pothauler with integrated capstan winch vs pot tipper + capstan winch
Submitted by chevaps on Tue, 2020-11-10 12:44
Hi all.
Planning on getting into some crays once i relocate back to Perth in a few weeks, and need to sort out some pot lifting gear on the boat.
Interested in hearing people's thoughts on a pothauler with integrated capstan winch vs pot tipper + capstan winch as separate items. Particularly keen on hearing personal experiences from people that have used both.
After making a few enquries, the pothauler option is the more expensive option by a long shot, so the way i see it, i will be paying for the convenience of a more compact and portable solution (i.e. far smaller, weighs less, removable winch).
Look forward to hearing back.
Thanks.
Tom.
J Mann
Posts: 47
Date Joined: 02/09/15
Pothauler vs Tipper / Winch
I looked at this recently and ended up with the tipper & winch on my 6m cabin cruiser. I prefer having the pot on the tipper as it makes it easier to check and rebait your pot, especially by yourself. With the pothauler the craypot could swing around causing issues, would impact the boat's centre of gravity / stability, and you still need to get the craypot back onto the deck. Could be wrong but in all the clips I have seen it never shows getting a wooden craypot back onto the deck, just the smaller cane types like in Tassie.
sea-kem
Posts: 14967
Date Joined: 30/11/09
I've literally just
I've literally just installed a tipper and winch, few reasons. More control over the pot coming up as it's guided from the other side and deckie can keep an eye on things. With a it would require a fair bit of gunnel strengthening imo. The winch I've put on is removable once done with the pots so it's outta the way when we go fishing. The tipper also supports the pot for easy access and rebait.
Love the West!
Mike17
Posts: 323
Date Joined: 30/06/13
Fully removable set up
I set my pot tipper and winch up on an aluminium scaffolders plank. Fully removable for the other 11 months of the year.
All up set me back around $1700 including wiring it up.
Takes less than 5 mins to remove from the boat and all that's left behind are the stainless brackets on the gunnell which are just 4mm sheet anyhow.
If you want any more info flick me a PM this all works really good all I needed to do was to lower the height of the roller to line up with the winch but other than that it was good first go.
Use The Force
Mike17
Posts: 323
Date Joined: 30/06/13
Fully removable set up
I set my pot tipper and winch up on an aluminium scaffolders plank. Fully removable for the other 11 months of the year.
All up set me back around $1700 including wiring it up.
Takes less than 5 mins to remove from the boat and all that's left behind are the stainless brackets on the gunnell which are just 4mm sheet anyhow.
If you want any more info flick me a PM this all works really good all I needed to do was to lower the height of the roller to line up with the winch but other than that it was good first go.
Use The Force
ChrisG
Posts: 558
Date Joined: 30/12/11
Seen some significant damage
Seen some significant damage to glass boats from the pot swinging around and smashing into side of boat when hanging off a pot hauler.
Never used one myself so maybe the damage I saw was from guys not using them correctly, but seems to me I'd prefer the pot sitting on a tipper rather than swing around especially with big heavy pots...like I use. reckon pot haulers would be okay with beehives or even plastics, but traditional wa style slatt pots... I don't think they were ever designed for that.
chevaps
Posts: 87
Date Joined: 04/01/13
Thanks for the feedback
Thanks for the feedback everyone.
I'm definitely sensing a theme here.....
I think a very valid point that i overlooked is the handling of the pot to pull out the crays and rebait, where the tipper will be at a more appropriate height, and the pots won't swing widly in less than ideal weather conditions.
My mind is made up!