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
- Tough Strap, Tougher Performance: Our hand winch features a 33 ft high-strength polyester strap with a pulling force of up to 3500 lbs. Forget about those fragile, break-prone ropes. This one's in it for the long haul, ready to tackle even the heftiest vehicles and boats.
- Two-Way Ratchet: This boat rope crank is equipped with a top-notch carbon steel two-way ratchet. With the 4:1/8:1 dual speed to adjust handle position, it's all about control – reel in, reel out, your choice. Thanks to the high-temp hardening process, these gears are tough cookies, ready to withstand the rigors of outdoor life.
- Forged Hook: It's not just about the boat winch strap. The hook matters, too. We're talking a 26 mm wide opening forged for strength and ready to take on heavy loads without a sweat. Its anti-corrosion and crack-resistant build means it keeps its shape, use after use. Plus, the security latch is your peace of mind right there.
- Handle with Ease: Our hand crank winch boasts an ergonomic handle, perfectly sized at 10 inches. It's all about grip and comfort here, paired with a robust galvanized frame. Quick to install and even quicker to use – this little powerhouse makes light work of pulling heavy vehicles and boats.
- Ready for Anything, Anywhere: Simple to set up, a breeze to use – our heavy duty hand winch is your go-to for horizontal pulling wherever you are. Indoors, outdoors, on the water or land – bring it to motorboats, trailers, or all-terrain vehicles, and watch it work its magic.
- CAPACITY: Fulton XLT Electric Boat Trailer Winch features a 10,000 lbs. capacity designed to meet your toughest boating and marine pulling demands.
- POWERED OPERATION: Powered electric boat winch features 3-position guide to ensure rugged strap and swiveling hook comes out straight without twisting.
- WIRELESS REMOTE: Convenient wireless remote control includes easy-to-access light and winch control switches.
- MANUAL OVERRIDE: Portable power winch with manual override convenience allows you to use standard tools in case of power loss.
- INCLUDES: Fulton boat winch includes remote control and a 15-foot winch strap with hook.
- ❆【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)
- Product Feature: Boat trailer winches are ruggedly constructed of high quality aluminum with a galvanized finish for increased corrosion resistance. The rollers are larger and softer and will not harm the hull
- Product Function: You can easily adjust the height of the leaning post with the adjustment screws, minimum height: 17.3 inches, maximum height: 21.5 inches. Suitable for a variety of boat types including fishing boats, speedboats and motorboats
- Easy Installation: The included U-bolts quickly lock the trailer tow bar into place and use jam nuts to hold it securely in place. Safety line on the bottom of the winch bracket prevents boat slips and falls
- Compatibility: This product does not come with a winch, you will need to purchase your own or use a winch you already own. Will fit almost most winches
- Note before buying: This boat trailer winch post fits trailer tow bars that are 2-2.7“ wide and 3.2” tall. NOTE: Please check if it fits your trailer towing base size before purchase
- Allows the addition of a winch to your boat trailer
- Mounts to the boat trailer tongue with included U-bolts - Fits trailer frames up to 3" wide by 4" tall
- Multiple height adjustments for a custom fit to your boat and trailer
- Minimum Height: 16", Maximum Height: 20" (measured from center of roller to the trailer frame)
- Includes winch stand and mounting hardware only, winch sold separately
- Enhanced power motor(30% higher power than regular similar trailer winch) to make sure smooth winching operation.
- Dual direction electric winching(pulling and spooling - power in and power out). Dual operation model, both electric and manual(hand crank) winching. Hand crank winching model in emergency.
- Electric automatic braking system,Low noise design(<75 db at 12 inches). for car, trailer, truck, and boat winch.
- Galvanized steel cable and hook for additional safety , withstand up to 2,000 pounds of pulling capacity. Capacity: 6,000 lbs. rolling; 5,000 lbs. marine; 2,000 lbs. pulling; Max boat weight: 5,000 lbs.; Max boat size: 18 ft.
- 2 Years Warranty! Please be noted that steel cable is a consumable, that's is not in scope of warranty.
- 1.Upgrade Design: Dual mode operation, Power-in, Power-out, and Freewheel operation. Dyneema Fiber synthetic Rope, super flexible and 10 times strength than steel cable of similar diameter and easy to re-use.
- 2.Low Noise Design: running without ratcheting noise; Electric and manual dual model operation, both for in and out.
- 3. Enhanced Power Motor Design: 30% higher winching power than regular 6000 lbs trailer winch; Dyneema Fiber synthetic Rope and hook for additional safety.
- 4.Dyneema Fiber synthetic Rope, super flexible and 10 times strength than steel cable of similar diameter and easy to re-use: CAPACITY 6,000 lbs. rolling; 5,000 lbs. marine; 2,000 lbs. pulling; Max boat weight: 5,000 lbs
- 5. Designed for boats up to 6000 lbs.Rocker switch corded remote contro,16 ft. power cord.Best used for car, trailer, truck, trailer winch and boat winch .
- 【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.
- 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
- 🛥️【Stabilize Boat, Provide Convenience】DITKOK adjustable winch stand with towing winch can stabilize the boat on the towing frame and provide a lot of convenience. Equipped with a winch to make loading and unloading the boat more convenient, whether it is a dock launching or towing a boat ashore, this boat winch mount can provide support and stability, so that you can save your heart and energy. The winch comes with 26 ft. nylon strap that offers excellent load lifting and pulling power up to 1,200 lbs.
- 🛥️【Selected Materials, Durable and Reliable】The main body of this winch stand is made of high-quality metal, with fine spray paint on the surface to resist rust and corrosion, and can withstand harsh marine environments. This boat trailer winch post is equipped with rollers made of polyurethane, sturdy and wear-resistant, no damage to the hull, and not as easy to damage as plastic. The winch is hot-dipped galvanized to better prevent rust and corrosion, providing you with long-lasting service.
- 🛥️【Height Adjustable, Choose as You Wish】This boat trailer winch stand is height adjustable, with a minimum height of 5.5 inches and a maximum height of 20.4 inches (the distance between the center of the roller and the frame of the trailer). With a wide range of adjustability, this winch stand is suitable for a wide range of boat sizes, such as speedboats, bass boats & motorboats, perfect for people who want to adjust the height for their boat trailer.
- 🛥️【Super Compatible, Stable & Safe】This winch stand is widely available and compatible, suitable for trailer tow bars from 3 inches (approx. 7.6 cm) to 4 inches (approx. 10.2 cm) wide, adapts to most trailer configurations on the market. This boat winch mount’s winch buckle can fix the winch strap, which can provide safe support for your boat during transportation, avoiding the boat slipping and sliding, so that you can have a high level of peace of mind.
- 🛥️【Complete Accessories, Quick Installation】This boat trailer winch stand is equipped with a winch that is already installed, saving workload. This boat trailer winch post is required complete spare parts and comes with detailed installation instructions, allowing you to quickly install and use. Any problems encountered in the use process, you can contact the customer support team at any time, we will definitely give you a satisfactory answer.
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.