8 Best Marine Electric 12V Boat Trailer Winches Review

What is a boat winch on a boat?

A boat winch is a device that is used to pull up boat ropes, anchor chains during boat anchoring, boat mooring, pulling the boat out of the water, etc., or other objects that are heavy (loading and unloading weights on the boat).

Boat winches usually come in a variety of types but the most common boat winch type has four spools on the handlebar with metal hooks at either end - one facing outwards for pulling an object towards you and one facing inwards for pushing it away from you.

A boat winch actually consists of two parts: A drum or spool where a line or cable wraps around; and a ratchet mechanism that tightens when pulled upon by means of a winding lever (or series of levers) attached to the outside edge of the drum. 

How do boat winches work?

Pulling the boat winch handle towards you will tighten the cable around a spool. When pulling on it, make sure to keep your footing so that you're not pulled off balance when tightening and don't tense up too much, or else you may have trouble loosening if needed.  It's also best to make sure that you have a firm hold on the boat winch handle before pulling it away from yourself. Boat winches come in two varieties: those with one spool for wrapping line or cable around and those with two, towards you and one facing inwards for pushing it away from you.

How to use boat winch

A boat winch is a handy tool for boaters. It can be used in various ways, such as:

• boat anchoring,
• boat mooring,
• pulling the boat out of water,
• loading and unloading weights.

Boat winches types

Manual Boat Winches

They're good for boat owners who boat infrequently.

A person can use a manual boat winch to pull their boat out of water, load and unload weight on the boat or anchor it in shallow water by themselves.  This type of winch is not self-reeling (it does not automatically feed out more lines when used), so you'll need someone else with you if you're using this tool for anchoring.

Manual boat winches are also good options for small boats that don't require much pulling power such as kayaks because they have shorter handles and smaller drums than standard models.

You want your boat to be anchored well before using a manual boat winch since they do not provide any mechanical advantage like an electric model

Electric Boat Winches

They're good for boat anchoring at a distance where manually pulling a boat is difficult.

Electric boat winches are excellent for boat anchoring, especially in cases when you need to be anchored from a long distance away and there's not another person around to help.

An electric boat winch also has many advantages over manual models because they automatically feed out more lines as the motor continues turning.

An electric boat winch will typically have an automatic brake that prevents the drum from spinning too quickly with increased load (this can lead to damage or injury) and it'll have multiple speed settings so you can adjust how much force the motor exerts on your anchor rope based on what type of environment or surface you're tying off onto.

What is the best type of boat winch?

It depends on the boat and environment.

• If you have a small boat and use it not often, a manual boat winch will be easier to install.
• If you have a big boat and use it often, an electric boat winch is better when you need to be anchored from a long-distance away.

What size of boat winch do I need for my boat?

We recommend boat winches with a pull capacity of at least 2000 lbs.

If you have a boat that weighs less than 200lbs, then it's probably not necessary to get one with this type of strength.

However, if your boat is more heavy-duty and has the potential to weigh over 500kgs or 1000lbs, we highly recommend using a 3000lb boat winch for safety purposes.

Tip: When choosing what size boat winch you need make sure that in addition to thinking about how much weight your boat will carry on average (and consider heavier loads) also think about where and how often you'll tie onto something secure like an anchor point.

How do I benefit from a boat winch?

• they're useful for moving heavy loads of weight; 

• they allow you to control the amount of tension, so that it does not get too tight and cause damage or injury; 

• they help with docking your boat in a safe way by preventing accidental injuries from happening when pulling on ropes attached to shorelines (or other objects).

What are the drawbacks of boat winch?

1. boat winches are not designed for heavy-duty usage, so they can easily wear out if you do not take care of them; 
2. boat winches require installation.

What materials does the boat winch come in?

Different models can be made out of different material depending on their use case and desired purpose:

• steel cable is usually used for light-duty jobs such as anchoring boats;
• stainless steel cables are most often found around larger ships because they have the strength necessary to hold up these vessels;
• synthetic polyester has less friction.

Is boat winch worth it?

For boat winches, this is a matter of personal preference. If you want to tighten the line quickly and are in need of an anchor that can handle more weight than what steel cable provides, the boat winch might be worth it for you.

However, if you only plan on using your boat once or twice per year and do not have any particular needs related to strength or speed when tightening lines then boat winches may not make sense financially speaking as they could wear out faster than normal due to their usage being limited. On top of that installation costs will also apply depending on where boat winches are located (i.e., deck vs cockpit) - something which should always be taken into consideration before purchasing.

What is important when choosing a boat winch?

Consider how much power is needed and what type of boat will be using it.

Power

Bulkier and longer vessels need more powerful winches with lengthier and hardy cables. The boat’s weight should be considered as well because if the boat is too heavy it may require a winch with more power.

Do you need a winch that comes with the power out capability? If so, it's better to pick the most pricy model.

Installing

If boat winches are installed on the boat, they need to be very sturdy.

Use a mounting bracket that is secured by bolts or welds and not just glued. Consider buying an aluminum mounting frame if it's going to have extra weight applied often because this material can handle more load than galvanized steel frames.

Do you want motor-driven boat winches? Motorizing boat winching system makes installation easier but also costlier as well (expect $300-$1000 for motors). It also adds another component of maintenance that may become costly in the long run: with corrosion and heat being two main factors that shorten lifespan; frequent checks will thus be necessary - making sure there isn't any dust buildup inside, for example.

Do you plan on installing the boat winch yourself? If not, do you know where to find an installer near your area? A qualified professional can install the boat winch properly once all necessary parts are purchased.

Material

The boat winch is made of strong metal and can be found in different shapes too. There are some materials that boat winch can be made of aluminum, zinc-plated, galvanized, or powder-coated steel.

There are boat winches that have aluminum alloy bodies, which means they resist corrosion well. They also have a high level of tensile strength and durability, so the boat can be pulled with little effort from shore.

Zinc plating is another option for boat winch body materials: this offers excellent protection against oxidation but not rust. Steel boat winches are less expensive than other types and will need to be painted regularly to avoid oxidizing; though galvanized steel has some extra resistance compared to regular paint coatings in terms of preventing corrosion.

Galvanized bodies of boat winches are also a good option, as they provide corrosion resistance.

Models of powder-coated steel boat winches are a good choice for boat owners who want their boat to look good and avoid corrosion, as they can be finished in any color you wish.

Size

Manual winches usually come in small sizes and are made for less bulky vessels. Electric winches are bigger for bigger vessels (over 500kgs/1000lbs) and they're more heavy-duty.

Line types and thicknesses

Lines are crucial for boat winch.

Steel cables are the strongest, but nylon and synthetic also have their benefits. Nylon is lighter weight so it's a popular choice as an anchor line or for mooring boats offshore. 

Synthetic rope can be stronger than steel when they're made from Kevlar fibers (although not always), which makes them a good option if you need to pull in heavy objects like jet skis or barges with your boat winch. 

Nylon straps work great not small models of winches.

Line thicknesses depend on how much pulling power will be needed:

• less-powerful boat winches usually use 0.75mm rope;
• more powerful boat winches use thicker ropes of up to 12mm.

Speed

There are single-speed or dual-speed winches. 

A single-speed boat winch has only one gear ratio and can be a good choice if you know the weight of your load. 

Dual-speed boat winch provides two different speeds for light or heavy loads:

• rotate the handle in a clockwise direction to increase speed;
• rotate handle counterclockwise to decrease speed.

Control

A boat winch should have a handle with an ergonomic grip and a trigger to release rope.

• Handle: this will enable you to continue pulling even when your arm tires from using it;
• Trigger: easier pivoting of boat, or releasing tension on line without having to pull all the way back against the pressure on the drum.

Controlling can be done through built-in buttons. There are usually two buttons to reel in and out. Meanwhile, some have a remote, which allows to control the main unit without being next to it. The length of the cord is an important consideration.

Remote Control

Remote boat winches are useful if you have a lot of weight to pull.

A remote boat winch can be attached anywhere on the boat because it has an extendible wire, and they're great for directing your boat from dry land;

It's also good as an alternative when there is no one else aboard with you who could help with pulling the rope. You can put in all that effort by yourself without any assistance or risk of injury - no need to lift heavy objects off the ground.

Tip: extendable wire allows greater range than just using a hand-held unit. You'll still get up close and personal while retaining control over much more distance than before.

Gear Ratio

Gear Ratio is how many rotations one turn of the handle will make with regards to pulling up an object from water - for example if there are five turns on the handles and it has a 25% Gear Ratio then three feet worth of rope would be pulled out of the water before going back down.

As higher numbers mean more pull strength so you'll want to choose between 20:11 gears which gives 45lbs per foot or 20% Gear Ratio versus 16:13 gears which provides 75lbs but only 15% Gear Ratio. 

Handle

The handle is typically the one you'll use to control boat rope in a manual model of winch. This type of winch will need a hand-powered crank and has no gear ratio, so it can't be used for heavy lifting jobs - however, they're much more suited for smaller boats due to their lower profile.

Ergonomic grips are usually made of rubber. It's good also if it is textured, which will prevent your hand from slipping when cranking.

The're little circular grooves cut into each side of the handle where your fingers should go if using gloves.

Motor

It’s the part that you power to get your winch moving. 

An electric boat winch has a free-spool clutch, which means that once the button is activated, there should not be any additional pressure applied to increase traction on the rope as it winds up automatically until an object such as another person attaches itself at the end of the line.

Weight capacity

It depends on winch size. Small manual models are great for boats up to 1000lbs and big electric models work well with boats over 1000lbs.

Saltwater Environment

Observe the number of hours of saltwater exposure the winch is estimated to withstand. Most boat winches are made to withstand saltwater, but you should always consult your owner's manual for full information.

Waterproofing

Most boat winches are waterproof or can be sealed.

How to care about boat winch?

As with any boating equipment, boat winches need regular maintenance in order to perform at their best - they should be greased regularly; inspected for wear, and repaired as necessary. Working boat winches are essential to use safely aboard vessels of all types because, without them, sailors can find themselves stranded in difficult situations where they would otherwise be able to effortlessly maneuver heavy loads using boat winches (such as during loading/unloading cargo).

Tips to care about boat witches

1. regularly check it for wear, corrosion, or damage due to exposure from saltwater and humidity;
2. grease it frequently;
3. clean and inspect it every week
4. repair worn or broken parts as required.⁠