New winch monday

[Graham Nash]

As my years increase, so does the effort needed to get my boat on its trailer at Ridge Wharfe marina.

The slip is about 15ft long and about 30deg angle!

 

Anyway, I walked around the trailers last week and noticed that without exception,  every one else's was bigger than mine!

 

My boat (590tt) is very nearly 600kg, engine is best part of 100kg, anchor, fuel etc probably 20kg+ and my winch was 630kg (with a freyed strap). 

 

I decided that an upgrade was required so I played about with a warrior elecric winch that ive had fir a few years but in the end I decided on a new 1450kg dual speed and strap. 

 

I fitted it this morning before work and am looking forward to trying it out. 

[Gummage]

I spray mine with agricultural chain lube. Seems to keep corrosion away.

[Graham Nash]

1 minute ago, Gummage said:

I spray mine with agricultural chain lube. Seems to keep corrosion away.

I think I could be doing with some of that stuff on my elbows and shoulders! 

[Gummage]

No , you want uddermint for that

[Jim]

I hope that top roller spins freely or you'll get a lot of drag from that.

[plaicemat]

When I was trailering my Warrior, I fitted an electric winch to the trailer. Easy-peasy from then on.

 

Terry.

[Alcyone]

Hi Graham 

I opted for an electric winch from Warrior and having used it 3 times I can say its absolutely fantastic, entering into the Frome at right angles to the flow, albeit not very fast but still pulls the boat downstream I have threaded the dyna rope through the roller coaster trailer and then pull the boat towards the rear rollers, then small gentle tweeks on the remote control and the boat will pull itself inline with the trailer and then I simply put it into fast mode and the boat glides on, finally attaching the winch strip around 2 foot from the final position to remove the electric winch hook.

Extreme supplied the mechanical support with the trailer, the winch is from Winchmax and a 3000 but it only ever pulls a couple of hundred KG force according to Warrior..

[Graham Nash]

12 hours ago, Jim said:

I hope that top roller spins freely or you'll get a lot of drag from that.

The strap runs between the rollers. it doesnt actually touch them.

[great white]

Looks like it may be a bit too high Graham.

 

Is it reversable, so the strap goes underneath giving a straighter pull?

[Graham Nash]

1 hour ago, great white said:

Looks like it may be a bit too high Graham.

 

Is it reversable, so the strap goes underneath giving a straighter pull?

seeing these comments about the electric winches, i might revert back to that plan and keep this as a back up. 

[Graham Nash]

17 hours ago, Alcyone said:

Hi Graham 

I opted for an electric winch from Warrior and having used it 3 times I can say its absolutely fantastic, entering into the Frome at right angles to the flow, albeit not very fast but still pulls the boat downstream I have threaded the dyna rope through the roller coaster trailer and then pull the boat towards the rear rollers, then small gentle tweeks on the remote control and the boat will pull itself inline with the trailer and then I simply put it into fast mode and the boat glides on, finally attaching the winch strip around 2 foot from the final position to remove the electric winch hook.

Extreme supplied the mechanical support with the trailer, the winch is from Winchmax and a 3000 but it only ever pulls a couple of hundred KG force according to Warrior..

 

18 hours ago, plaicemat said:

When I was trailering my Warrior, I fitted an electric winch to the trailer. Easy-peasy from then on.

 

Terry.

How do/did you ensure the winch wound on evenly? There's no "level wind" so i imagined a big mound of rope in the middle of the spool. Thats why i ended up opting for another manual one.  

[Happyhooker]

Hi Graham 

l had an electric one on my raider 16 also by putting a small pulley at the rear of the trailer i could launch at a push of a button.

if you unwind all of the winch cable then measure out enough to launch the boat it won’t bag up to much.

 

[Graham Nash]

ha! While I was at the boat yard this afternoon looking to swap over to the the electric winch, they came over to me and told  me my old pontoon berth was likely to be free again in a couple of weeks! 

 

[great white]

13 minutes ago, Graham Nash said:

ha! While I was at the boat yard this afternoon looking to swap over to the the electric winch, they came over to me and told  me my old pontoon berth was likely to be free again in a couple of weeks! 

 

Good news Graham

[Alcyone]

6 hours ago, Graham Nash said:

 

How do/did you ensure the winch wound on evenly? There's no "level wind" so i imagined a big mound of rope in the middle of the spool. Thats why i ended up opting for another manual one.  

For my experience first time was a disaster and never cared for the spool lay and the dyna cord pulled through the side, had to take side off the winch to free it up.. lesson learnt …  the last 2 attempts it’s easy to guide it with the fingers as it isn’t tight at all and easily can be guided one side to another .. but it’s a shallow ramp so may be different on another ramp 

[Graham Nash]

15 minutes ago, Alcyone said:

For my experience first time was a disaster and never cared for the spool lay and the dyna cord pulled through the side, had to take side off the winch to free it up.. lesson learnt …  the last 2 attempts it’s easy to guide it with the fingers as it isn’t tight at all and easily can be guided one side to another .. but it’s a shallow ramp so may be different on another ramp 

I must be honest, I put my boat in the water today just after low water and pulled it back in with the new winch. That would have been almost impossible with the old one, but it was no major issue using the new manual winch.

Having said that, it looks like Im getting my old finger berth back again if i want it so the trailer will be used once or twice a year again after that. 

[plaicemat]

12 hours ago, Graham Nash said:

How do/did you ensure the winch wound on evenly?

I had a strap.

 

Terry.

[Alcyone]

On 6/23/2026 at 6:10 PM, Graham Nash said:

I must be honest, I put my boat in the water today just after low water and pulled it back in with the new winch. That would have been almost impossible with the old one, but it was no major issue using the new manual winch.

Having said that, it looks like Im getting my old finger berth back again if i want it so the trailer will be used once or twice a year again after that. 

I’m down for a week with my son from 18th to 27th July  I think I’ll pop and visit the marina to see what options they have, I did have an arrangement last year for out of season weekend trips but I never did any due to weather and other conflicting events.. I definitely don’t want mooring though, no anti fouls for me 😁