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
- 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 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)
- 【Dual Brake Power】Equipped with dynamic braking and mechanical friction brake system, this 12VDC winch delivers 6000lbs pulling capacity. Ideal for marine boat recovery (5000lbs water-rated) and truck/trailer operations with enhanced safety control.
- 【Silent Heavy-Duty Performance】Low-noise motor mechanism ensures quiet operation during boat launching or vehicle recovery. Galvanized steel wire rope withstands 907kgs single-line pull while resisting corrosion in marine environments.
- 【Instant Setup & Portability】Pre-mounted with 8.75"x4.9" plate and built-in handle for rapid installation. 32ft galvanized cable + 10ft battery cables allow flexible positioning on trailers, docks, or recovery vehicles.
- 【Smart Wireless Control】Operate safely from 10ft distance using IP67 waterproof remote. Reversible motor with 1.18m/min line speed enables precise power-in/power-out control for boat loading or stuck vehicle extraction.
- 【Marine-Grade Durability】Rust-resistant pulley hooks and blue polymer housing withstand harsh conditions. Includes auxiliary pulley block for complex angles - perfect for boat ramps, off-road trailers, and marine dock applications.
- HEAVY-DUTY CAPACITY: Built to handle tough jobs with a 3,200 lbs. load capacity, ideal for trailers, boats, and heavy equipment.
- DURABLE CONSTRUCTION: Features a one-piece, corrosion-resistant aluminum frame and handle for long-lasting performance in harsh conditions.
- SMOOTH & EFFICIENT OPERATION: Dual gear drum with center drive enclosed ratchet ensures reliable, smooth winding; self-engaging one-handed system shifts easily between high and low speeds.
- ADJUSTABLE & EASY TO USE: User-friendly pull-turn knob engages the ratchet plunger pin effortlessly; 4-position handle adjusts from 6" to 9" for optimal leverage.
- COMPLETE KIT INCLUDED: Comes with a strap guide and a 20' heavy-duty strap with hook for quick setup and secure anchoring.
- 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 .
- ❆【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)
- Dexterity control: The X-BULL 2S series 6000lbs winch offers unmatched control flexibility with its wired (4.2ft long) and newly designed wireless remote controllers (100ft range). Whether you prefer the precision of wired control or the convenience of wireless operation, this winch provides the best of both worlds. To ensure stable power output, the winch is supplied with two 5.9-foot cables and two 5.9-foot cables.
- Upgraded Waterproofing: Entire winch unit is rated IP68 waterproof, The highest level of protection,featuring OEM-grade O-ring rubber gaskets. This new sealing delivers a longer service life and meets the most stringent IP68 submersion testing. Make your winch easy for all types of environments
- Powerful Drive System: Equipped with a robust 12VDC 1.3 HP motor, the X-BULL 2S winch delivers impressive power. It achieves a full-load line speed of 2.9 feet per minute and an impressive no-load speed of 19.7 feet per minute with an enhanced 210:1 gear ratio,it guarantees dependable strength for the most demanding tasks.
- Convenient Accessories: This winch comes with a fairlead and mounting bracket, making installation straightforward and hassle-free. And the longer battery cables(two 2.95-foot cables and two 5.9-foot cables) provide greater flexibility in positioning the winch, thanks to these included accessories that enhance ease of use and functionality.
- 3-Stage Planetary Gear system and Clutch System: The combination of a 3-stage planetary gear system and an upgraded clutch provides extreme power and reliability. While delivering optimal performance, this system ensures your winch operates smoothly and safely, offering you peace of mind during demanding off-road.
- [Superior Load Capacity] This heavy-duty boat trailer winch has a pulling force of 3500Lbs and is equipped with a durable polyester belt that is 33 feet long and 2 inches wide. Its vertical lifting force is 1200 pounds, and the gear ratio is 4:1/8:1. A sturdy base can provide you with strong pulling force, saving you physical exertion.
- [Material] The ropes and hooks of the manual boat winch are made of steel , and the surface has undergone professional galvanizing treatment, which is resistant to harsh weather and will not rust.
- [Two-Way Ratchet] The heavy-duty portable hand boat winch is equipped with a mooring hook and safety pawl, which has a bidirectional ratchet function and can be operated in both forward and reverse directions simultaneously.
- [Comfortable Handle] The curved non-slip comfortable handle reduces hand fatigue, and the crank which is easy to shake can improve work efficiency.
- [Wide Application] The ratchet manual trailer winch can be used for towing, lifting, lowering, or positioning heavy objects, with good load lifting and traction.
- Opisicen Service: Whether you Strap has Tears, Frays or Rips, we will replace it
- Painting & Zinc Coated Winch Hook: For more scientific prevention of hook rusting, our winch replacement includes an upgraded rust-resistant zinc coating and an outermost layer of paint. The steel hook is already attached and sewn securely to the heavy-duty replacement strap. The bow winch strap has a heavy-duty boat hook with spring closure
- Universal Fit: Use our winch strap for boat trailer replacements or on many other trailer strap winches for towing vehicles, boats and jet skis, including pontoon boats, Sea-Doos, bass boats, sailboats
- Heavy Duty: Designed to withstand the harshest conditions. For example, it can be used as a boat trailer winch strap in salt water, for jet skis on the lake, for snowmobile trailers in snow, or for other off-road vehicles
- Perfect Security Design: Our marine grade boat trailer straps measures 2" x 20' long woven polyester webbing and outermost layer painting & the zinc coated winch hook has a spring closure for added security.
- 【PREMIUM QUALITY】Made of heavy duty metal. The surface of the boat trailer winch bracket is coated with galvanized technology for corrosion resistance and durability
- 【FITMENT】Compatible with 3" W x 4" H trailer drawbar. Note: Please check if it fits your trailer towing base size before purchasing
- 【ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT】You can easily adjust the height of the diagonal posts with screws, the adjustable trailer winch stand has roller flexibility. Minimum height: 17.5 inches; maximum height: 23 inches. Compatible with various boat models, including jet skis, fishing boats and speedboats
- 【EASY INSTALLATION】The U-bolt securely holds the trailer drawbar in place, eliminating any possibility of shaking. In addition, the combination of the winch rear pin, tow rope hook and bracket bottom hook provides triple safety protection, greatly reducing the risk of the boat slipping or falling during transportation
- 【Boat Winch】The boat trailer winch bracket includes a boat winch . This winch can provide 1200LB of pulling force and is fully compatible with this winch bracket. Installation only requires tightening the screws
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.