Cheap electric winch

[Arminius]

Are cheap electric Chinese winches any good? This season's boat is heavier and my first sterndrive on a bunk trailer and I'm getting "lazier." First, maybe an electric winch (with back-up handle) is not more potential trouble than it is worth. Second, price and quality don't seem to be tightly linked any more. Here's a $100 unit from Amazon which is scary:
"Hantun Trailer Winch,Reversible Electric Winch, for Boats up to 6000 lbs 12V DC,Power-in, Power-Out, and Freewheel Operations, with Corded Remote Control & Hand Crank"

 

[JimG]

No, I would buy American... that cheap Chinese junk will leave you drifting to the bank... if your'e lucky.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Do your ramps allow power loading? Drive it all the way on - right to the bow stop - easy peasy no needy for a winchy. Once you get comfortable with things, it's a VERY quick thing. My wife took our Sundancer on/off the trailer and most of the time we were done while those with littler boats were still messing around.

Otherwise, I agree with Jim. Stick with "known" good winches and probably never have to replace it.

 

[Arminius]

Our club has a severe erosion problem and powering on is Verbotten! Which winch do you recommend. Reese, sold at auto parts stores, has a good rep. Extra features like power off? A remote might be good to pull it on when it happens to be straight but maybe just something else to tangle and break.

 

[atrick]

Get the remote or a longer cord because you don't want to be standing too close to the cable in case it breaks!!

 

[Arminius]

Good warning! I always remember a fatality at the Seattle locks where a commercial crew member left a line on a cleat when the water level was drawn down. So, I stand to one side as I hand crank it in and advise others not to look down the cable. My practical worry is the backlight on my SUV so I change the strap when the wear is apparent or I've just owned it longer than I can remember.

Switching to an electric winch turns out to be a bigger job than I had thought. My Searay (Northland'r) trailer has a hand winch with integrated bow stops/snubbers. Electric winches don't. On this hurdle, I think I will fall back on the adage, "If it aint broke,................"
Give it a season at least.

 

[Carpediem44DB]

No, I would buy American... that cheap Chinese junk will leave you drifting to the bank... if your'e lucky.

I've decided to pledge to buy nothing from China for the remainder of 2020 and see if it is even possible.
I'm not going to limit myself to only Made in USA but will be happy to pay more for what ever I need if it just doesn't come from the CHICOMMS. If something I think I need can't possibly be sourced anywhere else on the planet then I just don't need it. ( I'm glad I already bought all the Ray Marine STNG network stuff I need) Its all made in F'n China!

 

[Lazy Daze]

Switching to an electric winch turns out to be a bigger job than I had thought. My Searay (Northland'r) trailer has a hand winch with integrated bow stops/snubbers. Electric winches don't. On this hurdle, I think I will fall back on the adage, "If it aint broke,................"
Give it a season at least.

Probably a good idea. PowerWinch is has always been a good brand.

You can always idle in, then keeping it at idle, back the truck up slowly further and further. Use those white guide posts to keep the boat centered.

FYI... the trailer is made by ShoreLand'r.

 

[atrick]

Got two Power winches on my two trailers, one is a 21' maxum and had that winch on there since 1989, other one is on my 290 sundancer and couldn't get one bigger than 6000 lbs pull so just run cable thru idle pulley on eye of boat back to winch that way you double pull strength just pulls slower. Wouldn't go back to hand ones for any reason, makes it so much easier! Just replace hand winch with electric, stops already on trailer. Hardest part was running cable from truck battery to back of truck for power to winch. Power winches have long cable so you are off to side far enough to be out of way in case cable breaks!

 

[Arminius]

New problem: Profile 2000 Winch. My 2003 20' SeaRay/ShoreLand'r trailer has an integrated winch stand and bow stop. Looks like I would need a new post and bow stop (with jack mount) before I could change to an electric winch.

 

[Arminius]

 

[Getaway]

If you call Carefree Colorado and tell them the weight of your boat, they will size a Powerwinch for you. Asked them for a Re-manufactured unit. I bought them for 2 different boats/trailers over the past 3 years and both "reman" units I bought were brand new.... The 912 winch cost me $350 and they work great!

Carefree of Colorado
2145 W. 6th Ave.Broomfield, CO 80020
303-469-332