rcurtis226

Here is a pic of the 5 month old winch post that was installed back in July. It has warped just like the previous one did last year when I purchased the trailer new. Should I expect this to continue with every post I install? If not, what is the fix. Base plate is 5x10 and its 32 inches tall

Fine Catch

Steel deforms from too much stress. If this is the 2nd winch post to deform like this, something is wrong with your setup. The boat might be too heavy, the rollers causing too much drag or the trailer isn't adjusted properly. Also, maybe you are not putting the trailer in deep enough and cantilevering the boat at the rear of the trailer when retrieving the boat. Something is putting too much stress on that winch stand.

SeaPro48

Would you please back up a little and take another pic tomorrow?

Dacman

Show all parts of the rig. The boat is pushing on the stand way too much. Roller trailer? More Picts would help

rcurtis226

Thanks guys. I'll take pics in the morning

thataway

You might prevent this by having two gussets welded between the back of the post and the single piece of metal forming the winch platform, forward strap and baseplate. There is way too much load on this winch post.

ocnslr

Not a job for 5# plate.

rcurtis226

what would be the next stronger plate, and who would have it.

jhackl

Take a BFH and straighten it back out. Get a longer U-bolt and a thick piece of steel, 3/4" or 1". Paint it and bolt in the open area on the bottom. Make sure it is tight to the front lower corner. Be more careful winching the boat on.

Brezinup

How do you load and unload your boat?

mitchell master

Double up the base plate and add another u bolt to the middle.

Seon

Normally I'd agree; however, that plate appears to be the weakest point so by doubling and adding a plate, something else has got to give...maybe the Bow Eye (?) . Got to find the cause rather placing a band-aid.

rcurtis226

when I retrieve the boat at the ramp, we drive the boat up on the trailer til she's snug to the bow catcher, then cinch her down with the winch and a separate strap that is connected to the trailer directly below the eye. I think the problem is once we pull the boat out she's floating off the back of the trailer, and all of her weight is pulling on the winch. Does anyone have any other idea's.

805gregg

When you get the boat on the trailer, instead of winching it forward, just stop fast a few time and slide it forward

jhackl

Are you winching it up farther than where it is sitting in the pictures and then it slides back when you pull it out of the water? If so, try only winching it as far as what it is now, it looks like the top of the bow eye is even with the top of the bow stops. Don't over tighten the winch strap, only put just enough tension to hold it in place while you pull it out.

rcurtis226

I'm able to drive the boat up to the bowcatcher without any issue. And, once I snug the bow to the bowcatcher, I leave the motors running in forward idle to eliminate the need for the winch to have to drag the boat up bunks. Then I attach another strap immediately below the eye and on the trailer eye. I think the problem is there is too much of the boat that's floating when we begin to pull the boat and trailer out of the water. I just don't know how to eliminate that.

AnnapGrady

If the whole boat is floating when you pull up the the catcher, and you snug up the winch in that position, when the boat sits down on the trailer it is going to slide back some. This will pull harder on your winch and bracket, and could cause the issue you are having.

rcurtis226

once she's driven up to the bowcatcher, and cinched by the winch and the vertical strap, sometimes she'll back off of the bow at her pads by 1/4 to 1/2 inch if we haven't cinched the winch tight enough. Or I guess the winch and strap are tight enough, it's just the winch post bends and creates the gap. Although, I think that's unlikely because I just took the winch strap off, and the post plate still looks warped. So, disregard that theory.

rcurtis226

I agree. But, how do I eliminate that issue?

rcurtis226

If that winch post snaps, I imagine it will impale whatever is in it's way, to include the bow.