Recommendations for a two-speed, manually operated winch

R

rogerbum

New member
I've pretty much had it with the electric winch I bought originally with the boat. The clutch doesn't stay tight after winching and is hard to loosen to launch, it's another electric thing to maintain good connections on and it also limits towing with someone else's vehicle (since they usually don't have a connector near the hitch to power the winch). So what would you recommend for a 2-speed, manually operated winch?
 
If you've got a bunk trailer and Dan's winch you'd better eat more than
Wheaties! Whew!

Probably the Fulton 3700# two speed winch that DaNag has is the best bet in a manual winch. It is so good that Bill's pointing dog can winch the boat up
(bunk trailer) while Bill is whipping out latte's. It's a little spendy but it is a real serious minimum effort winch. PM Bill for his thoughts. Bill's and other comments on another thread discuss this.
 
3rd Byte":3ue14i4w said:
Bill's and other comments on another thread discuss this.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's been mentioned a couple times before. Here's one thread, and here's a post where it's mentioned.

Short version - it's great, I'll never get another trailer without one. On low gear, I can easily crank a 22 up dry bunks.

As Mark pointed out, it is pricey if you buy new. However, we found a new one for the C-Lou's on eBay a while back, and got it for less than half price.
 
Hi all,

I'm in transit towing Tortuga from Ventura to the San Juans for a week in flat (hopefully) water. To keep the boat from vibrating in the bow stop I've winched in tight -- really tight. Now everytime I hit some rough road I have a vision of the bow eye exploding through the hull.

This keeps me looking at the boat rather than at the road (well it seems that way anyway...).

So, as I'm driving through Red Bluff the question finally hits me. How much weight can the bow eye really handle? I've got a safety chain, but it's also attached to the bow eye.

Thanks for any thoughts.

Matt
 
Matt, if it worries you that much, buy one of those 2" wide straps with the ratchet device on it and put it across the bow just AFT of the big cleat and hook the ends to the trailer frame, leading the ends slightly forward to keep the bow down and tight against the trailer. I use one aft, at the cockpit but have never felt the need for one forward. I don't tow much though.

Charlie
 
You will not pull the bow eye thru the hull with a normal trailer winch or trailering. I keep my 25 very tight with a 2 speed winch (broke the origional strap which came with the cheaper winch which came with the trailer--I figured that the strap broke at 1500 lbs load plus.

If you are really worried, (which you should not be)--then make a backing block, put it in the "V" of the hull with mish mash and epoxy, and make an aluminum or SS backing plate for the block.
 
Thanks Charlie and Bob -- sometimes the best approach is the simplist. I'll attach a supplemental strap as Charlie suggested -- and have the added confidence of Bob's experience that my bow eye won't dislodge.

We've been in Portland the last couple of days -- actually been hotter here than in Ventura -- and we'll make the push to Anacortes tomorrow.

Thanks again! If anyone sees a Green trimmed 22 around Friday Harbor with 3 kids hollering at their dad you'll know it's me!

Matt
 
Charlie,

Good idea to add that bow strap tie down. We already use the stern strap plus the transom ones if we are traveling. (We don't consider from home to the marina traveling - 3 miles at 35mph.)

Enjoy the islands.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
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