Winch on trailer

[keeno07]

Hi all,
I am having a trailer built to transport my 4.6m SIB, can anyone advise me wether or not to have a winch fitted. I am loath to in case it pulls the front ring off the boat & obviously damaging the bow tube.
Advice please!

[Max...]

You should not use the front ring for winching/towing - always use a bridle to the two side rings.

[keeno07]

Now need advice on how to make a bridle, never seen one before. Thanks Max.
Was that a yes to winch?

[Max...]

I just use a suitable length 12mm mooring rope spliced at each end into a SS heavy duty carabiner/spring hook thingy. I would guess the weight of a 4.6m SIB would make a winch essential.

[Locozodiac]

Keeno, are you building something like this, cheap, liteweight and very portable. Pulling a sib out of water could put real stress on front towing rings. You could place a winch up front and rollers instead of side wooden slats. This is a trailer for use with crane for quick launch & retrieve.

Happy Sibbing

[Peter_C]

I can't imagine not having a winch. In fact I almost put an electric winch on to make recovering solo with transom wheels on. Might still do it.

Plus you need some kind of tower at the bow to create a bow stop for towing, or the boat could launch forward into the tow vehicle. I leave the winch connected and then put a motorcycle tie down holding the bow down. The boat is never towed down the road without straps on the stern either.

I use a bridle like this for anchoring. I have always meant to splice the rope, but there are plenty of projects ahead of that. Hey at least I spliced my anchor rope! The center knot is assurance if one side cuts loose the other side can still hold the boat for redundancy. The length of rope is specific so that the carabiner can clip to the milk crate (That holds the anchor and rode in the bow) for storage.

[m chappelow]

As the others have said ,, don't winch from the bow D ring only but use a bridle ,
what I do is make a bridle or just run a single line back and fasten off at the transom ( great if you have a couple of ski eyes or the like ) then run it under the boat and then through the Bow eye that way most of the load is taken on the transom with the front eye acting just as a guide ,,
Also beware of the height of the winch set up as the boat slide on the trailer you want it to pull horizontal or above
if it's too low as the boat slides on as it nears the winch it can have a tendency to pull the boat down harder onto the trailer ,,that's if your not using a winch post and the winch is on the trailer spine .

[keeno07]

Thanks for all the advice, plenty to take on board!

[keeno07]

No mate, I am hoping to have a purpose built trailer made for the SIB, with double bunks on each side.