Electric Boat Trailer Winches

[tboltmike]

Does anyone use these to winch in their boats? I haven't seen posts on these.

I don't like to sink my hubs, but it makes for a long winch in. Luckily my rig came with a Power Winch that I have gotten spoiled in using. However, it is getting long in the tooth.

I would make life simpler to have a unit with a remote switch. It would be nice to motor up to the trailer, have the cable spooled out to the trailer guide, hook it to the bow eye and press the fob and be winched in.

Iboats has some good deals on some models, but the reviews are scarce but have a wide range of ratings.

Would like to know your experiences and recommendations. Look for something the 2000 to 5000 lb pull rating.

Thanks, Mike

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Electric Boat Trailer Winches

There have been a number of posts regaurding electric winches, use the search function.

I would love to have one also but just too cheep to buy one and then install all the wiring to it. I use a primative gravel ramp most of the time to were I have to use the tilt bed on the trailer and winch it all the way up. I also boat alone most of the time and it would really help after a long day of fishing.

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Electric Boat Trailer Winches

Mike, I moved up from 18' to 21' last summer and realized I would need help. I purchased a Powerwinch 912 from iboats and have been very pleased. I had the same concerns about the wiring as mentioned by bonz_d. So I came up with a tender box for a battery and accessories that is mounted to the trailer behind the winch post. Fits real nicely under the bow when the boat is loaded. Opened the winch box, unwrapped all the parts and installed everything in about an hour.

When retrieving, I let out a few feet of cable and drape it over the bow roller. Then motor the boat up until I can grab it and the pull chord to operate the winch. Can't get any easier in my book. Let me know if you want pics.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Electric Boat Trailer Winches

My current boat was hand winched on only once - the first time. Then I bought a Powerwinch and have been enjoying effortless boating for 28 years. My last roller on the trailer is put at water level and the boat is winched in the full 19 feet.

The switch on the winch has a hole in it that fits an s-hook perfectly. I mounted an eye hook on the winch stand opposite the switch. Thread a cord with the s-hook thru the eye bolt and attach to the switch. The cord is 20' long, so I can walk out the dock and hold the gunnel to guide the stem right into the last roller. No matter where I stand the cord always pulls straight onto the switch. Single handed loading is a piece of cake. When i'm done, I store the cord by wrapping it around 2 hooks that I mounted on the winch stand.

 

[tboltmike]

Re: Electric Boat Trailer Winches

Thanks for the posts. I like the ideas of the switch cord.
My 35 year old 712 Power Winch has been a work horse. However, this month it has intermittenly failed to energize with the switched on. I checked the switch lug connections. Still have to check the cord. But was concerned that maybe the motor brushes or commutator may be at fault. The switch is crimped closed, so the contacts are not readily inspectable.

I thought about winding the switch cord onto an old casting reel and placing in the opened of the side roller guide. Before backing the trailer, the winch strap can be extended on the trailer and the reel put in place. When approaching the trailer, the strap can be connected, the reel can be retrieved, the slack taken up and winch energized. All without leaving the boat.

I have the winch power cable running from the battery to a trolling motor connection near the hitch. This is the second truck the wire has been xfered to to.

The storage box is good idea as I put the winch in the truck when boating.

Thanks, Mike

 

[loose rivet]

Re: Electric Boat Trailer Winches

As far as I know parts are available for those winches. I had to replaced a broken gear on a 912 a few months back and that was available.
It seems to me they sell a motor replacement kit too.
On my boats, which are all fairly light, I use only a manual winch, I rarely know which truck I'll be taking home for the weekend from work so they would all need to be wired for a winch. My one trailer came new with a battery box on the tongue and a 316 winch already installed but I removed it and hung a manual winch on it.
Power winches are also too slow for me, at best I'll use a good two speed manual and just crank the boat on fast.
I have both roller and bunk trailers and several boats, but have never felt the need so far for a power winch.
Of course I have a few buddies who's boats and trailers pretty much require them.
Also, my thinking is that a manual winch is far more reliable since there's no motor to fail, no switch to go bad, and if you ever cranked a big boat onto a trailer using that thing they call an emergency handle you know what I mean.

A manual winch also is less likely to get stolen at the ramp while your out fishing. A friend of mine thought he had the thieves outsmarted when he welded the nuts holding the winch to the trailer in place, and the same for the U bolts for the winch stand. They sawed off the whole winch stand about a half way and took everything. They also got his two brand new LED taillights. What's even worse he was only gone for a few hours during a weekday. Unfortunately thieves have discovered rechargeable power saws.

 

[moi]

Re: Electric Boat Trailer Winches

I got an old PowerWinch from my Brother-in-law who was upgrading to a unit with remote control. Installed it on a LoadRite trailer for my 14 foot Sylvan. Bro-in-Law loads by lining up the bow with the first trailer roller in the stern, hooks up the cable, and backs the trailer into the water while operating the remote from the drivers seat. I recently added a remote to my winch that I put together with components I found on-line. It's working good with only one "bug" that still needs to be worked out.

 

[tboltmike]

Re: Electric Boat Trailer Winches

MOI, got plans for the remote? Bugs?
I went thru mine today. Found one of the lead lug screws loose on the housing recpticle. I checked out all of the other connections. Even opened up the motor. Brushes and commutator were all good..Bosch motor. Cleaned up the friction pad and assembly, lubed the gears. Stills pulls like an ox.

 

[Mason78]

Re: Electric Boat Trailer Winches

Let me know if you want pics.

I am interested to see the set-up. If you get time....a pic would be great!

 

[moi]

Re: Electric Boat Trailer Winches

MOI, got plans for the remote? Bugs?
I went thru mine today. Found one of the lead lug screws loose on the housing recpticle. I checked out all of the other connections. Even opened up the motor. Brushes and commutator were all good..Bosch motor. Cleaned up the friction pad and assembly, lubed the gears. Stills pulls like an ox.

Sorry for the slow response, Mike. I found a relatively inexpensive remote/radio and a 30~40amp relay on line and parallel wired the N.O. relay contacts to the manually operated switch.

The bug I have to sort out is that the relay "pulses" when the remote is operated. I think it needs a capacitor wired across the relay contacts but just haven't had a chance to add one. Maybe this week tho.

BTW, Wasn't much room inside the housing but I did get it worked out. I'll try posting a pic later.

 

[Dodger1234]

Re: Electric Boat Trailer Winches

I am interested to see the set-up. If you get time....a pic would be great!

X2.
Dodger1234

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Electric Boat Trailer Winches

Here you go...

 

[Dodger1234]

Re: Electric Boat Trailer Winches

Thanks !
Dodger1234

 

[Quit It]

Re: Electric Boat Trailer Winches

I'm going to need a new winch and was considering electric. Does anyone have experience with the TRAC or RC30? I see one negative review on iboats store for the smaller TRAC. I don't want to spend $600-700 on one. Maybe I should just by a http://www.harborfreight.com/automo...lb-capacity-12-volt-electric-winch-96455.html . For $100 I could carry a spare.

I'm getting a 26-28' EC around 6,500-7,500 loaded, and thought the wireless remote control would be helpful. I now realize that there's no way to reach the eyelet from the bow.

Thanks