Winch strap issue

[am_dew]

For some reason my winch strap wants to go off center then turns sideways on the side of the spool. This in turn causes the strap to get some slack in it causing the boat's bow to bounce a little. I'm not sure what is causing this...any ideas or suggestions? Thanks.

 

[timdan94]

Re: Winch strap issue

I winch the boat up like that then when it is secured by the safety chain or when you get to the prep area loosen the strap fix it and then tighten it down.

 

[am_dew]

Re: Winch strap issue

I winch the boat up like that then when it is secured by the safety chain or when you get to the prep area loosen the strap fix it and then tighten it down.

Thanks, but this happens even after I have retrieved the boat and loosened the strap and re-tightened it for travel. I'm thinking that my winch/winch stand might be just a little skewed to one side, so I am going to take a look at that.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Winch strap issue

Or the boat is loading off-center -- or the winch itself is not mounted square to the bow of the boat. Once again, pictures are worth a thousand words.

 

[am_dew]

Re: Winch strap issue

Or the boat is loading off-center -- or the winch itself is not mounted square to the bow of the boat. Once again, pictures are worth a thousand words.

Yes, it could be either of those or a combination of the two, although if the boat is loaded off-center. it's not off-center by very much because the bow eye is never off the center of the bow stop by more than an inch. I have pics but they are at home...will post tonite.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Winch strap issue

An inch off center on the boat is an inch off center on the winch strap because it has to pull sideways. This is the same principle that causes belts to jump off pulleys. If it pulls straight it will wind straight. If not it won't. If you've never tried to "guide" the strap as you winch in your will find it works well and doesn't require much effort.

 

[am_dew]

Re: Winch strap issue

Here is a pic taken a few years ago after I re-positioned the winch so that it allowed the bow stop to be above the bow eye. It used to be on top of the stand and towards the rear and obviosuly turned 180 degress from what you see here. It might be hard to tell from this pic but the strap comes off the top of the spool...do you think it would be better if it came off the bottom?

EDIT: I've added a 2nd pic below that shows the previous position of the winch. This is the way the boat/trailer came brand new in 1972 and when I inherited the boat from my father a few years ago, I did the modification knowing that the bow stop should be above the bow eye.

2nd EDIT: I found an up-to-date pic below...the strap does come off the bottom after all. Now I recall reversing it a while ago so that the the tightened strap and the end of the bow eye are in as straight a line as possible. Also, in this pic the strap is loose which is why you see the gap between the bow stop and the bow eye. I take most of the tension off the strap whenever I let the boat/trailer sit and always re-tighten it before moving the trailer/boat. And yes, there is some clearance between the spare tire and the bow.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Winch strap issue

You probably have the winch mounted a bit cocked to one side, other than that there's not much you can do to solve the problem other than use a cable.

It may well be that the trailer tongue itself is out of line of the boat a bit, especially if it's a tilt trailer.
This is one of the negatives to using a winch strap vs. a cable. It may just well be a matter of having to guide the strap by hand onto the spool a bit to get proper alignment. Just like cranking a conventional fishing reel.

 

[am_dew]

Re: Winch strap issue

It's not a tilt trailer, but you're right the winch/stand might be a little off to one side. I'll take a close look this weekend. Oh, and I do guide the strap on by hand to insure it spools properly.

 

[dlngr]

Re: Winch strap issue

I don't see a safety chain...

 

[am_dew]

Re: Winch strap issue

I don't see a safety chain...

That's on my "to do" list and will be installed this weekend.

Any suggestions on where it should attach to the trailer? I presume mounting it to the winch post is not preferred, so I was thinking I would attach it to the frame under the spare tire and the chain would run up through the middle of the tire's rim.

 

[boat1010]

Re: Winch strap issue

It looks a lot better with the roller on the top. Gives the winch something to pull it down to and hold in place. I think that either way with the strap would have been good.

 

[am_dew]

Re: Winch strap issue

It looks a lot better with the roller on the top. Gives the winch something to pull it down to and hold in place. I think that either way with the strap would have been good.

By "roller on top" are you referring to the middle pic where the winch is on top of the stand? If so, there is no way to get the bow stop above the bow eye when the winch is installed on top, which was the whole reason I changed it's location to where it is now (under the stand).

 

[soaringhiggy]

Re: Winch strap issue

I do not think that the chain through the spare tire is a good idea, the boat would slip a long way before being arrested by the chain, If you want to take the chain down to the trialer frame, I would take it up the stantion and through the winch mounting bracket. You want the chain to come tight and stop the boat with minimal movement, speed and impulse when it is arrested.

My 0.02 anyway.

 

[am_dew]

Re: Winch strap issue

I do not think that the chain through the spare tire is a good idea, the boat would slip a long way before being arrested by the chain, If you want to take the chain down to the trialer frame, I would take it up the stantion and through the winch mounting bracket. You want the chain to come tight and stop the boat with minimal movement, speed and impulse when it is arrested.

My 0.02 anyway.

Thanks. It may not look that way in the pic, but I think the the bow eye is not too far off from being directly above the middle of the spare tire. If that is the case, would that change your mind?

 

[mla2ofus]

Re: Winch strap issue

I can't tell looking at the pic's. Is the strap the same width as the winch drum? If not, that would be the cause of the problem.
JMHO,
Mike

 

[am_dew]

Re: Winch strap issue

I can't tell looking at the pic's. Is the strap the same width as the winch drum? If not, that would be the cause of the problem.
JMHO,
Mike

I will check when I get to the boat this weekend but in any case, I've ordered a new 2" strap since it was time to replace it anyway. As I was online shopping, I noticed that there are 1 7/8" straps out there, so perhaps the one on there now is one of those.

 

[Zeeter]

Re: Winch strap issue

By "roller on top" are you referring to the middle pic where the winch is on top of the stand? If so, there is no way to get the bow stop above the bow eye when the winch is installed on top, which was the whole reason I changed it's location to where it is now (under the stand).

Sure there is. Raise the winch stand and move the whole thing forward.

 

[am_dew]

Re: Winch strap issue

Sure there is. Raise the winch stand and move the whole thing forward.

OK, but then how do I get the strap under the bow stop?

 

[Zeeter]

Re: Winch strap issue

Open up the area behind the roller. Yours is pretty tight.