Boat Trailer Winch Issues

[vikingmeatwad]

I have an 18.5’ Stratos 386XF with a bunk trailer and have had winch issues since I bought it a couple years ago. Even on a non steep launch after I load the boat the winch loosens a few inches so the boat is not sitting on the support above the winch.

I usually just crank it to tighten and I have broken 2 winches doing this as it is hard on the them.

Any ideas on how to make sure to keep the boat snug when I load it in the water?

I tried a couple stronger winches but they are too big and the handle hits the boat. My last was a dual gear Atwood 2k lb that cranked fine but still didn’t hold tight from initial load.

I thought the nylon would tighten up but never did and want to figure something out before just replacing the same winch.

Thanks for any input you have.

[Ufatz]

Well, my first reaction is that there is something here that is not right with your rigging. Are you sure the post on trailer is far enough BACK so boat can move right up to it?

When you say it is up "tight" but slips back and moves, have you considered a bow ratchet strap that pulls the boat DOWN and holds it. Perhaps you are trying to get the boat TOO tight.

If you are BREAKING winches something is really out of whack!!!

While I am not clear precisely on your problem I'll bet it has to do with making sure the trailer is rigged for the boat you have on it.

Keep us posted.

[Tom7227]

Try a strap instead of rope?

[vikingmeatwad]

I guess my main issue is to find where the exact place the boat should be rigged to ride on the trailer. With that information I will maybe raise the support if the boat is being cranked too far forward.

To give a little more detail I back trailer up and winch boat up snug to the rubber support.

Then when I slowly pull boat out of water I always have boat come back and pull the winch nylon strap out 2-4".

When I find its not tight to the support I crank it when its out of the water and that I am sure is not within the winch limits with the wet bunks and hard winching.

And yes I do use tie down straps to hold down rear of boat.

Tom7227 I am using nylon strap.

Thanks!

[SpecialK]

Sounds like you may be backing the trailer in to far to load. Is the back of the boat still floating when you are pulling away?

[HOF#13]

Sounds to me like the nylon strap is slipping on the winch after you crank it up.

Is it possible you have too much slack in the strap as you are winching the boat in, and that when you pull out of the launch the weight of the boat pulls the loosness back out of the strap and then you have that gap?

Is there a stop bolt connected to the end of the nylon strap on the winch? If not, the whole roll of nylon strap may just be slipping on the winch.

That, or what Ufatz said also seems like a culprit. Let us know how you turn out. Good luck.

[Tom7227]

I guess the other thing that I would consider is a chain that is short enough to stop the boat slipping but long enough to hook up when the boat is up tight to the rubber jobberdo.

[vikingmeatwad]

Thanks guys, I will buy the new winch tomorrow and pay better attention when I load again. I will also check the winch to make sure the strap is setup correctly.

I will report back after I find what I find out.

I know from experience it is hard to get that winch off there with a broken handle!

[Tom7227]

Might want to get a short piece of safety chain. Most trailers that I have seen have one that is about a foot long. It is secured to the upright that the winch is attached to. There's a hook on the other end that you attach to the eye on the boat. It won't go anywhere with that kind of a setup.

[vikingmeatwad]

New winch is on and I have always had an O Shoot chain as I call it :-)

I will look into what the exact placement of the 386XF is according to Stratos. I would imagine it is having the transom just in front of the back of the bunks. But as noted here I will test it out to make sure I wasn't loading it with trailer too deep.