Anybody replace a trailer winch

[Mike Pajewski]

Hey guys,Anybody ever replace the winch on their Hunter trailer. It has always seemed that my winch was undersized for the application. I am also tired of the strap breaking every fall. I would like to install a winch that uses a steel cable. Any suggestions?Mike PajewskiH26 "Loon"

 

[Ray Bowles]

Mike, Replacement winches or winch parts are

available through all marine stores, West Marine etc. Straping is also available. If you want bullet proof straping then buy one of the car/truck recovery yellow 2 1/2" straps that are about 20 feet long and have an industrial conveyor belt dealer sew it up to fit your winch. It will be as strong as steel cable and will give rather than break like a steel cable. Now we have gone through the nice part.If you try to use a steel cable to pull your boat onto your trailer then 1 of 2 things will happen: #1. The boat will slow down about 1 foot from the V block and as you crank harder the last thing you will see is the outboard motor as it hits you in the face. You will have just pulled the guts out of your boat!!...or... #2. The cable WILL break (or boat bow u-bolt) and the broken end will cut your arm/hand/face off. The most deadly industrial accident is one caused by a tightened cable that breaks and then whipsaws back on the operator! I am sorry that I am so harsh about this but this same cable breaking item killed a very good friend. I don't want to lose a fellow Hunter friend or anyone else. Now for the solution to your problem of the Hunter 26 that will not slide all the way up on the trailer. West Marine has a product called "Trailer Glyde Sliks".(Model # 171327 for 20' @ $34.99 and # 171319 for 16' @ $29.99) They are plastic, teflon like strips that you install on the trailer bunks. You can also buy teflon strips at many industrial plastic supply houses and mount them with countersunk screws. That means you must also counter sink the teflon strip. Screws every 6 inchs work fine. The strips should be 2 1/2 to 3" wide and fit at least the front half of each bunk.You must remember that if you increase the strap strength then something else must break if the strap doesn't. Like the bow of the boat where the bow eye bolts on.Go in peace fellow trailer warrior.RayS/V Speedy95 H26

 

[Gerard]

replaced winch

If you have the original winch on your trailer then it probably *is* undersized for the job. A couple years ago as I was bringing our H26 out of the water, several of the teeth on sprocket on our winch broke off. I had the brake on, but when the teeth broke, it made the brake useless, the arm swung back and shattered my wrist. At least now I don't need a barometer to tell when the weather will change. I put a post up here telling about it and suggesting everyone upgrade their winch. I forget the company who supplied the winch for our Hunter trailer, but they gladly sent me the largest winch they made. I think it's rated to 3500 lbs. I highly suggest changing. It was just a matter of undoing four bolts, changing the winch, and redoing the four bolts. I used a new strap, as I prefer it to the cable. Good luck.

 

[Chris Haraway]

Strapping is much safer...

Ray is correct about the danger and overall performance of steel cable. Webbing straps are every bit as strong and are much safer to use. A structural failure will occur only after very visible wear or damage has occurred to the webbing. The fact that you have not been injured by your broken strap is testament enough. If a steel cable breaks, the operator *is* in real danger of serious injury. Inspect the webbing at the beginning of each season, before use.I have a 1988 Hunter 18.5 with a shoal draft keel. The winch is clearly undersized, and after reading about that guy's wrist, I will change it soon. Besides the teflon strips, you might want to consider converting to wheels, rather than bunks.