Trailer winch

[fisherman]

As the years go by most of us get more niggles, and hand winching the wood boat onto the trailer got to be a pain, specially after a vigorous trip like yesterday.
As Dirty Harry said, "Man gotta know his limitations"
Fitted it with a £70 winch, extended leads, clips, carry a battery in the car, or use the service battery in the back of the camper.
There is a rope attached to the trailer axle, looped over the towbar, which is slipped onto the car towball, so the trailer front end can be lifted and swivelled to pick up the boat smoothly, without hauling the trailer back. There is a snatch block so it can be used ahead to haul the trailer up a slope, 25m of wire. Must say, got rid of a significant chore (for an old git)
Winch has a remote, 15m range.

 

[ChromeDome]

Did same(ish) setup when trailering.

To me the wireless remote was the game changer as is made single handed recovery so much easier (and allowed you to get out of the 'firing' line in case of a wire/line snapping). BTW replaced the wire with a Dyneema line, much easier to manage.

 

[Farmer Piles]

I did the same years ago too, as you both say, a game changer. I have the Dyneema line too, massively easier to use than wire - especially as the wire gets old and odd strand stick into your hands.

 

[Farmer Piles]

Whereabouts are you fisherman? I'm at Restronguet near Mylor.

 

[fisherman]

Whereabouts are you fisherman? I'm at Restronguet near Mylor.

Near the Lizard. I launch from Restronguet beach sometimes, Carrick Roads has much more room than Helford. Spent yesterday being knocked about by flukey winds in the narrows.

 

[fisherman]

So, 4mm Dyneema, 1300kg, £1.89 a metre? Or 3mm 950kg at £1.35

 

[DownWest]

This interests me too, as the soon to be splashed mini cruiser will be (mostly) day sailed. The Dyneema sounds a good tip. Boat weighs about 600kg and I am mid 70s with some shoulder issues.

Happy memories of that area.

 

[ChromeDome]

Dyneema's are not all the same, check the type and specs. Do not save on the Dyneema nor the hook! The stress can be different from the GW due to resistance/overcoming climbing bunks and rollers plus the uphill nature of slips.

If memory serves the 12 strand Dyneema safety factor is 3.5 (payload x 3.5). Next you need consider how you use it - some owners make double line pull by running the line from the winch through a block w/hook attached to the bow eye and then back to the winch stand (or a point on the trailer). This reduces the load on the line to approx. 50% but of course takes double the amount of line and time to pull it in (check if the winch drum has the space needed). The load on hook indeed will remain the same.

Before driving make sure straps are fitted to hold the boat safely in place and take the load off the winch line.

 

[Farmer Piles]

So, 4mm Dyneema, 1300kg, £1.89 a metre? Or 3mm 950kg at £1.35

Personally, I would always go for the heavier line. Any jamming and shock loading coped with that way.
You would drive past my house on your way to Weir, we are the farm at the top of the hill. What do you drive/launch?

 

[fisherman]

Personally, I would always go for the heavier line. Any jamming and shock loading coped with that way.
You would drive past my house on your way to Weir, we are the farm at the top of the hill. What do you drive/launch?

Think we met, red Saab, you brought a boat down with a tractor?
I have an old oyster dredging punt, dark green yellow tops.

 

[lenten]

looks good fisherman-----but do you have to keep it dry??----from another old timer with a 500 kilo boat

 

[fisherman]

looks good fisherman-----but do you have to keep it dry??----from another old timer with a 500 kilo boat

Well I don't dunk it. It's meant for quad bikes/4x4s, so on the front bumper, maybe splashproof. I wrap it up with an old nylon sail.

 

[fisherman]

looks good fisherman-----but do you have to keep it dry??----from another old timer with a 500 kilo boat

This is the one, but more money from Amazon. It says waterproof. On the motor it says to dismantle and dry it after operating under water........

 

[Farmer Piles]

Ah, cool, if it was a red Massey Ferguson it was my brother, I drive the old blue Leyland tractor.

 

[fisherman]

Ah, cool, if it was a red Massey Ferguson it was my brother, I drive the old blue Leyland tractor.

He was very helpful about where to drive on the beach.....I nearly drowned a Volvo few years ago, lost keys in that case, but am wary about getting bogged down. The beach looks all hard to me except, he said, in the stream.
I think, as long as the boat is kept back on the trailer so as not to lift the front car wheels.......I might be OK.

 

[Farmer Piles]

The soft patch of clay just under the gravel is to your right as you drive onto the beach. We probably pull one or two vehicles a year from there.

 

[fisherman]

So I got the Dyneema, 5mm, 1800kg. The wire is just too difficult, as soon as you unclutch it springs into a bird's nest and you can't unspool it.
Dyneema, however, is a doddle, but I caught it round part of the trailer and it shredded instantly, fortunately near the end. Needs care.