Replacement trailer winch strap?

[Glenn Basore]

Hi All,

Any one replace their trailer winch strap on their Performance trailer?

I know I can buy the whole unit but thought may be I could just replace the strap.

I use the trailer winch to raise and lower my Eclipse mast and after 5 years of exposure to salt water and UV it looks like it should be replace, cheaper than replacing a mast if the winch line let go!

I replaced my head sail halyard line which I also use to lift the mast as well.

Glenn B.

[Tim Gardner]

I replaced my strap with a 3/16 galvanized cable.  Works perfect.

TG

[Bob23]

Believe it or not, I have some old line on my winch. But then again, all it does is hold the boat in place after the travel lift drops her in place.
Bob23

[skip1930]

You can use a cable but that scares me thinking it's going to wrap around my neck when it parts way after a few years of rust.
I like the nylon straps, and for replacements I'd go to ACE Hardware. Or take apart a cargo strap.

Feed the strap through the slot on the drum, roll on a few wraps and feed the other end through the eye of the hook and tie a stopper knot so it won't fly out of the eye of the hook.

Happy cranking.  skip.

[HideAway]

I'm with you on this Skip- I do not not trust a metal cable - especially with all this salt water around.   I just replaced my winch and strap - From Walmart. It probably won t last but a few years, but nothing lasts very long in salt water .    Matt

[Glenn Basore]

Yea,

The cable is out of the question................

As to the nylon strap, does that usually come with a breaking or tensile strength rating?

I don't know how much force is exerted when raising the mast but it must be pretty high at the first part of lifting the mast!

Glenn B.

[Tim Gardner]

Glenn,

The amount of force depends on the angle you lift it from. 

If you lift the rig with a 45 degree angle pull from your bow to your Gin pole the force is twice the weight of the standing rigging. The lower the angle the greater the force required.

TG

[Glenn Basore]

TG,

I do use the gin pole..............

I understand 2x the 45 degree and the lower the angle (no gin pole for example) that number would greatly increase.

I for got what my halyard line was rated at for its breaking point but I think it was in the couple of thousand pound load, not sure.

What I really want to know is, what is the breaking point on a nylon strap if I was able to buy one to put on my winch.

The winch strap thats on the winch now is more like a woven cloth material rather than nylon.

Glenn B.

[Tim Gardner]

Glenn,  they come in 5, 7 and 10 thousand # strengths from the Trailer Parts Depot.

Check Here: http://www.trailerpartsdepot.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=WSY20&eq=&Tp=

TG

[ontarioSuncat]

Breaking strength of 2" nylon webbing is 5500#, BUT over time the part left in the sun will deteriorate and the breaking strength at that point will tend to <50#. After a few years I awapped mine end for end and re stitched on the hook. THis year I will be changing it out for a new strap.

[Glenn Basore]

TG,

Perfect!

I think I will order this................

Using the winch the way I do to raise / lower the mast, I probably should replace this strap and Hal yard ever 3 to 5 years.

I was it with fresh water after using but the UV is tough too. may be i will make a cloth cover just to cover the winch as it sits in the sun.......might help?

Thanks everyone.

Glenn B.

[CaptRon28]

I understand 2x the 45 degree and the lower the angle (no gin pole for example) that number would greatly increase.

Glenn B.

The angle that the headstay hits the top of the horizontal plane of the lowered mast is the more important one. Assuming that it's about 15 degrees, only 25 percent of the force, after friction losses, is being used to raise the stick. The balance is pulling it towards the hinge pin. A longer gin pole would help. Get the angle up to 30 degrees and it jumps up to 50 percent.

One trick that I may try on my Horizon is to use a pvc pipe to hold the aft end of the mast perhaps 7 feet above the gallows. That would significantly reduce the amount of weight to be lifted, even using the stock gin pole. Add a longer gin pole and that would really make a major difference.

[Pacman]

Bob23 has it right.

Just buy some 5/16" line and use a bowline knot to tie on a a carabiner. 

You can get what you need for just a few dollars from Home Depot.

This is not a problem that requires a high tech solution.

Save your money for new sails or tires for your trailer when the time comes.