Power winch cable

scott craven

Well-Known Member
Has anyone changed the cable ?
mine is starting to flatten and fray ,
I assume you there is a hole in the spool to attach to
 
Buy a flat textile cable they are far better and longer lasting in my opinion. If the spool doesn't already have 2 opposing holes to attach it just drill the 2 holes to put a bolt through the drum to attach the cable to the drum. I have found the flat cable of woven material (like tow straps) much superior to steel cable on the boat winch. I'm sure others will pipe in with their opinions, but I much prefer that style. No rust, no frayed cable to stick into your hands. Lies on the drum perfectly when retrieved. Just make sure it is centered properly when run on the drum, so. it doesn't wear on the edges and it will last a long, long time.
 
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the best thing about the synthetic cable is that if it does break, it falls to the ground rather than cutting someone in half. I drilled a little bigger hole in the arbor and fed the cable thru so it would not slip on the arbor. The arbor is soft and easy to drill.
 
I just went through this drill. I finally made the decision to stick with stainless steel. Reason: synthetics can be prone to abrasion, especially when under high tension, and once they are under tension, it would have been hard to keep any strap I installed off the edge of the drum or the fairlead due to the way my drum is mounted on the winch stand---as TBG said, results and opinions might vary and trailer/winch set-up have to be considered

I think the main reason cable flattens and twists and loses its strength is because people have way too much of it on the drum. I purchased a 16 M coil of stainless and cut it in half with a dremel-- with 8.0 M on the spool it level winds into a manageable package ---prior owner had waaaay more cable on the drum then anybody would ever need and it was no wonder the cable looked so beat up---no way you can level wind 16 M and keep it from stacking up and rubbing against the fairlead on a normal size drum
 
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http://www.masterpull.com/

I went synthetic and would never go back to steel/wire. Way easier to manage, no kinking, its light and no more wire strands buried in my fingers.....way safer in the long run. The idea of a wire cable snapping and slicing through my hand or neck as I pull the boat onto the trailer always worried me. With synth it builds no kinetic energy and just drops. Also, I have lots of extra length on my winch and can simple cut through any worn sections and re-tie it to my bow hook any time with a sharp knife. Try doing that with wire. The US Military uses it extensively and Master Pull provides it to them....you can shop on line...................... they are right over the border by Blaine.
 
if you call them up they will splice a hook on to it. I think I paid around $100 US for 30 ft more or less with the splice and hook. You don't need to buy a complete car winch set up. Just look at the atv pricing....
 
I have been using a hand winch/snatch block spooled with "Amsteel" blue on my HEAVY boat for three years. Yes hand winch....looking for a power winch. Replaced steel cable for same concerns covered. Harbour Chandler put me on to it. Its expensive but has been great for all the right reasons, will be putting it on my new power winch for sure.

*Grey Colour* AmSteel Blue is a torque-free 12-strand single braid that yields the maximum in strength-to-weight ratio and, size for size, is the same strength as steel yet it floats. AmSteel®-Blue outlasts wire 3:1, making it an excellent wire rope replacement. It has extremely low stretch and superior flex fatigue and wear resistance. Samthane coating enhances that already high abrasion and cut resistance.
 
Punch the wire cable out of the tapered hole and drill the hole larger if needed and put the Amsteel through the hole and tie a knot on the end. That is how I did it on my set up. I have enough Amsteel loaded that it never gets close to the last 6 or 7 revolutions of the Amsteel on the Arbor when I pull it out to retrieve the boat.
 
Where did you buy the Amsteel blue Tubber ?
I got some blue at PNT Steveston, and some grey at Harbour Chandler. same stuff. Trotac should have it. I used it to replace the wire in some volleyball nets at work. It will bend the steel posts in quite a ways. Very strong. The leftover is going on my trailer. I don't know what your launch ramp is like, but I only need to pull out between 2-8 feet to hook on depending on the tide at Island West, which is where I mostly fish.
 
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