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anyone mounted a winch?

H

huntingjman73

Well-known member
I have an airgator, anyone have a winch mounted to their boats? If so, how? I have a 9000 lb Warn winch that is just sitting idle, thought it might come in handy some day. Any thoughts?
 
Yeah it would be nice sometimes

I think just a good come-a-long or "cable puller" would go a long way in most situations.

Most of us are trying to figure out how to lose 70 or 80 pounds off our boats, not gain it.

That said, there is a product out there (I have this on my winch) called plasma rope. It is a polymer-type braided rope that weighs about 4 pounds per 100 feet. It is rated for use as winch cable and it does not stretch, so if it breaks under tension it will not slingshot. Neat stuff. If you use that, you wouldn't be adding near the weight, as most of the weight of a winch is from the wire rope.
 
I have a 3000 lb. winch (small and light weight) mounted under my front step with a small snatch block that doubles it to 6000 lbs. It was on there when I bought the boat and I haven't used it (knock on wood) but I'm sure it would slide my boat with minimal effort.
 
Red Dwarf":3ty43g0h said:
Yeah it would be nice sometimes

I think just a good come-a-long or "cable puller" would go a long way in most situations.

Most of us are trying to figure out how to lose 70 or 80 pounds off our boats, not gain it.

That said, there is a product out there (I have this on my winch) called plasma rope. It is a polymer-type braided rope that weighs about 4 pounds per 100 feet. It is rated for use as winch cable and it does not stretch, so if it breaks under tension it will not slingshot. Neat stuff. If you use that, you wouldn't be adding near the weight, as most of the weight of a winch is from the wire rope.
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Bet that is expensive as H#ll.
 
Not really, when I bought it a few years back I think it was a bit over a buck a foot....IIRC 80 feet cost me $129

If you've ever seen the damage a broken steel cable can do, the safety factor alone is worth the extra cost.

Plus, it won't rust or fish-hook you in your hands (steel usually does both, had your tetanus shot lately?)

You do need a cover for it though, as UV rays will eat it up over time.
 
Just a left-over from my 4x4 days.

It is a neat product, and it never failed to attract attention at the mud hole.
 
FrogNutz":3slnljev said:
I have a 3000 lb. winch (small and light weight) mounted under my front step with a small snatch block that doubles it to 6000 lbs. It was on there when I bought the boat and I haven't used it (knock on wood) but I'm sure it would slide my boat with minimal effort.
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I don't know that black muck can stick pretty hard. :D I just wonder how much winch is needed for your average 13 to 14ft boat to pull it out of the worst situation?
 
Masdam makes a "rope jack/puller". It will jack a continuous length of 1/2" three braid rope. It might work well for the lighter boats (and lighter budgets)
 
I have mounted a few winches when you get in to really pulling with it you need to make sure that you mounting point is thick and sturdy and ties back to the gunnel's and / or stringers
 
Well, I can operate the winch from the driver's seat and work the throttle and rudders at the same time. It would just be my luck that the nearest tree would be about 1 foot beyond my reach. :cry:
 
That's why you carry a 20 or 30' tow strap as well.

You should never run your winch cable around a tree or attach the hook back to the cable itself. Always use a nylon tow strap or a "treesaver" (6" nylon strap) to run around the tree/anchor and attach your hook to that, preferably with a clevis
 
I have some pictures some where of a boat that has a winch mounted to the stringers in the bow of the boat and the fair lead with a piece of rubber so the cable would hang just out of the front of the boat and it looked like a good idea if you ever need one
 
my winch is already mounted in the receiver hitch assembly, I was thinking of making a large load dispersing plate under the front deck, and mounting a female receiver hitch top that if ever needed. I know the weight sucks, but if ever needed it would come in handy. Her in Texas, not many airboats around, and the outboard guys hate airboats, so no help would be found I think. Just thinking.

My dad had the idea of mounting a 3 inch pipe inside the front rail, opening up a swuare, and welding a receiver female to it, using the pipe to disperse the pull across the entire bow?

Ideas?
 
A lot of the boats in Utah have winchs in them. I have a 8000# warn mounted under the front deck, with a roller fairlane mounted to the nose. There are no tree around to hook to, so I have a anchor that I put in the mud and start the winch,it set in about 5 feet and I put to it. Some times you have to dig it out but most time the winch will lift it out.
 
Red Dwarf":2l3bsnk6 said:
That's why you carry a 20 or 30' tow strap as well.

You should never run your winch cable around a tree or attach the hook back to the cable itself. Always use a nylon tow strap or a "treesaver" (6" nylon strap) to run around the tree/anchor and attach your hook to that, preferably with a clevis
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I DO carry a tow strap. What gave you the idea that I would wrap my cable around a tree? I admit that I may not be the brightest crayon in the box, but.........
 
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