Winch tower tie down

[jusfloatin]

Good day to all
I am in the process of designing a winch tower/tie down for my pontoon. It is the standard 8' wide pontoon with aluminum frame and decked with 3/4" plywood so I can fabricate and install just about anything.

I am looking more for some ideas on the tie down part of the tower. I was thinking of pin going into a pipe plan which seems like a good idea right up until I realized I have not seen one. Probably because it has been tried and failed badly.

So I find myself once again knocking on the door of those who known.

What have you tried or better yet how is yours hooked up?

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Winch tower tie down

I have to say that I'm a bit confused. Do you mean a winch on the trailer to pull the pontoon aboard, or do you want a winch on the boat? Please clarify.

 

[jusfloatin]

Re: Winch tower tie down

I have to say that I'm a bit confused. Do you mean a winch on the trailer to pull the pontoon aboard, or do you want a winch on the boat? Please clarify.

I have already designed the tower which will hold an electric winch to pull the boat up.
I am looking for ideas of what people have made that would also mount on the tower that captures the boat as well as being a bumper to stop the boat from going forwards.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Winch tower tie down

Visit some local marinas and you'll get lots of ideas.

My trailer and most quality pontoon trailers have 'H' mounts made from galvenized channel and covered with carpet.

The middle or horizontal part of the 'H' should be at the deck height. The vertical parts of the 'H' prevents the bow from rising too high or too low during retrieval.

Good luck and report back on your final design.

 

[jusfloatin]

Re: Winch tower tie down

The marina's was my first stop and like your post most if not all have the H bar.

My intent is to have something like the H bar but I am looking for idea's on once the pontoon is on the trailer but inches away from where it would sit it could lock into something kinda like the way a 5 wheel locks up.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Winch tower tie down

I am designing something similiar for mine as my trailer started out as a bare frame from an RV trailer. I have planned on a horizontal steel bar, covered with carpet, angled vertical support with steps attached, and short chains on each end of the horizontal bar to attach to rings underneath the deck. this way they are not visible when on the water. I decided against a solid connector because there is a small amount of trailer flexing when towing. I did not want to transfer this flexing to the boat.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Winch tower tie down

The marina's was my first stop and like your post most if not all have the H bar.

My intent is to have something like the H bar but I am looking for idea's on once the pontoon is on the trailer but inches away from where it would sit it could lock into something kinda like the way a 5 wheel locks up.

I guess the next obvious question is WHY?