If you have a boat, you’ll need a trailer to haul it around, and if you want to actually launch it and retrieve it safely, you’ll need a trailer winch to help you when the going gets tough. The best boat trailer winches are strong enough to haul a heavy boat up a boat ramp with ease, but are also less likely to damage the boat’s finish with their steel cable, like roller trailer winches, and are easier to use than a manual winch. To help you find the best boat trailer winches for you, we’ve turned to reviews from actual customers on Amazon who have purchased and used these products for themselves.
Read on for the rest of the best boat trailer winches.
Our Editor’s Best Boat Trailer Winches Reviews
- ❆【Robust Towing Solution】AC-DK 1600 lb Heavy Duty Boat Trailer Winch is your reliable choice for versatile towing needs. The 26ft L x 2in W boat winch strap, crafted from vibrant blue polyester, ensures secure and safe towing. The sturdy base provides powerful pulling force, reducing physical exertion.
- ❆【Sturdy and Corrosion-Resistant】Crafted from high-quality steel and professionally galvanized, our towing winch is built to last. The galvanized finish offers superior resistance against sun damage and corrosion, ensuring longevity in saltwater or harsh weather conditions.
- ❆【Versatile Two-Way Ratchet】Our towing winch features a stainless steel hook with a safety pawl for seamless forward and backward ratcheting. Effortlessly load and unload your boat by switching the winch direction. The 2-way 1-speed operation makes it a swift and efficient tool for outdoor boat trailer towing.
- ❆【Comfortable Ergonomic Design】Equipped with an 8.6-inch ergonomic crank handle, our trailer winch prioritizes user comfort. The handle's contour and grip reduce stress during operation, alleviating hand fatigue and enhancing overall work efficiency. The anti-slip design ensures safety during use.
- ❆【Wide Application and Easy Installation】This portable boat trailer winch is easy to install and move, making it ideal for trailers, trucks, ATVs, boats, jet skis, and sailboats. With a 1600 lb capacity, it excels in lifting, lowering, or positioning heavy objects with ease. (Note: Avoid using the hand winch to lift overloaded items for safety reasons)
- ❆【Robust Towing Solution】AC-DK 3500 lb Heavy Duty Boat Trailer Winch is your reliable choice for versatile towing needs. The 32ft L x 2in W boat winch strap, crafted from vibrant blue polyester, ensures secure and safe towing. The sturdy base provides powerful pulling force, reducing physical exertion.
- ❆【Sturdy and Corrosion-Resistant】Crafted from high-quality steel and professionally galvanized, our towing winch is built to last. The galvanized finish offers superior resistance against sun damage and corrosion, ensuring longevity in saltwater or harsh weather conditions.
- ❆【Versatile Two-Way Ratchet】Our towing winch features a stainless steel hook with a safety pawl for seamless forward and backward ratcheting. Effortlessly load and unload your boat by switching the winch direction. The 2-way 2-speed operation makes it a swift and efficient tool for outdoor boat trailer towing.
- ❆【Comfortable Ergonomic Design】Equipped with an 9.8-inch ergonomic crank handle, our trailer winch prioritizes user comfort. The handle's contour and grip reduce stress during operation, alleviating hand fatigue and enhancing overall work efficiency. The anti-slip design ensures safety during use.
- ❆【Wide Application and Easy Installation】This portable boat trailer winch is easy to install and move, making it ideal for trailers, trucks, ATVs, boats, jet skis, and sailboats. With a 3500 lb capacity, it excels in lifting, lowering, or positioning heavy objects with ease. (Note: Avoid using the hand winch to lift overloaded items for safety reasons)
- Manual Trailer Boat Winch: Allows you to load your boat onto your tow trailer smoothly, safely, and accurately
- Features: Two-way ratchet with neutral position for ease of use; A comfort grip handle provides easy, comfortable cranking
- Strap Weight Capacity: 2,000 lb.
- Heavy-Duty Construction: The brake and 4:1 ratio gears are made of heat-treated high carbon steel; The winch is constructed of corrosion-resilient zinc-plated steel that is sturdy and protects against sun damage
- Includes: (1) boat crank winch, (1) 20-foot (L) x 2-inch (W) polyester webbing strap, and (1) snap hook
- 3,200 pounds capacity, One-handed system shifts from high to low speed
- Dual gear drum operates smoothly
- One piece corrosion resistant aluminum frame and one piece corrosion resistant aluminum handle
- 4-position handle adjusts from 6 inch to 9 inch
- Includes strap guide, 20 foot heavy duty winch strap and all mounting hardware
- 【Capacity】Our hand crank winch can support up to 2500lbs, gear ratio is 4:1 (primary speed ratio)/8:1 (secondary speed ratio), which reduces the required labor output and increases traction, enabling effortless lifting and improved efficiency.
- 【Premium Material】Heavy duty hand winch, polyester strap diameter 5cm, 23ft(7m) length. Boat trailer winch constructed from premium steel, galvanized finish, can effectively prevent corrosion and rust resistance. The high-strength polyester belt effectively prevents the strap from becoming brittle under UV and direct sunlight.
- 【Two-Way Ratchet】The manual operated ratchet along with a sturdy hook able to work in both directions (forward and reverse), please exercise caution when changing the ratchet's direction to ensure safety. Enjoy the relaxing and comfortable operation.
- 【Comfortable Handle】Our crank handle is designed with ergonomics in mind, making it easier turning. The anti-slip handle helps reduce hand fatigue while the labor-saving ratio is 75%. Can evenly distribute tension, allowing you to use only one hand when towing heavy objects.
- 【Wide Application】The towing winches are designed for a wide range of applications, making them suitable for lifting heavy items such as ATVs, boats, and trailers. Ideal for agricultural work, landscaping, machine workshops, trailering or loading boats, straightening fences, and automotive needs etc.
- 【Performance】: This heavy-duty hand winch has a pulling force of 3500 lbs/1590 kg, a carbon steel heat-treated shell, shaft and gear, and has excellent lifting and traction capabilities
- 【Rugged and durable】: Professional galvanized treatment, resistant to bad weather, high-carbon steel hardened gear: primary speed ratio: 4:1 secondary speed ratio: 8:1, high efficiency transmission ratio, corrosion resistance, long service life, winch equipped High-strength anti-slip and wear-resistant strap, strap size: 5 cmx10 m / (1.5 inx32 ft)
- 【Two-way ratchet】: This hooked marine winch belt has been carefully designed and equipped with a hook with a safety pawl, which can ratchet forward and backward
- 【Comfortable handle】: 25 cm / 9.8 in ergonomics and comfortable grip, labor saving ratio 75% to reduce hand fatigue, to ensure safety, easy to shake the crank
- 【Body size】: (LxWxX) 9.8x6.2x7 in, mounting base size (7.6x4 in) standard mounting hole, small portable size, easy to install
- 【22ft Black Strap】The boat trailer hand winch comes with a generous 7m/22ft black strap that provides ample length for a wide range of applications. The durable strap ensures a secure hold while being highly visible for added safety.
- 【2500lbs Capacity】The Boat Trailer Winch is a robust and reliable tool with a 2500lbs capacity. This heavy-duty performance makes it the perfect choice for boat trailer, marine, truck, and ATV applications.
- 【2-Way Ratchet Design】The hand winch features a 2-way ratchet design, providing flexibility in how you operate it. The two-speed switchable mechanism (4:1 and 8:1 gear ratios) allows you to choose the right setting for the task, enhancing control and efficiency.
- 【Boat Hand Crank Convenience】The hand crank operation of this boat winch simplifies loading and unloading tasks. It's easy to use, and the ergonomic design minimizes operator fatigue, even during extended use. The boat hand crank winch offers dependable and precise control during the entire process.
- 【Multi-Purpose Utility】This Boat Trailer Winch is not limited to boat trailers; it's versatile enough to be used in marine, truck, and ATV applications. Whether you're securing a boat, or loading cargo onto a trailer, this winch is a reliable, multi-purpose tool for various needs.
- 1, 400 lb. capacity winch designed to meet your toughest pulling demands
- features an efficient gear ratio, full-length drum bearings, oil-impregnated shaft bushings, and an 8 inch 'comfort grip' handle for ease of cranking
- high-carbon steel gears for superb strength and long-term durability
- stamped carbon steel frame provides rigidity, important for gear alignment and longer cycle life
- includes 20 foot strap with metal slip hook and safety latch, and cover.Fit type: Vehicle Specific
- 1,500 POUND CAPACITY: REESE Boat Trailer Winch features a 1,500 lbs. capacity and heavy-duty rib reinforced frame to maintain proper gear alignment for your trailer and boat lifting needs.
- EASY TO USE HANDLE: REESE trailer winch features a 6-inch comfort grip handle for easy-to-use convenience.
- MINIMUM MAINTENANCE: Full-length drum bushing and oil impregnated shaft bushings minimize maintenance while the high-performance zinc-plated finish offers superior corrosion resistance.
- SINGLE SPEED: Single speed, two-way ratchet winch features high-carbon SAE 1050 steel gears to resist wear and last longer.
- STRAP & HOOK INCLUDED: The REESE marine winch includes a 20-foot strap with hook.
- POWERFUL BOAT WINCHES: Our 1600Lbs boat winch is perfect for towing boats, jet skis, ATVs, and other small vehicles, thanks to its pulling force of 1600 lbs and sturdy strap (33ft L x 2in W) with night rescue assistance.
- BUILT TO LAST: The galvanized treatment on our boat trailer towing winch makes it resistant to bad weather, while high carbon steel gears give it a 10-year service life. And don't forget its high-strength polyester tape, resistant to acid, alkali, and UV rays!
- VERSATILE RATCHET: The two-way ratchet with a forward and backward pawl keeps you safe while towing, while the 2-way, 2-speed operation is fast and labor-saving. Our portable winch with hooks is the perfect tool for towing boats and trailers outdoors.
- EASY AND SAFE OPERATION: Our boat winch features an ergonomic crank handle that saves you 75% of effort, making it easy to use for longer periods without any discomfort. Perfect for reducing hand fatigue and improving work efficiency, our non-slip handle ensures your safety while towing.
- MULTI-USE: Not just for boats and trailers, our ratchet trailer winch can be used to lift objects with good load lifting and traction. It's ideal for any type of outdoor activity that requires towing equipment. Trailers, boats, personal watercraft, ATVs, and RVs are all compatible.
Best Boat Trailer Winches Buying Guide
Before choosing the best boat trailer winch you should consider following options:
1. Horsepower: If you’re hauling a large boat, you’ll want a winch with a higher horsepower. One of the easiest ways to determine a winch’s horsepower is by looking at the cable drum’s diameter or gauge. The heavier the gauge, the higher the horsepower.
2. Drum Size: The size of the cable drum will depend on the size of the boat you’ll be towing and whether you’ll be using it for other applications.
A small boat will require a smaller drum, while a large boat will require a larger drum. If you’ll be using the winch for other applications, you’ll want a larger drum with a higher breaking strength.
3. Drum Speed: The speed of the cable drum rotation will depend on the type of job you’ll be using the winch for. If you’ll be using the winch for light towing applications, you’ll want a lower drum speed.
A faster drum rotation is preferred for heavy towing applications. High-performance winches typically have a higher drum speed.
4. Automatic Cable Retract: If you’ll be using the winch for recreational boating, then you’ll want a winch with an automatic cable retract.
This will help prevent the cable from getting stuck in the winch and causing damage. If you’ll be using the winch for towing, then this feature is optional.
5. Maximum Pull Force: This is the maximum amount of weight the winch can pull before the drum stops rotating. You’ll want a winch that can lift a sufficient amount to lift your boat with any gear and equipment attached.
Typically, the maximum pull force is 20-25% higher than the weight of the boat.
What else you should know about boat trailer winches
1) What are the different types of boat trailer winches?
There are electric, hydraulic, and manual winches.
2) How do you properly measure for a boat trailer winch?
To properly measure for a boat trailer winch, you will need to take into account the weight of your boat, the length of your boat, and the width of your boat. You will also need to take into account the type of trailer you have and the type of winch you need.
3) How do you install a boat trailer winch?
Most boat trailer winches will come with installation instructions. However, here are some general tips. First, make sure that the winch is properly mounted to the trailer frame. Next, connect the winch cable to the boat. Finally, test the winch to make sure it is working properly.
4) What are some common problems with boat trailer winches?
Boat trailer winches are designed to make it easier to launch and retrieve your boat. However, they are not without their problems. Some common problems with boat trailer winches include:
-Winches can become jammed, making it difficult to launch or retrieve your boat.
-Winches can break, leaving you stranded.
-Winches can overheat, making them dangerous to use.
-Winches can be difficult to operate, making it easy to make mistakes.
5) How do you maintain a boat trailer winch?
It is important to keep the winch clean and free of debris. Inspect the winch regularly for any damage or wear.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best boat trailer winches. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best boat trailer winches will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.