A boat trailer winch is designed to ease your boat into the water during launch and assist your boat onto your trailer during recovery. You don’t really need to think too hard about winches until your old one gives up the ghost. We look at the various aspects of boat trailer winches that you need to consider when the time comes.
There are two types of winches commonly used on boat trailers: manual (or hand-powered), and 12V electric.
Manual boat trailer winches
The most common type of boat trailer winch is the hand-cranked manual winch. These boat trailer winches are very simple – they feature a crank, a drum that stores the line, a capstan, vertical-axled rotating machine, that maintains tension, a ratcheted lock to prevent slipping and a basic gearbox.
The gearbox allows for winching at different ratios, or speeds. The fastest speed is a 1:1 ratio – this is just for winding up the line once the boat is launched. A ratio of 3:1 is used for lighter loads or for the initial winching of a heavier boat onto the trailer. Ratios of 5:1 and higher are used for heavier loads, especially once the boat is completely out of the water.
Electric boat trailer winches
An electric winch adds power and simplicity as much as it adds expense. Where a manual boat winch might have a line-pulling capacity range of 250kg to 1,200kg, electric winches could go as high as 7,000kg or more.
Obviously, an electric winch is necessary for large boats. They’re also good for less able boat towers who don’t have the strength for a manual winch. They also cost significantly more than manual winches.
Boat trailer winch specifications
As with any equipment involved with marine towing, you have to consider the key specifications of the marine winch you need.
Choosing between a manual or electric boat trailer winch is a matter of budget and personal preference. Once you’ve made that call, know your boat so that you can make the right choice.
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