Bow of boat hits winch when loading onto trailer

[spcali]

I just purchased a boat and am having difficulty figuring this out. It’s an 2006 Maxum 1800mx with a 2006 Karavan trailer. The bot matches the trailer but appears to have a poor design as it doesn’t rest on the blue rollers. Maybe I overlooked something, but am looking for ideas prior to taking it in.

When loading the boat onto the trailer, the front of the bow scraps the winch. If I understand correctly, the hook that latches onto the winch should be above the “blue rollers”.

When loading, if I place it this way the boat sits directly on the metal winch (hits the circle part of winch -see yellow box) and scraps the front of the boat. Currently I have it back so it won’t scratch it more but it bounces significantly when towing it.

The bunk boards aren’t broken, and there is no adjustment to raise the bunk up.

I was planning on lowering the front portion of to the bottom holes(see black box photo). I think if I do this it might help, but believe this will be lower then the winch.
All help is appreciated, just looking for some ideas a quick fix.

 

[roscoe]

Hook should be BELOW the roller.

Winch post needs to be raised. NOT lowered.

Safety chain should be BELOW the roller.
Ideally safety chain or strap should go down to the frame/tongue.

If possible, winch mounting surface should be angled up, so the rollers are higher. This will also drop the winch so is doesn't hit the hull.

But start by raising the winch post.

 

[GA_Boater]

Have you looked at the black box to see if the winch tower can be raised? Yes, raised, not lowered.

 

[bruceb58]

This is how my winch and roller is configured. Strap goes under the roller. You might be able to get yours modified like mine.

I also wonder if it would be possible to redrill the holes holding on the winch portion to the post so it's tilted up to allow the strap to travel under the roller.

 

[ahicks]

Agree on most opinions, but 3 primarily. The trailer is likely being backed in too far, and the winch stand angle is incorrect. Last is that chain. The end not fastened to the boat should go to the trailer frame, not the winch stand.

 

[JimS123]

When you crank the winch handle to load the boat which way do you turn it? Clockwise or CCW?

 

[spcali]

Thanks all for help… I had the chance to look into it further, and discovered the two front bolts sheared off only leaving the heads(circled in yellow). It appeared the bolts where there until I removed the whole unit. Didn’t also realize I can adjust the angle as it’s hidden on the outside.I replaced the bolts with grade 8, and now have the right angle to make contact with the boat. I will also move the strap below….
Thanks again for all the help truly appreciated!!

 

[Stonehauler]

When you crank the winch handle to load the boat which way do you turn it? Clockwise or CCW?

It depends on which gear you are using, low speed high torque or high speed low torque.

 

[JimS123]

It depends on which gear you are using, low speed high torque or high speed low torque.

That makes no sense. High or low speed gearing always go the same direction.

 

[bruceb58]

That makes no sense. High or low speed gearing always go the same direction.

All my two speed winches change direction depending on what speed you pick.

Of course...doesn't matter in this thread since the OP has a single speed winch.

 

[dingbat]

That makes no sense. High or low speed gearing always go the same direction.

Agree..have never seen or used a winch that reversed when switching gears.

https://www.etrailer.com/tv-Demo-Fulton-Trailer-Winch-F142421.aspx

 

[Horigan]

That makes no sense. High or low speed gearing always go the same direction.

Not on my winch. Mine switches direction also in low speed mode since it's introducing another gear between the handle and the cable/strap drum. The video above illustrates the change in direction when switching gears... The handle rotation reverses when retrieving when switching between low and high speed mode.

 

[bruceb58]

Agree..have never seen or used a winch that reversed when switching gears.

https://www.etrailer.com/tv-Demo-Fulton-Trailer-Winch-F142421.aspx

Maybe you should watch the video you just posted. It clearly changes the direction of the handle rotation when you change gears.

2:10 on the video.

Don't even need a mechanical engineer to figure this one out.

 

[poconojoe]

Just wondering...
If the handle reverses when switching gears, does the spool still crank in the same direction?
I assume the spool is not affected, just the handle reverses. Am I assuming correctly?
I would think it would be a total mess if the spool reversed too.

 

[Stonehauler]

Just wondering...
If the handle reverses when switching gears, does the spool still crank in the same direction?
I assume the spool is not affected, just the handle reverses. Am I assuming correctly?
I would think it would be a total mess if the spool reversed too.

That is correct. It's just the way the gearing works. To turn the spool counterclockwise with direct drive (the gear you are driving with the handle that turns the spool) and the spool turns clockwise. Shift to the reduction gear and you have to turn the handle clockwise to get the spool to turn clockwise.

 

[poconojoe]

That is correct. It's just the way the gearing works. To turn the spool counterclockwise with direct drive (the gear you are driving with the handle that turns the spool) and the spool turns clockwise. Shift to the reduction gear and you have to turn the handle clockwise to get the spool to turn clockwise.

I figured it worked that way.
It would be an awful mess if the spool reversed too!
Thanks for the explanation.

 

[JimS123]

You learn something new every day. The only 2-speed winches I ever owned were 40 years ago and they didn't work like that. Gotta love my Powerwinch (brand). No cranking, just a button.....LOL.

 

[poconojoe]

You learn something new every day. The only 2-speed winches I ever owned were 40 years ago and they didn't work like that. Gotta love my Powerwinch (brand). No cranking, just a button.....LOL.

Nice!
Just push a button. Cool!

I never had an electric trailer winch.
What feeds the winch? Does it have it's own battery? If so, what keeps it charged?
My breakaway battery gets charged whenever the trailer harness is plugged into my truck. Does it work that way?
Or maybe it's wired to the tow vehicle's battery?

 

[JimS123]

Nice!
Just push a button. Cool!

I never had an electric trailer winch.
What feeds the winch? Does it have it's own battery? If so, what keeps it charged?
My breakaway battery gets charged whenever the trailer harness is plugged into my truck. Does it work that way?
Or maybe it's wired to the tow vehicle's battery?

For many many years I had a dedicated tow car and the winch electric cable was threaded thru the interior and connected to the battery. I retired that classic Bonneville a few years ago and now its just used for Cruise Night.

Currently I have several boats, all equipped with a Powerwinch, all with QD fasteners. Switching from one boat to another takes about 20 seconds. So, I only need 1 winch.

Since I have 3 potential towcars, I opted to have a single dedicated 12V battery in a black plastic battery box, and just put it in the trunk when i go boating. I only have 1 boat in the water at a time.

The battery is charged in the Spring, and I never have to recharge it again till fall. 20 or so boat launches each Summer hardly drains the battery at all.

 

[poconojoe]

For many many years I had a dedicated tow car and the winch electric cable was threaded thru the interior and connected to the battery. I retired that classic Bonneville a few years ago and now its just used for Cruise Night.

Currently I have several boats, all equipped with a Powerwinch, all with QD fasteners. Switching from one boat to another takes about 20 seconds. So, I only need 1 winch.

Since I have 3 potential towcars, I opted to have a single dedicated 12V battery in a black plastic battery box, and just put it in the trunk when i go boating. I only have 1 boat in the water at a time.

The battery is charged in the Spring, and I never have to recharge it again till fall. 20 or so boat launches each Summer hardly drains the battery at all.

Thanks for the explanation!
That's cool that you move the winch from trailer to trailer.

I'd like to see that Bonneville!
I was a Pontiac guy back in the day.
My Mom had a '64 Catalina. Man that car was something! It was a beast with that 389.
The power brakes and steering were crazy powerful.
I took my road test for my driver's license in that big boat when I was 17.

I had an Uncle that had several big Pontiacs.
I remember asking him what the "S" was for on the (automatic) shifter. He said "SUPER" and then he left a patch of rubber. My Aunt was furious.

My first car was a (6 year old) '69 Tempest, with an overhead cam 6 cylinder and a "three on the tree". The shifter linkage used to jam up. I would have to open the hood and jiggle it to free it up.
I later dropped in a (Pontiac) 428 from a Bonneville.
Got an M-21 tranny and Hurst shifter from a parted out Camaro.
Hayes street and strip clutch, headers, Hush Thrust mufflers, chrome Cragar SS 10" in the rear with L60's and 7" with D70's up front. Etc..etc..Too much to list...

Later on I had a '73 Le Mans.
Fun days!