I am interested the use of an electric winch to retrieve a Hunter 23.5. After investigating several types I have kind of settled on the Powerwinch RC30 as it can pull up to 11,000 pds. The Hunter trailer does not have rollers and so the last couple of feel is often a strain for the hand winch on the trailer. Is this a good solution or not?
Electric Trailer Winches
- Thread starter Thomas Dynneson
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Thom,
11K is a lot of poundage. I'll go out on a limb and say you weren't pulling much less than a ton with your hand winch. If it's a 12:1 gear ratio, and you applied 100 lbs to the handle, that's 1200 lbs. A bigger problem might be the line speed. A small motor can pull a lot of weight it it's geared properly. Weight goes up, speed comes down. So, it might mean a longer time holding the mast to the wind until the shrouds kick in.
11K is a lot of poundage. I'll go out on a limb and say you weren't pulling much less than a ton with your hand winch. If it's a 12:1 gear ratio, and you applied 100 lbs to the handle, that's 1200 lbs. A bigger problem might be the line speed. A small motor can pull a lot of weight it it's geared properly. Weight goes up, speed comes down. So, it might mean a longer time holding the mast to the wind until the shrouds kick in.
At $350-450 it might be over kill but I understand your issue. I retrieve our 260 with a big 12v winch that came on the trailer that I rebuilt to fit our boat. It's strong enough to pull the bow eye out of the boat. I like power but if it's so powerful that it won't warn you of impending snags or excess friction then it may be too much(think bull in a china shop).
I like buying American when I can but harbor freight has a line of 12v winches with a wired remote that'd do the job just fine(often on sale for $49). I've used one for years to winch on my old 240 and now step the mast on my 260 with one. I powered both with a versatile small portable jumpstart pack that'll easily do 3-4 retrievals, I then just stow the batt pack on the boat in case of emergency.
If it's a particularly steep/shallow ramp then clip a snatch block on the bow and do a 2-to-1 pull but be aware that there isn't anything substantial behind that bow eye unless you've added material like I had to.
Winch link:
http://www.harborfreight.com/2000-lb-capacity-remote-control-utility-winch-92860.html
Example of snatch block:
http://www.harborfreight.com/4000-lb-capacity-lifting-block-96013.html
good luck, Mike
I like buying American when I can but harbor freight has a line of 12v winches with a wired remote that'd do the job just fine(often on sale for $49). I've used one for years to winch on my old 240 and now step the mast on my 260 with one. I powered both with a versatile small portable jumpstart pack that'll easily do 3-4 retrievals, I then just stow the batt pack on the boat in case of emergency.
If it's a particularly steep/shallow ramp then clip a snatch block on the bow and do a 2-to-1 pull but be aware that there isn't anything substantial behind that bow eye unless you've added material like I had to.
Winch link:
http://www.harborfreight.com/2000-lb-capacity-remote-control-utility-winch-92860.html
Example of snatch block:
http://www.harborfreight.com/4000-lb-capacity-lifting-block-96013.html
good luck, Mike
Attachments
Might Try a Snatch Block First
Switch to a cable on the winch and put a snatch block on the bow eye.
Like this:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/NTESearch?storeId=6970&in_dym=1&Nty=1&D=than&Ntx=mode matchallpartial&N=0&Ntk=All&Ntt=winch snatch block&cmnosearch=PPC?&cm_ven=PPC&cm_cat=Google - K70&cm_pla=generic&cm_ite=winch snatch block
Only $69.99
Item# 17356
Portable Winch Snatch Block — Stainless Steel, 10,000-Lb. Break Strength, Model# PCA-1274 <IMG id=tooltip-lgImg17356 class=tooltipNR-lgImg title="Portable Winch Snatch Block — Stainless Steel, 10,000-Lb. Break Strength, Model# PCA-1274" alt="Portable Winch Snatch Block — Stainless Steel, 10,000-Lb. Break Strength, Model# PCA-1274" width=200 height=200>
Portable Winch Snatch Block — Stainless Steel, 10,000-Lb. Break Strength, Model# PCA-1274
Item# 17356
Only $69.99
ly $69.9
Switch to a cable on the winch and put a snatch block on the bow eye.
Like this:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/NTESearch?storeId=6970&in_dym=1&Nty=1&D=than&Ntx=mode matchallpartial&N=0&Ntk=All&Ntt=winch snatch block&cmnosearch=PPC?&cm_ven=PPC&cm_cat=Google - K70&cm_pla=generic&cm_ite=winch snatch block
Only $69.99
Item# 17356
Portable Winch Snatch Block — Stainless Steel, 10,000-Lb. Break Strength, Model# PCA-1274 <IMG id=tooltip-lgImg17356 class=tooltipNR-lgImg title="Portable Winch Snatch Block — Stainless Steel, 10,000-Lb. Break Strength, Model# PCA-1274" alt="Portable Winch Snatch Block — Stainless Steel, 10,000-Lb. Break Strength, Model# PCA-1274" width=200 height=200>
Portable Winch Snatch Block — Stainless Steel, 10,000-Lb. Break Strength, Model# PCA-1274
Item# 17356
Only $69.99
ly $69.9
My only reservations about a 12v winch for the trailer is:
- you don't have as much "feel" if something's sticking or caught, so it might be easier to break something
- if the 12v poops out, is it as easy to crank manually as the basic winch?
For our 19' boat, I don't mind the manual winch; it's easy enough. If we had something bigger, maybe I would also consider a powered winch.
- you don't have as much "feel" if something's sticking or caught, so it might be easier to break something
- if the 12v poops out, is it as easy to crank manually as the basic winch?
For our 19' boat, I don't mind the manual winch; it's easy enough. If we had something bigger, maybe I would also consider a powered winch.
11000# is a lot and it must really be geared down and is probably slow. You can get a two speed manual that should do the job-
http://www.easternmarine.com/Boat-Trailer-Hand-Winches/
I can't see needing anything bigger than one of these
Look on the winch you have and see if it has a rating.
Rich
http://www.easternmarine.com/Boat-Trailer-Hand-Winches/
I can't see needing anything bigger than one of these
Look on the winch you have and see if it has a rating.
Rich
After reading the responses I have decided to switch to a cable on the hand winch and to put a snatch block on the bow eye. Thanks for many thoughtful ideas and concerns. I have one more stupid question regarding the snatch block: Does it stay attached to the bow eye when sailing or should it be removed?
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