Re: question about electric power winches.
I had my bow eye pull out of my 1988 Key West in c2005--on the trailer. The nuts that were originally installed apparently rusted away. This happened when I was trailering, had some hard bumps. Boat rolled back about a foot but the strap across the gunwales stopped it (roller trailer). As is SOP, the safety chain was hooked to the bow eye.
This is why the last thing that happens when retrieving is tossing the bow line into the boat. Helpers often toss them in when the boat is almost up. They are instructed, and do not repeat that mistake. If I am by myself, I tie the bow line off to the winch post. I have seen lines snap and boats relaunch themselves.
If your power winch isn't performing well you might need to rebuild the clutch. Also they can often be acquired at boat salvage yards.
I like having my winch hard-wired to the vehicle battery, too. And it stays nice and dry under the hood, charges nicely. If it's dead, I ain't winching that day anyway. But I also sometimes use loose cables and clamps to the car battery when switching vehicles. I would not have a battery on the trailer myself. Of course, the reason for a power winch in salt water is to keep the trailer out of the water in the first place, so dunking isn't an issue, but weather and theft are.
