Another winch question...

[for country]

My Crownline is approx 3000lbs. I'm looking at replacing the winch with a Fulton F2. Can I get away with the 2000 lbs rated one or should I play it safe and go with the 3200.thanks

 

[sweet addiction]

Re: Another which question...

Re: Another which question...

I would go with the bigger one myself.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Another which question...

Re: Another which question...

My 3000# boat came came from the factory with a 1600# winch.
It would do the job but it was at it's, and my, winching limit.
If the boat stopped moving, getting it started again was a real chore.

The 1600/2000 F2's are single speed winches.
The 3200 is a 2 speed winch. The handle is Port side only, if it matters.

I found a brand new 3200# F2 on ebay for $75 in a very distressed packaging box. (Who Cares!)
The high gear is the typical 5:1 ratio of singe speed winches.
At 16:1 the low gear allows the admiral to winch the boat up to the bow stop.
All the parts are castings not stamped.
With a 2 speed planetary gear transmission, the F2's quality can't be overstated.
Impressively well built!

 

[sweet addiction]

Re: Another which question...

Re: Another which question...

My 3000# boat came came from the factory with a 1600# winch.
It would do the job but it was at it's, and my, winching limit.
If the boat stopped moving, getting it started again was a real chore.

The 1600/2000 F2's are single speed winches.
The 3200 is a 2 speed winch. The handle is Port side only, if it matters.

I found a brand new 3200# F2 on ebay for $75 in a very distressed packaging box. (Who Cares!)
The high gear is the typical 5:1 ratio of singe speed winches.
At 16:1 the low gear allows the admiral to winch the boat up to the bow stop.
All the parts are castings not stamped.
With a 2 speed planetary gear transmission, the F2's quality can't be overstated.
Impressively well built!

Good point on the 2 speed Uncle Willie.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Another which question...

Re: Another which question...

My Crownline is approx 3000lbs. I'm looking at replacing the winch with a Fulton F2. Can I get away with the 2000 lbs rated one or should I play it safe and go with the 3200.thanks

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,... Yer just tryin' to slide the barge up the wagon,...

Not Lift the entire thing,...

I'd think the 1 ton would be Plenty of Winch...

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Another which question...

Re: Another which question...

...Yer just tryin' to slide the barge up the wagon,...Not Lift the entire thing,...
I'd think the 1 ton would be Plenty of Winch...

Yep! a 2000# winch would do the job.
But a 3200# 2 speed winch would make it even easier.
A little overkill? Yes!

Nobody ever complained that the boat was too EASY to winch!

The 1600# winch did the job. But the 3200# 2 speed is three times easier and actually faster.
I need to turn the handle 3 times more, but I can turn it 4 times faster because it is so much easier.

If the admiral does the winching, I barely break a sweat! :facepalm:

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Another winch question...

My Crownline is approx 3000lbs. I'm looking at replacing the winch with a Fulton F2. Can I get away with the 2000 lbs rated one or should I play it safe and go with the 3200.thanks

I have a 6000 lb boat and a 3200 lb winch. I can't imagine ever needing a 3200 lb winch for a 3000 lb boat. If you ever have trouble winching it up the trailer, just back the trailer into the water a little further and the effort required to turn the winch handle will be dramatically reduced.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Another winch question...

/|\ +1
.|

There is something to be said for not going for complete overkill on the winch... If your fiberglass is a little soft or even if the eyelet is a little undersized or corroded, your chances of ripping it out and launching it directly at your face are much higher! Better to back in more if possible.

 

[four winns 214]

Re: Another winch question...

My Crownline is approx 3000lbs. I'm looking at replacing the winch with a Fulton F2. Can I get away with the 2000 lbs rated one or should I play it safe and go with the 3200.thanks

I replaced the 1800 lb OEM winch on my Four Winns trailer with a Fulton F2 and use it to winch my 21' deck boat. It does a terrific job. I agree with the other posters that if winching a 3,000 lb boat becomes too difficult with a 2,000 lb winch, then the trailer needs to be a little deeper. Or consider lubing the bunks with silicone spray. I do and it works wonders.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Another winch question...

The "bigger" the winch the slower the winch, so factor that in. One poster bought a power winch that was way too big for his boat and found it took forever to pull up, which is a relationship problem at a busy ramp.

But a factor on speed is your distance. A salt water boater keeps the trailer out of the water as much as possible and has a longer distance to crank (which is why we use power winches). Soem fresh water boaters only crank the last 4 feet or so.

Just something to consider.

 

[frantically relaxing]

Re: Another winch question...

4 feet? I put my trailer in so the boat idles in and settles on the front of the bunks about 4 INCHES from the bow stop. If I had to crank the Chap 4' every time I'd be too tired to drive home!


so yes-- if you can, back the trailer up farther!

(and I'm curious why a salt water boater keeps the trailer out of the water farther, considering most of it has to be submerged anyway?)

 

[gm280]

Re: Another winch question...

There are a few things to consider here. First there is a huge difference between sliding weight and lifting weight and even rolling weight. If you need to lift that rig up onto the trailer for any reason (like dropping your boat on the ramp), you need one that is as strong as the weight of the boat. If you are only worried about sliding it on the trailer from the water, then a much smaller winch will work. Sliding/pulling weight and rolling weight/pull are so much easier then lifting weight...

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Another winch question...

Is there anything wrong with the current winch? Or do you just want to change it because you don't trust/like it?

You are not trying to lift the boat up, only pull the boat into place on the trailer and hold it there while you travel, its not like you need to lift and place the boat on the trailer, simply adjusting your launch/retrieve technique slightly may make all the difference, your trailer could also need to be adjusted.

I had a problem with my last boat, it was difficult to retrieve the boat just wasn't happy the only thing that actually worked was readjusting the bunks so the boat set on it, I wasted money on a new winch and all the time the bunks were the issue.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Another winch question...

4 feet? I put my trailer in so the boat idles in and settles on the front of the bunks about 4 INCHES from the bow stop. If I had to crank the Chap 4' every time I'd be too tired to drive home!


so yes-- if you can, back the trailer up farther!

(and I'm curious why a salt water boater keeps the trailer out of the water farther, considering most of it has to be submerged anyway?)

Around here, people don't typically keep a boat as big as yours on a trailer and have to go through the whole drill every time they want to go for a boat ride.
True, the bigger the boat, the more you have to submerge the trailer (which is why salties don't trailer big boats). But with a properly rigged trailer (rollers) and a properly built ramp (finger pier) you reduce and perhaps eliminate the need to submerge much, if any, of the trailer. That does, however, require more winching, instead of power loading.
We constantly get posts here like "I just drove past some salt water do I have to flush my motor?" while the same people sink their trailers in salt water and never wash out the insides or the workings.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Another winch question...

Lets put some numbers to it.....

Recommended ramp slope is a 12-15% grade. ~7-8 degrees.
Assume 10% coefficient of friction on the bunks.
Friction and the slope will need about ~25% of the boats weight to pull it up.

I Measured my 1600# winch with a full strap.
Strap is 4" diameter. 2" Radius.
Handle is 6" long. (Radius)
Gear Ratio is 5.1 :1
Overall pulling ratio is 6/2*5.1 = 15.3 with the winch hook at the bow eye.

A 3000# boat will need ~750# of pull to get it up the Bunks.

750# / 15.3 = 49# of Force at the handle.
The fully rated 1600# /15.3 = 100#+ at the end of the pull. Who are they kidding.
That is why winches are Rating with the spool almost empty!

That means you will need to deliver 50# around the crank circle. Pull, Press, Push, Lift!
No wonder I about die getting the job done.
The push/pull part is not as bad as getting that handle up the back side!
Try lifting a 50# bag at arms length!

Shifting the winch into low gear (16:1) gets the handle force to well under 20#.
I can live with that! So can the Admiral!

Even with it pulling in the strap 3 time slower, I am able to crank it more than 3 times faster.
It actually speeds up the process slightly.

Is a 3200# 2 speed winch needed? No! Not any more than an electric winch!
Is it overkill? Maybe!
Is it a convenience that makes the job easier? You Bet!
Watching the guys at the ramp watch the Admiral winch the boat up; Priceless!

------------------------------------
Looking at it the other way around;
If the boat has 15% of its weight pulling it back and 10% friction holding it on...
Once you overcome the starting friction, it is going to self launch!
Keep that bow strap on until you are in the water!