Trailer 12V winch!?!?!?

[impatico]

I bought a boat last year and that last guy put a 12V ATV winch on the trailer with a wooden car battery box u bolted to the frame. the battery has zero life and the winch needs some internal cleaning.

So my question is would you guys keep the winch and fix it up? or put a proper hand winch on?

it's a 16ft fiberglass w/115

if I did keep the winch I will have a plug in to my truck and scrap the battery.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Trailer 12V winch!?!?!?

Ayuh,... Personally, I'd put a hand crank winch on it....

 

[mla2ofus]

Re: Trailer 12V winch!?!?!?

If you decide to keep the winch, you'd be better off w/ a batt on the tlr and a charge wire from the vehicle to the batt. Personally, I'm w/ Bondo, the hand winch is vitually trouble free w/ proper maintenance.
Mike

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Trailer 12V winch!?!?!?

electric winches are really only good for people that have some physical limitation with cranking a hand winch. If that doesn't apply, its going to be nothing but a headache for you.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Trailer 12V winch!?!?!?

for a 16 ftr? I'd feel silly using that 12v..

 

[papyson]

Re: Trailer 12V winch!?!?!?

i just replaced the hand winch that came with a 17 foot heavy alum boat with a 300 pound motor etc with a 2000 pound hand winch for around 75 bucks....works great....the hand winch i had before was too small....a friend of mine has a electric winch and its broken...piece of junk....a good one cost too much to be practical for me....and who needs to worry about the battery and wiring etc...

 

[impatico]

Re: Trailer 12V winch!?!?!?

The only thing I liked about the hand winch was I could use it while in the boat so no need for help most of the people I go out with are impotent when it comes to boating lol

I will get a hand cranker and put the winch on our spare ATV!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Trailer 12V winch!?!?!?

The only thing I liked about the hand winch was I could use it while in the boat so no need for help most of the people I go out with are impotent when it comes to boating lol

I will get a hand cranker and put the winch on our spare ATV!

I think you'll be happy with that choice... I hand crank my 10,000 lb cruiser a couple times a week and have ZERO use for an electric winch... I have bunk slicks and have my trailer depth figured out just right.... I only ever have to crank it about 3" eazy peazy

A little word of warning..... spend a little more on your winch and get a name brand rated for a line pull equal to the weight of your boat.... This is an area that quality could save you broken bones and a little overkill makes for a safer situation when your motor won't start and you're winching HARD on a shallow ramp..... hope it never happens but if it does.....

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Trailer 12V winch!?!?!?

electric winches are really only good for people that have some physical limitation with cranking a hand winch. If that doesn't apply, its going to be nothing but a headache for you.

I would agree with this and with my own physical health I have considered it on occasion. Even with my little ol 14'er. I've stated many times over that many of the ramps that I use are very shallow which doesn't allow me to float on and off or even motor load. So I'm stuck with having to winch on 90% of the time. Not ready to give up fishing the lakes yet!

 

[impatico]

Re: Trailer 12V winch!?!?!?

I think you'll be happy with that choice... I hand crank my 10,000 lb cruiser a couple times a week and have ZERO use for an electric winch... I have bunk slicks and have my trailer depth figured out just right.... I only ever have to crank it about 3" eazy peazy

A little word of warning..... spend a little more on your winch and get a name brand rated for a line pull equal to the weight of your boat.... This is an area that quality could save you broken bones and a little overkill makes for a safer situation when your motor won't start and you're winching HARD on a shallow ramp..... hope it never happens but if it does.....

Well I have no idea how much my boat weighs it's an 84 KC Thermoglass bowrider with a 115 mariner and I found a shelby industries 3200 lb 2 speed winch for $50 on sale, a 1200 LB rino single speed is $30 you think the shelby is too overkill? oh and they are both at my local princess auto

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Trailer 12V winch!?!?!?

I honestly don't think there is (within reason) any such thing as over kill on a winch priced that close to another and if it will physically fit... just guessing that your boat is maybe 18' I'd make a WAG that it would be in the 2500 lb range with fuel on board... so 3200 lb would likely be a great choice and 1200 would likely work..... Of the two, unless it was physically too large for the winch stand I'd definitely choose the shelby 3200.

A 2 speed is REALLY nice if you have to winch a dead boat.... fast till it gets hard and slow (easy) for the last couple feet