What is a boat winch strap and why do you need one?
If you own a boat, you should know that the Alaska Motorboat Safety Program (AMSBP) recommends that an emergency breakaway system be installed on your boat. The AMSBP defines an emergency breakaway system as a minimum of two nylon straps that are used to release a boat from a motor when the motor is not attached to a boat.
Retractable straps usually come with a small tool kit that makes installing the straps simple. One of the first questions people ask is whether they can use a boat winch rather than a boat winch strap. The answer is they can work best when combined. This article will explain how to set one up.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Shoreline Marine Winch Strap | Best Overall |  |
| Custom Install Parts Black Trailer Winch Replacement Strap 2" x 20' and Safety Hook | Budget Pick |  |
| Rod Saver Heavy Duty Replacement Winch Strap | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Shoreline Marine Winch Strap
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Perfect assortment for boating
- High-quality materials
Cons:
- May not last if abused
- Not as strong as other straps
The Shoreline Marine Winch Strap with Hooks is a very useful set of 10 straps that’ll keep you prepared for any boating situation.
This set includes a 15 foot strap with a hook on each end, and three 10-footer straps with two hooks on each end. This is great for handling a variety of accessories you may use on the water.
Each strap in the set is made from polyester – which allows for both strength and flexibility. It also features a soft hook that won’t harm your boat while you tie it up. It’s a good idea to do a test first to ensure it doesn’t snag or damage your boat.
2. Fulton WS20HD0600 Heavy Duty Trailer Winch Strap
Pros:
- Sturdy
- Has dual loops
- Can be used with multiple trailers
- Has a hook that is capable of holding up to 8000 lbs
- Two different size options
- Multiple color options
- Includes a strong zinc coated D-ring
- Has a 4-year warranty
3. Goldenrod Dutton-Lainson 6249 20-ft Winch Strap
Pros:
- Heavy-Duty
- Soft, Flexible Segments
- All-Weather Construction
- Compatible with Both DIY and Professionals
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Not designed for extreme conditions
- Not designed for commercial use
Not the strongest combination of strength and flexibility.
As a simple, yet ruggedly designed winch strap, the Goldenrod performs to expectation. It is great for recreational boating, and fitting applications that need to be fully loaded and tensioned above their constant rating.
It is suitable for one-handed application or self-release and offers a number of pull points for better control in an emergency. Aside from simple pulling it is also rigid enough to strap down objects within the bed of a pickup. The carbon steel hook is robust and the webbing is built to last. Suitable for both professionals and DIY users alike.
4. Rod Saver Heavy Duty Replacement Winch Strap
Pros:
- Easy installation and setup
- Good flexibility for pulling larger loads
Cons:
- Missing a metal lock
- You’ll need to keep an eye out for parts breaking off, particularly the hooks
The Rod Saver is an excellent winch strap that’s designed for fishing. It’s made from polyester, and measures 1 inch in width. The polyester construction makes the strap fairly stretchy, so you can pull larger loads.
The aluminum hooks on the Rod Saver are large, and they’re covered with plastic. The hooks attach on both sides of the winch for some good stretch. The yellow color of the strap makes it easy to locate, especially when it’s installed in a dark place.
It doesn’t have a metal lock, so you’ll need to be careful with that. Another thing to keep in mind is that you may need to keep an eye out for the hooks breaking off; it’s a common problem with this winch strap. Overall, this is a great accessory to have if you enjoy fishing.
5. SGT KNOTS Boat Winch Strap
Pros:
- Great for a variety of applications
- Good quality products
Most people enjoy boating as a fun pastime, and will often choose to use their boat to tow others. If you have tow a trailer up the road, these boat winch straps could come in handy when needed.
These heavy duty straps make towing your tow vehicles and other trailers a breeze, due to their superior strength and design.
Each kit comes with 2 straps which measure approximately 10 feet long, and 2 18-inch hooks. These can be used to tow many of your vehicles including: jet ski, kayak, moped, or canoe, etc.
6. 2 Inch by 20 Feet Trailer Winch Strap
Pros:
- Solid construction
- Comes with free hooks
- It will hold a whole lot of weight
This strap by Best Choice Products is here because it’s maximum weight capacity, which is 3500 lbs. It is a great strong strap that can be used to tie trailers, RVs, and ships.
You can use it for a variety of purposes, including securing things to trailers, loading an ATV or motorcycle in the trailer, tie down your boat on your trailer.
It is also great for securing you boogie board to your boat and for securing your life preservers to the boat. It will also be great to use when you tow things and hit a bump in the road, it shouldn’t come lose and come flying out of the trailer.
7. Botepon Marine Boat Trailer Winch Strap
Pros:
- Safe and easy to use
- Adjustable and flexible
- Incredibly strong with around 4500-pound capacity
- Quick and easy to install
- Comes with a heavy-duty hook
- No maintenance required
- No poisonous materials
- Can be used on trailers, cars, hitch rails, and more
The Botepon boat trailer winch strap is a strong, durable, and versatile rope. It is made from quality materials, which contributes to its strength. It comes with a heavy-duty 2'' x 20'6'' hook, which you can use for boats, trailers, wave runner, towing, heavy duty equipment, and other tasks.
Thanks to its strength, this strap can lift up to 4500 lbs. It can withstand different weather conditions, including rain, snow, or sleet. What’s more, this winch strap can be used for a long period of time. You won’t need to take it off the hook, since it doesn’t contain any harmful material, nor is it flammable. The strap is safe to use for everyone.
8. Custom Install Parts Black Trailer Winch Replacement Strap 2" x 20' and Safety Hook
Pros:
- Very tough and durable
- Works well at holding the boat in place
- Low cost
- Free shipping
There are a lot of people who enjoy using boats during their free time. They can provide hours of fun on the water and it’s easy for you to have some fun with your friends. To make sure that it’s not just a hobby but an actual hobby that you can enjoy well, you need to ensure that you have the boat properly tied down. One of the most professional ways to do this is with the use of the Custom Install Parts Black Trailer Winch Replacement Strap.
It doesn’t matter what kind of boat you have. Whether you have a canoe or a small one-person boat or a jet ski, you can make sure that you have the right kind of strap for it. You not only need one that’s strong enough but also one that’s easy to store and easy to use. The Custom Install Parts Black Trailer Winch Replacement Strap 2” X 20’ fits the bill.
9. Yellow Trailer Winch Replacement Strap 2" x 20' and Safety Hook
Pros:
- Available in 20 ft., 35 ft., and 50 ft. lengths
- 9,000 lbs. to 16,000 lbs. safe working load limit
- Constructed with 2" wide polyester webbing
- Has a durable fitting made of steel and plastic
- Has a simple hook-on connection system
- Great tensile strength
The Yellow Trailer Winch Replacement Strap 2" x 20' and Safety Hook For Large Boats, Jet Ski, Wave Runner, Towing, Heavy Duty Equipment Or Flat Bed Tie Down (Up To 10,000 lbs) is ideal for camping, marine use, trucks, SUV, outdoor equipment, and more.
This strong haul strap is made from polyester webbing while the hooks are constructed of strong steel and plastic. It's very convenient and easy to use in many applications.
This winch strap has a product weight of 3.7 lbs and it measures 2-inch wide x 20-feet long. The replacement strap is ideal for jet ski, wave runner, towing, heavy duty equipment and flat bed.
10. Dutton-Lainson Company 6250 25'/4000 lbs Winch Strap
Pros:
- Durable and well-made
- Includes heavy-duty hooks
- 4000 lbs line capacity
This Dutton-Lainson Winch Strap is a 25 feet long strap made primarily for use with your inboard or outboard boat winches. It is 3-inch x 6-inch and is made with a heavy duty canvas material. The straps are color coded at every foot, so you know where each end goes and it has a user-friendly red/yellow indicator that shows the strap is in use.
The straps are rated to an impressive 4000 lb line capacity and they are a very handy tool to have in your boat. If you are boating alone, this is a must-have. They are pretty easy to use and you don’t need any prior skills to put them into use.
Perhaps the best part is that it is also easy to carry and store. All the you have to do is coil it up and put it in the trunk of your car.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best boat winch?
It really depends on what you are pulling out of the water and how far out of the water you are trying to pull it.
If you are using a small boat with a small motor, you won�۪t need a heavy duty winch to pull you out. For example, a basic, hand-operated winch on a harbor crane would work great for this.
If you are boating in deeper waters or are using a larger boat, which can pull heavier weights, you will probably need something more heavy duty.
A boat winch strap is important because it will ensure that you do not have to physically pull the boat out of the water. The strap will pull the boat to safety and allow you to control the boat as it comes out of the water.
Whatever kind of straps you choose, make sure they are strong and heavy duty!
What is the best electric boat winch?
If you own a boat or a jet skiff, you know how inconvenient it can be when the motor stalls and you are stuck on the water.
Like those who fish from a boat, those who hunt from a boat, fly fishers and many others who spend a lot of time on the water need a great method for dragging their boat.
There are three main ways you can pull your boat onto shore or a larger boat. You can use a boat winch, a boat anchor winch, an anchor and chain tackle, or an FLOATING mooring winch.
Using a boat winch is the most convenient and simple of the solutions. No dragging on your part.
There are two main types of winches available: electric and manual. Both have their unique strengths and weaknesses, the most important of which are convenience, portability, and safety.
How do you change a winch strap on a boat?
Changing a winch strap on a boat is done from the engine room. The process is relatively easy once you know what you’re doing, but knowing how to change a winch strap is not something you want to have to learn on the job without any prior knowledge. Fortunately, it’s a pretty serious process, so you probably won’t need to change a winch strap on a boat very often.
Fortunately, that probably means that when you do need to, you can ask someone else to do it for you. Make sure you heed all safety precautions associated with changing a winch strap though.
How big of a winch do I need for my boat?
Unless your boat is huge or has a very low freeboard (the part that rises above the waterline), you can probably get away with something in the 1,000-pound range. Anything more than 1,000 pounds will require a larger winch, though, and the higher it goes the better it will be for your boat.
Note: If you’re going with a manual winch to save money, make sure you get a winch with a manual assist facility. It can be a crank type that you wind back-and-forth, or a lever that you pull back and forth to get that same effect. This will make the winching process easier.
Conclusion
Boat winch straps are a compulsory piece of equipment that comes with every boat.
The best winch straps are able to enhance safety, make sure that your boat stays in tip-top condition, and maximise your boating experience. To achieve this, it is important that you choose the right boat winch straps for your boat. We have reviewed some of the best available boat winch straps models to ensure that you make an excellent decision. We hope this article will be of great help to you in making the right purchase.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Shoreline Marine Winch Strap | Best Overall | |
| Custom Install Parts Black Trailer Winch Replacement Strap 2" x 20' and Safety Hook | Budget Pick | |
| Rod Saver Heavy Duty Replacement Winch Strap | Upgrade Pick | |