How to Choose a Boat Trailer Winch Size
A trailer winch is intended to assist in the loading and unloading of a boat. The winch is connected to the front of the boat and cranked to pull it onto the trailer's bunks. Winches are available in manual and electric configurations. An electric winch is ideal if your boat is heavy or you just want to reduce the workload involved. Sizing a boat trailer winch is easy once you know the weight of the boat and its contents.
Instructions
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1
Locate the weight of the boat by looking in its owner's manual or on the data plate fastened to the inside of the hull.
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Figure out the weight of the gear stored in the boat. If the boat has an outboard motor, you need to determine its mass as well. This information is located in the motor's owner's manual.
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3
Add all the weights together to get a total mass the winch needs to pull.
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Divide the total mass in half. The result is the minimum capacity of winch the boat trailer should be equipped with.
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Tips & Warnings
It is wise to purchase a winch with a capacity that is slightly larger than you need.
References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
