Be careful with your trailer winch

[Kermit]

I learned the hard way Wednesday just how much pressure a floating boat puts on a fully-wound winch strap. I released the little switch thing that allowed the boat to slide back while violently spinning the handle. I didn't see a doctor but my First Mate insists I should have. My pharmacist daughter says at the very least he would have put me on antibiotics. The swelling in my hand has subsided some and I'm able to bend my fingers a little now. That's the first and last time I'll ever do that with the boat partway in the water. Please learn from my mistake!

 

[justsomeguy]

I've broken so many small bones, I've lost track. Sorry. Will comply.

 

[Meriachee]

What about the little teeth in the idler. They say the winch is rated at 2500lbs. Where do we get these numbers from, the weight it will support if you drive over it? They sure don't hold the boat too well when it wants to stay in the lake.

 

[Capt jgw]

I've seen the pawls break on those things letting the handle spin. It can break your arm. I guess that's one more advantage to the electric ones. They still fail (maybe more often), but there's no handle to hit you.

 

[Kermit]

I've seen the pawls break on those things letting the handle spin. It can break your arm. I guess that's one more advantage to the electric ones. They still fail (maybe more often), but there's no handle to hit you.

That must be what caused it. The handle spun like nobody's business. Time to replace it! Oh, I have a little more movement in my fingers this morning.

 

[kito]

Happened to me too. Handle spun and whacked me on the top of the hand. Hurt like hell and swelled up. Found out it cracked my metacarpal bone. Doc had me wear one of those plastic removable cast for a week. Not much else they can do.

 

[woodster]

sorry about your hand Kermit.......i found out when launching the boat always use the winch for loading only ...hook a bow line to the boat and float it off with the winch disconnected....use the winch for pulling on the trailer only...wave action against the boat can be murder...get well ...hope it wasn't your trigger hand.....

 

[Capt jgw]

I had an electric winch on my last trailer boat. Not only no spinning handle, but I tied a string to the ON lever. Gets you out of the way should the cable part, and I could even stand on the dock and hold the boat in position while winching. Real handy. That boat was big enough that I often had to winch it off the trailer too.

 

[Kermit]

...get well ...hope it wasn't your trigger hand.....

Thanks Woodster. It is my trigger hand. It's getting better, though. It's to the point that I can communicate while driving. ;-)

 

[watercolors II]

A friend lost 3 fingers when he laid his left hand on top of the winch and the bow came down on top during launching at a new ramp.

 

[Kermit]

A friend lost 3 fingers when he laid his left hand on top of the winch and the bow came down on top during launching at a new ramp.

Jeepers. Dang I hate hearing that.

 

[Capt jgw]

It's the little things like this that will bite you. When you're in a situation that you know is dangerous, you're a lot more careful.

 

[woodster]

Thanks Woodster. It is my trigger hand. It's getting better, though. It's to the point that I can communicate while driving. ;-)

there is Karma and then there is Karma don't ya know

 

[uncledom]

Be careful winching up those electric winches. Had a customer loose his bow ring, pulled right out, and went straight thru the back window on his station wagon. Alot of force on that cable.

 

[Capt jgw]

That's why I don't want to be standing behind it.

 

[BudGates]

there is Karma and then there is Karma don't ya know

Yah, sure.

 

[Jackdaw]

Those things cost $29 brand new. They are designed and made as cheap as humanly possible. If they were made to marine standards (like by Lewmar) or certified for human suspension they would cost 20x more. But they don't. I would never stand behind anything held in place by one.

 

[Capt jgw]

Exactly! That's why I liked my electric one. I could be six feet away pulling on the string.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Gents;

Whenever the boat is winched up hard, any release will cause the winch under load to release quickly under tension spinning. I talked with Kermit today and this is what I have always suggested. First remember the winch is under load and when on a downhill ramp, the bow will raise up putting more load onto it. Therefore while the trailer is level, release the winch first allowing a little slack and then back it down the ramp and release the winch by standing in front of the handle making sure face is not near and with both hands one holding the winch handle while release the brake with the other and again out of the way of the winch handle, release it. The key is to put slack on the winch cable because the rear end has a tendacy to go down and the bow raises up. It worked for me.

 

[Gene Neill]

Sorry about that, Kermit!! Glad it wasn't worse.

Speaking of worse ... as bad as your experience was, the first thing I felt was relief when I read your post. I was thinking maybe you had pulled the eye right out of the bow, like Uncledom mentioned. I think I'd rather break my hand!!