Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Thinking about getting a 12 volt electric winch for loading the new toon onto the trailer since we will be trailering quite a lot and I'm not as young and tireless as years ago. Anyways, I'm looking for advice --- good/bad idea and brands/models. I'm guessing the new 2013 South Bay 522 CRTT with motor and gear is around 4000 lbs.

Any thoughts on this one http://www.amazon.com/Dutton-Lainson-TW ... tric+winch

The title says 3k pounds, the description says 9k?

Just but in the four years that I've had my toon I've only used the winch once and that is went the lower unit went out. I just drive the boat up on the trailer and hook the boat to the winch.

redbeard wrote:Just but in the four years that I've had my toon I've only used the winch once and that is went the lower unit went out. I just drive the boat up on the trailer and hook the boat to the winch.

+1
just back in a little deeper if you need to.

Dad told me we needed an electric wench too, I told him you don't need it or for just a few inches so it wasn't needed, the last boat he owned was a 21 deep draft boat to use off shore, it was heavy as hell and it needed the electric to get it on the trailer, so I knew why he thought we needed one.

Like it was said you can always just back it in deeper and hand load it If necessary, I just use the wench to help hold the pontoon on the trailer, I have rollers and you can push the toon back by hand even on dry land, so I have to make it's tied down or the torque of my diesel would roll it right off the trailer leaving a light to fast.

I have a set of guilds on the trailer that has a mark that sets the trailer deep enough in the water every time same spot, they also have lights on the top that change color from red to green so the driver can see that they are far enough in the water and can stop.

HandymanHerb wrote:Dad told me we needed an wench too, I told him you don't need it for just a few inches.
Like it was said you can always just back it in deeper and hand load it If necessary.

Sorry Herb just couldn't resist.

The only time I needed the wench was when the lake was too low and could only get the toon half way up and had to use the wench the rest of the way. That was hard work for this old man...

Wow, I'm really glad I asked the question before going ahead with the electric winch. This forum is very valuable especially to those of us who have next to zero experience with pontoons. We are looking forward to getting out on the water soon and then I can experiment with loading the boat. Many thanks to all who responded.

redbeard wrote:I have a set of guilds on the trailer that has a mark that sets the trailer deep enough in the water every time same spot, they also have lights on the top that change color from red to green so the driver can see that they are far enough in the water and can stop.

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Redbeard, I like the guides on the rear of your trailer. Where did you get those?

not Redbeard but hears what I am looking at...

http://www.basspro.com/C-E-Smith-LED-Li ... ct/104356/



http://search.overtons.com/?D=guide+ons ... =guide+ons

and the changing lights which I have never seen before!!!!

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product ... rchID=4005

Thanks Kenneth!

I think you can live without the electric winch... like others stated, you can normally back down deep enough and just drive your boat up onto the trailer up to the stops, then hook up the winch and roll it up tight to keep the boat pulled up snug...... and as for the guides, they made a world a difference for me. Love em.



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Craig has the right parts listed the lights are Sea Sense load Mates, the guilds just buy the shortest ones because its just PVC pipe so go to the hardware store and get a 10 foot piece and cut it to length. Look for the guilds that stand straight up or they become wider than your trailer. http://www.basspro.com/SeaSense-Load-Ma ... /10208753/ not where I got mine but this is it.

If the wench can't get it out of the water, just get more wenches...but then they'll probably all go off in an estro-fest, and talk about shopping or TV or something. Wenches...can't live without them, can't understand them.