Winch Cable Material
Submitted by pharlap on Fri, 2012-12-28 17:08
Hey guys just wanting to know what you are all using on your trailer winches ie steel cable, this Dyneema strand cable or what else ?
I put a new winch on my trailer less than 12 months ago, and allready the cable is rusting up, and gave me some trouble at the boat ramp yesterday.
Also has anyone had any success with these self centering rollers ? Do you need them all the way along the keel rollers, or just the first roller or maybe the first 2 or 3 ?
I'm winching up an 18 ft fiberglass.
Cheers.
tiimmbo
Posts: 694
Date Joined: 16/08/09
i use the winch strap on my
i use the winch strap on my 5.4m glass boat, I find it heaps better than the steel cables
chris raff
Posts: 3257
Date Joined: 09/02/10
Dyneema would be the go ,
Dyneema would be the go , very strong and soft on hands ...would never have steel cable again
“Intelligence is like a four-wheel drive. It only allows you to get stuck in more remote places.”
stevebw23
Posts: 155
Date Joined: 12/11/11
yeah i've got the dyneema
yeah i've got the dyneema blue rope type you mentioned (pulling up a 23ft glass boat) and i'm pretty happy with it. got it from "Martins Trailer Parts" in wangarra. it was long enough to do my big boat and my dinghy as well. seems like the popular choice these days. i still leave my boat safety chained on till in the water though just in case it does go ping. here's a link to their website http://www.trailerparts.net.au/
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meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
wire cable - no thanks
After a few bad days at the ramp with wire cable i keep right away from the stuff dyema is the only way to go imo
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
Used the same wire cable on
Used the same wire cable on my 5.8m Ally for the last 17 years, never had a problem with rust as i always gave it a re-coat of Marine Grease every couple of years. Never had any dramas with it at all.
In saying that i just recently did a major trailer refurbishment changing the winch cable and after doing alot of online reading decided to go Dynema Rope. Only used it to launch the boat twice now, and it seems to be very good. Nice on the hands, no grease needed, and doesnt seem to twist up a bit like steel rope does.
On my old tinnie it used to have belt strap but i hated it with a passion always seemed to not lay right or it would twist from not having it perfectly flat when extending it out and me not being observant enough to notice it until i had already winched it on a fair bit. Dont have that problem with the Dynema. Just seems to find its own nice lay when i wind it on. Anyway i got rid of the belt strap on the tiinnie and put wire cable on it, and its been pon there since 2003 with absolutly no drams or rust either, again just coating it in Marine Grease every couple of years. My Brother now owns my old tinnie and i think he still has the same wire cable.
catchalittle
Posts: 1875
Date Joined: 04/09/08
depending on the size of your
depending on the size of your boat you could use the winch straps or use the Dyneema cord Ive seen too many accidents in the past useing the steel cable.There is a kevlar cord that Ive got when I replace the cord next time $150 for a 9mt length but they say it will outlast anything else on the market
Nathan
snappermiles
Posts: 2100
Date Joined: 05/11/10
dyneema rope
only way to go! and if it snaps just tie it in a knot to get your boat up!! we had our rope snap on a 25 bertram at the hook so we tied it back on and it has been like that for 4 years now!
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS EXCEPT YOU AND ME! AND IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT YOU!
carnarvonite
Posts: 8627
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Belt and wire
The drawbacks on using the belt is that the further you pull the boat up the greater effort needed because the diameter of the winch drum grow with each revolution and with wire , in no time at all it starts rusting and starts getting wires sticking out that give you a nasty scratch when ever you touch them. The cables are usually good for about two full seasons while dyneema rope lasts for 5-6 is about the same strength, easy to handle and maintenance free.
Lavs
Posts: 174
Date Joined: 30/04/12
I have just had my winch
I have just had my winch replaced... previous had Dyneema, the new one has a belt... couldnt for the life of me work out why it takes so much more effort to wind up - but makes perfect sense.
The belts are a pain in the ass too... seems to twist on the drum. Still have the old winch so think I'll pull the Dyneema off it and change it back.
As everyne else mentioned, steer clear of wire... for all the maintenance reasons but it can be real dangerous whe it breaks.
Prego
Posts: 135
Date Joined: 03/06/09
Dyneema rope is the beez kneez
I had an electric winch to haul up the 21 foot Chivers. Replaced the wire rope with Dyneema. Fantastic. So easy to handle. New boat has strap and it's a PITA (pain in the #%&!). Harder to winch up and it creeps to one side and then folds over then rubs on the side of the winch and gets frayed. I'll be replacing the strap with Dyneema soon. Can buy Dyneema by the metre at Boating Hardware O'Connor.
Swompa
Posts: 3786
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Highly recommend Dyneema. I
Highly recommend Dyneema. I can splice hooks in if you want?
mbusby
Posts: 88
Date Joined: 08/01/13
sorry to chirp in here , but
sorry to chirp in here , but I have steel wire and after reading this looking at replacing with Dyneema, ive gat a 4.5m glass
any suggestions on thickness on the Dyneema I see it comes in 4mm through to 44mm ,
sIttiNG AT woRK ,
tHINKing OF fISHIng
Prego
Posts: 135
Date Joined: 03/06/09
Can't recall exact size
But I reckon only about 6mm from memory. Wherever you buy it from will advise of the size if you have approx weight of boat. my Chivers was a heavy sucker but the dyneema didn't fill the winch like the wire did so in reality it was a smaller diam than the wire (with tension on it).
mbusby
Posts: 88
Date Joined: 08/01/13
Thanks Prego ,I can get it
Thanks Prego ,
I can get it wholesale through work, ive got a 4.5m glass boat not sure of exact weight but trailers only rated to a tun, maybe il play safe and get 8 or 10 mm ,
better safe than sorry right?
sIttiNG AT woRK ,
tHINKing OF fISHIng
Prego
Posts: 135
Date Joined: 03/06/09
8-10mm would be overkill
The 6.5m SeaMaster (Glass) would weigh way more than any 4.5m. But as I said the Dyneema rolls on the winch thinner than the wire so you'll probably have room for 8-10mm. Just one thing to watch, it does catch on roller split pins etc just like some rope so take a bit of care not to damage it. When it does catch though, it's easy to just flick it off the snag.
Swompa
Posts: 3786
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Diameter is sort of in
Diameter is sort of in proportion to tonne breaking in the smaller diameter's, but knots reduce the break strain by 50%.
6mm would be safe for all trailerable boats.
Brucesta
Posts: 1721
Date Joined: 29/05/09
i've got 7mm for my 21ft
i've got 7mm for my 21ft fibreglass beasty if this helps. 4-5mm would be ample for sure for a 4.5m boat.
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Cruise Control
Posts: 971
Date Joined: 03/11/10
I have used wire, belts and
I have used wire, belts and dyneema (spectra). Wire is high maintenance, dirty and bugger me they hurt if you get stabbed by a frayed wire. Belts are OK but can roll over on themselves.
I have used the dyneema rope now for 6 years. I actually broke the 1.75 tonne rope winching up but retied and it kept going for a couple if seasons until I replaced with the 3.5 tonne. Cost difference was little given peace of mind.. Still keep chained until boat is in the water though !
cheers
redhdc
Posts: 33
Date Joined: 13/01/13
Hi mate, after reading this
Hi mate, after reading this post,I changed my wire rope to the 7mm spectra rope.... Sooooo much easier and safer than the old wire cable. My boat is 18ft glass chivers and had no dramas at all. Best modification in ages.