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C'Hawk Trailer Winches NFG

jjg

jjg

Well-known member
Looks like C'Hawk is going a little cheap on their winches and their ability to mount them correctly. Notice how the winch frame twisted due to no mounting bolts at the lower corners. The chawk winch was only rated at 1200lbs, my new one is rated at 2500lbs, may be a little overkill but its effortless at the ramp and was only $90 strap included. If you do the math based on the incline of most boat ramps the winch that came with my trailer was greatly underrated !!!

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I have been looking for a plated 2 speed strap winch. Still haven't found a supplier that sells them in 2 speed. Anyone have any suggestions?
 
JT Patroni said:
I have been looking for a plated 2 speed strap winch. Still haven't found a supplier that sells them in 2 speed. Anyone have any suggestions?
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Just turn your hand at different rates of speed, way cheaper!

OR

http://www.southwestwheel.com/store/p-4651-2000-lb-two-speed-hand-winch.aspx

http://www.tractorsupply.com/hand-winches/2-speed-hand-winch-2500-lb-pulling-capacity-1040223

http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Winch/Dutton-Lainson/DL15440.html

http://www.pacifictrailers.com/FULTON-T3205-Two-Speed-Trailer-Hand-Winch-T32050301/

My next winch will be an ATV winch. Hook and press the button. That it the hardest part on me when I go boating is winching back on. Even tho I drive the boat on and Megan winches it up!
 
I didn't know that anybody still used a wench to load there boat, just to lock it down after it's out of the water.
 
jjg said:
Looks like C'Hawk is going a little cheap on their winches and their ability to mount them correctly. Notice how the winch frame twisted due to no mounting bolts at the lower corners. The chawk winch was only rated at 1200lbs, my new one is rated at 2500lbs, may be a little overkill but its effortless at the ramp and was only $90 strap included. If you do the math based on the incline of most boat ramps the winch that came with my trailer was greatly underrated !!!

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i'm thinking i would be putting some fender washers under those bolt heads especially the one with the oblong hole in it.
 
After looking at the pictures, the problem at hand is the way the winch is mounted. Using the center holes is just asking for the trouble you have.
C Hawk should have used the outer slots as far to the outside as possible along with washers. That would have given the winch frame at least 75% more support and probably eliminate the damage.
 
If you can find a well stocked hardware store they will hav heavy duty fender washers that are about 3x the thickness of regular ones but I would follow JT's advice and get the drill out.

John
 
I have my wench stand adjusted so that the bow eye hits the bottom side of the roller on the stand when the boat is on the trailer correctly. I drive the boat on until I feel it make contact with the roller, give it a little more throttle to hold it there, the wife starts pulling the boat out of the water, and just when the motor starts to rev, I turn the key off. When I get to the top of the ramp, she stops to let me out of the boat and I hook the strap and tighten it. Takes us about 45 seconds to load a boat.
 
Call me stupid, but whenever I can- I float on along side the dock, then winch the rest of the way onto the trailer. I hate powering on and avoid it whenever I can. I also attach the safty cable to the bow before pulling out of the water just for my peace of mind.

Sorry to see that on the c hawks... never had a problem with my old eagle, just not a fan of my fiberglass fenders or the verticle box sections holding up the bunks (no drains, that I can see). I've been debating on which trailer to go with whenever the time comes. If I ever get another eagle it will have steel fenders.
 
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Enticer1 said:
OK Brian what did you do ?? My PC is stuck on your last post.
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She is jumping rope, getting in shape for boating season. I keep watching to see if one of these time's she ends up knocking herself out!!;)

SippyRat said:
x 2.......... We drive are boats on the trailer around here. Winch straps rarely make it out past 1 or 2 feet
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Same here. I got my trailer a little differently setup than most. I drive it on and strap it but when I pull it out, it still needs to slide forward a couple inches. I do it 1 of 2 ways....... Winch it or hit the brakes and let her slide forward the couple inches, LOL. Both ways work but the second is a lot easier on me :D
Some of the ramps at cumberland have "no power loading" signs. I must say this has never stopped me however, mine slides right up with little throttle.
 
I have always wenched my boats on the trailer, but my trailer is always in deep enough that it wenches very easy plus their is always a dock where I put in.

I have a long guide rope that I use to pull the boat on the trailer, then I wench it about 3 feet the most.
 
I never drive on. Just not comfortable doing it. I have a Rule electric winch so I just push a button and up she comes!:D
 
JT Patroni said:
After looking at the pictures, the problem at hand is the way the winch is mounted. Using the center holes is just asking for the trouble you have.
C Hawk should have used the outer slots as far to the outside as possible along with washers. That would have given the winch frame at least 75% more support and probably eliminate the damage.
Click to expand...


I agree and thats what I did. The pictures dont show the new bolts I put in. Any winch mounting instructions tell you to use a triangular bolt pattern. I guess the idiots at chawk dont know any better. I sent them my POS winch back with a invoice for my time and the new winch. If they dont pay my collection agency will be informed !!!
 
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