.
Note that I only want a winch that has a ‘free wheel’ out mode. It seems that some have to be ‘powered’ out.
Can I have the benefit of anyone’s experience with the use/longevity of any electric winches in the approximate size shown above please….
CheersGilbo
).I’m usually a person that says you get what you pay for. So I was looking at these USA made winches that have been around forever… www.whitworths.com.au/electric-trailer-powerwinch-912 - and it’s even on special at the moment (cheaper than the next smallest one)
But you can buy 3 of these (www.whitworths.com.au/electric-trailer-winch-3500) for the price of the USA version.
I really don’t use the boat all that often but with other ‘marine’ equipment, life is more about time elapsed than amount of use. It would be nice to get something that may last me say up to 20 years.
Also the problem is that ‘cheap’ stuff will often fail when you need it most. I don’t want to be a couple of thousand kilometres away from home/repair for a couple of weeks only to have my winch fail at the start of the trip. I’m guessing that using any of these winches in manual mode is only for emergencies – you wouldn’t want to do it every day for a couple of weeks.
Note that I only want a winch that has a ‘free wheel’ out mode. It seems that some have to be ‘powered’ out.
Can I have the benefit of anyone’s experience with the use/longevity of any electric winches in the approximate size shown above please….
CheersGilbo
hezzy
Posts: 1521
Date Joined: 27/11/09
gilbo check this out here
gilbo
check this out here
fishwrecked.com/forum/ian-winches
ians winches , he is in rocko and there bloody good , mine has been getting used a lot and we love it !!
hezzy
OFW 11
evil flourishes when good men do nothing
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
gilbo
i have a Ians winch and know a few blokes on here have them hand made by Ian in rocky a quality piece of kit , and he a good bloke too
Guardy
Posts: 381
Date Joined: 09/08/12
Powerwinch
I have a powerwinch sitting in my garage gathering dust. Had it for when I did my shoulder in but have since sold the boat but kept the winch. Had it checked a couple of months ago and its good to go. You can have it for $75. PM me if you are interested.
Stevo81
Posts: 1278
Date Joined: 16/04/12
www.sherpa4x4.com.au/product
www.sherpa4x4.com.au/products/grunter-electric-boat-trailer-winch
Includes heavy wiring kit to suit a 200 series cruiser which is often extra on top of the winch purchase.
•••••••• Electrical Contractor NOR ••••••••
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18026
Date Joined: 11/03/08
we got the usa one from
we got the usa one from whitworths. had no probs with it at all. it is a bit slow compared to some but it does the job. one thing i did instead of hard wiring it to the car i just carry a battery in the back of the territory and strap it down . been using it a fair bit and only had to charge the battery once so it doesnt draw too much power. we went for one rated a fair bit heavier than the boat so there is no strain. was easy to mount and set up
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Willlo
Posts: 1490
Date Joined: 07/10/11
Can you drive yr boat on to
Can you drive yr boat on to the trailer, if so i would consider a boat catch. Cheaper , less weight and way faster launch and retrieve than any winch.
Call Sign - BZ785
Haynes Hunter Prowler CC
scubafish
Posts: 962
Date Joined: 15/08/12
Gilbo,
Have a 712 ,came with the boat 10 years ago and have just replace all the washers and thrust bearings (kit) on it $70.00.
Has not missed a beat can service yourself,keep in a tub in the boot with a spare batt,not sitting out in the weather on the trailer where someone can steal it.Remember the better shit you have the more some low life will pinch it .Have put the winch rope on for safety.
Would check Guardy's offer!
https://www.whitworths.com.au/trailer-high-strength-winch-rope-7mm-x-7m
http://img.gg/BQ91Sys
dmck
Posts: 440
Date Joined: 07/03/19
Have had 2 Powerwinch.......
I found them too slow and dangerous in a swell when beach retreiving (because they are slow), I put one on my old boat-trailer when I sold it... and the other is bolted to my shed floor to pull the boat trailer in- in this case slow is good!
I have made several winches based on Jarret winches and Ford starters and all are fast and efficient. AS I'm in Adelaide mine are no use to you!!! but Ian's winches photos look the goods.
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
IMO, Powerwinches are too slow.
I've stood there chatting to an old bloke winching his boat up with one. We had discussed the weather, done an analysis of every teams chances in the finals, and solved world peace by the time it had traversed the length of the trailer. He did admit it was "rather slow" . No problems if there is not a queue at the ramp. But, as someone said before, if you are beach loading with a bit of surge you really need that 1:1 cranking for at least a bit to get the boat up to where it is stable.
Personally, I am now a fan of drive on, if your ramp allows it. But acknowledge that not everyone has a trailer which is suitable. The converted starter motor types are the goods, if you really need to power winch.
rodfishsa
Posts: 82
Date Joined: 29/03/13
G'dayI've had a few of the
G'day
I've had a few of the powerwinch brand winches over the years. Tediously slow but better than hand winching. My last one was only just up to the task (savage tasman 5.2 sp) and I used to help it a bit. Mind you I don't think the rollers were setup as well as they could have been, despite my efforts. Typical dealer underated trailer as well (that I had to get upgraded to handle the weight)> I found that if you don't lock up the friction brake to prevent slipping the clutch plates glaze over and slip even more. This would necessitate pulling the winch apart, roughing up the disk with coarse sand paper then cleaning them with solvent then reassemble. Doing this occassionally made a big difference in my case.
I also smoothed over and greased the end of the tensioner where it contacts for easier better operation.
The best feature is the remote pull string. I noted after reading the powerwinch info from their site that the winches are all powered the same (at the time of reading) but just geared down when higher rating required. So, even slower.
dmck made me a nice starter winch (onya Don) and it worked like a treat, loud, but fast. He also wired in a remote pull switch that was permanently tied to the trailer. Great setup. Heavy 6m boat on in about 15 or so seconds. I traded up to a bigger boat though and strictly drive on now.
Seems to me there's a hole in the market for a decent off the shelf setup.
Cheers
Rod
little johnny
Posts: 5359
Date Joined: 04/12/11
My first was land rover starter motor
Old welding sockets to plug into for power. Huge pully on top small on bottom. Spring loaded switch with bb cord going to back off boat. No safety guards. Now days ians. Have geared starter motors and soliniod as one. Spring loaded toggle ( attach cord)plus manual button . Also can be used manually with handle. Small pulleys all under a ally safety guard . Half the size off old school ones. Plus have bearing on main shaft . I use my boat every second or third day . Have done for many years never had issue with mine ( replaced cord 2 times) didn’t want it to snap once they start to fray I remove them.
Roughas
Posts: 55
Date Joined: 24/08/17
That Sherpa looks pretty
That Sherpa looks pretty flash but also looks very "portable".
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
Depends what size boat you
Depends what size boat you have i guess. I had a 912 but it just didnt cut it on anything but a perfect ramp. I ended up with a runva evo which is a high speed winch. pulls my 3t up in about 14 seconds!
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
Gap in market,
I agree with the comment made above about there appears to be a gap in the market for those that have a requirement for a fast retrieving boat winch. At some ramps there is a lot of pere pressure to get your boat out of the water and away lightening fast due to the large amount of boaters wanting to do the same. The relaxing day on the water ends when you return to the ramp as does the patience and curtesy of a few boaties whoview the recovery of their boat in the same way as those leaving Dunkirk did some time ago.
And this is where a good quick retrieving winch comes in handy, I use an old fly wheel and starter motor and whilst it’s noisy it gets my 6 metre boat up onto the trailer in 17 seconds no matter how step the ramp (well at least those that I have used).
Good reliable and cheap
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
Good, reliable, and cheap
Pick any two
On a winner if you have all three. My last boat had an old starter motor setup on the trailer that was under it years ago, I still remember it. Belt drive, big pulley/little pulley, all open, fairly ripped it up.