Winch strap

Noble95 · 14 June 2015, 06:24

Last night when bringing our boat the Winch strap snapped, no extra strain as I had powered onto the trailer it was simply when I dropped the power off, now luckily I had a back up line tied on which did the job as it should and stopped a VERY expensive accident, the trailer is pretty much brand new probably only 3 months old and you don't expect these things to happen, so two things one always have a back up line, and two whats a stronger replacement to a winch strap? if there is anything?

ShinyShoe · 14 June 2015, 07:56

People use dynema rope rather than webbing. But if that was 50mm webbing that wasn't damaged the breaking strain is big.

Backup line? How does it stay short as you winch in?

paintman · 14 June 2015, 08:06

How wide & thick was the webbing?
Has it snapped the webbing or has the stitching given way?
On a 3 month old trailer I'd be speaking to the suppliers as I would expect there is a warranty?

treerat · 14 June 2015, 08:35

Do you mean it broke as you drove up the slipway and not when winching?

I use a 2nd webbing strap from the d ring to the trailer to try and mitigate this, seen more than 1 boat left half on / half off a trailer.

At 3 months there is an issue - as others have said, warranty time.

spartacus · 14 June 2015, 08:53

Winch straps break all the time. I use one rated for 2 tonnes and I've seen it's either torn or snapped on a couple of occasions. Granted, I've used it under strain if it's been too shallow to recover properly. They tend to go at the stitched hook end. Cut it back 12" or so and use a figure of 8 loop knot to re-fix. I tend to replace the strap annually. Good advice, about never driving up a slip with just the strap holding the boat on. It'll be like watching Thunderbirds 2 launch into the briny if it breaks.

Pikey Dave · 14 June 2015, 10:37

10-12mm Dyneema + short safety chain, simples. I've had/seen so many winch straps break over the years.

mick · 14 June 2015, 10:56

Yup

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paintman · 14 June 2015, 15:49

Safety chain for me too when going up - or down - a slip. Stays on when towing.

Noble95 · 14 June 2015, 17:28

Yes so i had trailer in water, I then powered on trailer up to the bow stopper thing (not sure on technical term) mate hooked it on and the took bow line and tied that onto the tractor that launches us, as I took power off and tractor pulled up the slip the strap snapped @ the stitching part and then the bow line connected to the tractor took the weight.

How much am I looking @ for one of those replacements for a strap? (Forgot name as posting can't see on iPhone) Hopefully after next launch it will be staying in the water for the rest of summer and only coming back out again when it gets delivered back to winter storage so have some time to play with to get the correct set up, the boat with kit and one person on board is probably verging towards to 1.5t

mick · 14 June 2015, 17:35

I bought the hook £6 then 8 m of dyneema hook spliced on and an eye at tother end circa £50

Crusher · 14 June 2015, 19:52

There are plenty out there, Look at this on eBay:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...obalID=EBAY-GB

7metre x 50mm H/D winch strap / boat trailer / car trailer + Bolt and Nut

Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net

BogMonster · 15 June 2015, 11:10

Straps are rubbish and I really wonder why companies still sell trailers/winches with them on.

I use 6mm Dyneema, and have for quite a few years. I get mine from Electric Winches and 4x4 Winch Parts Online | Goodwinch â€“ Leading Winch Suppliers - the last one for the new trailer was £32 ex vat for 8m of rope and a suitable hook all spliced on, earlier this year. For which price you could buy a £10 winch strap and a couple of gelcoat repair kits for when it breaks...

The Goodwinch blue 6mm Dyneema is rated at 4000kg, the 10mm is rated at 10,900kg so possibly overkill. Other makes will be in the same sort of range. For comparison a quick google shows a typical winch strap is rated at 1500kg.

On all three of the winches I've fitted Dyneema to, there is a hole in the drum where the strap retaining bolt goes through, and to secure it I've just fed the Dyneema through that hole and tied a knot in the end. If you ever need to take it off, cut the knot off, you only lose a few inches of rope. It takes 5 minutes to fit, most of which is winding the rope back on - just as easy as replacing the strap, except it will only need to be done once. I don't know what its useful service life is but the 6mm rope I fitted to my old SBS trailer in 2010 is still fine.

Searider · 15 June 2015, 11:18

Was the strap tight - or did the boat have a chance to roll aft before the load came on to the strap?

If the boat moved first then the snatch load is quite considerable.

Poly · 15 June 2015, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

On all three of the winches I've fitted Dyneema to, there is a hole in the drum where the strap retaining bolt goes through, and to secure it I've just fed the Dyneema through that hole and tied a knot in the end. If you ever need to take it off, cut the knot off, you only lose a few inches of rope. It takes 5 minutes to fit, most of which is winding the rope back on - just as easy as replacing the strap, except it will only need to be done once. I don't know what its useful service life is but the 6mm rope I fitted to my old SBS trailer in 2010 is still fine.

BM - my strap is due for replacement. The winch itself works fine, but is rusty on the inside faces of the "drum" that the webbing winds onto. If I was replacing with webbing (which doesn't really rub on those faces) I'd give it a wire brush and some hammerite - would you do the same with Dyneema or because it will be directly in contact would you replace the winch too?

Pikey Dave · 15 June 2015, 12:27

If you do a good prep & paint job on the winch drum, you should squeeze a few more years out of it. Dymeema does go furry on the outside, but it doesn't affect the strength much.

.....sh1t happens.......

Noble95 · 15 June 2015, 16:18

Was tight, I will look at dyneema as an option

willk · 21 September 2015, 18:45

I have been uneasy about my webbing and hook for some time. It's only done a couple of seasons. I took it in today to the pros and we unwound the drum. The webbing was all kinked and nasty. At the attachment point (a bolt) it was frayed down to 50% attached - I'd guess only friction as holding in on. The bolt was bent.

So, new hook and a full drum of 10mm Dyneema.

Pikey Dave · 21 September 2015, 19:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

I have been uneasy about my webbing and hook for some time. It's only done a couple of seasons. I took it in today to the pros and we unwound the drum. The webbing was all kinked and nasty. At the attachment point (a bolt) it was frayed down to 50% attached - I'd guess only friction as holding in on. The bolt was bent.

So, new hook and a full drum of 10mm Dyneema.

That Kuplex hook will take some looking after, beware.

willk · 21 September 2015, 19:21

Plan is to spray it with low sling maintenance grease now and then keep an eye on it. The thimble is to protect the rope from rust. I need something that can take a bit of strain...

Pikey Dave · 21 September 2015, 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Plan is to spray it with low sling maintenance grease now and then keep an eye on it. The thimble is to protect the rope from rust. I need something that can take a bit of strain...

This stuff is the dogs. They have a distributer in the ROI