This is the fourth of a seven-part story on Boating Magazine editors’ favorite boat trailer accessories. We chose this Powerwinch because it is sleek, powerful, smooth operating and requires less physical manpower to bring the boat to its ideal trailer position.
Standard trailer winches are rough looking, lack corrosion protection and require a lot of muscle to bring a boat to the bow roller. The Powerwinch Premier Series 2000 is a useful upgrade that is sleek, robust, corrosion-resistant and provides UV protection to the strap inside the winch housing. And the extra-long crank handle reduces muscle work, so does the bearing system that smooths winch turning. This winch provides a 2000-pound capacity, covering most boats to 25 feet.
In most cases, the universal mounting holes on the winch will align with those of the original winch. In our case, they were off a fraction of an inch and required a little filing to fit.
Most installations will take only 30 minutes or less with a couple of open-end/box wrenches.
Read Next: How to Choose a Trailer Winch
The smooth operation and reliable performance of this winch eliminate the strain and frustration often associated with manual boat loading. For boaters who have struggled with sticky, underpowered, or unreliable winches, this upgrade transforms the loading process from a workout to a simple task. $225; powerwinch.com, amazon.com
Tip: When you have launched your boat, leave enough winch strap dangling so you have working room to manipulate the hook, but not so much that it drags on the ground while parking your rig.
