Two Steps to Installing a Boat Trailer Winch

A good boat trailer winch will allow you to make pulling your boat back into its trailer a much easier task. If your boat trailer does not have a winch installed or the current winch on your trailer needs replacing, installing a new winch can be a fun do-it-yourself project you can undertake in under 15 minutes:

1. If you’re installing the new winch on a trailer that doesn’t currently have a winch on it, chances are that the necessary mounting holes will not have yet been drilled. Taking the new winch as a guide, set it three inches ahead of the boat. With it angled in the same direction as your boat’s bow, mark locations for the mounting holes with a permanent marker. Drill them out to match the size of the bolts included in the winch package.
   
   If bolts were not included with the package, drill 3/8-inch holes to mount the boat trailer winch with 3/8 inch by 3 inch Grade 5 galvanized bolts.
   
   If the trailer you own has an old winch attached, remove it using a socket and wrench to loosen the mounting bolts.
2. Using a socket and wrench, mount the new winch on the trailer, drop the necessary bolts in place, screw in matching nuts to hold them in place, and tighten them up securely. With that done, your winch is ready to be attached to the boat.