Difference Between 4:1 Winch and 1:1 Winch

Updated 09/27/2016 | Published 09/26/2016

Question:

Hi - I am pulling a small inflatable up onto a carpeted dock area. The boat with motor weighs about 300lbs so I was thinking of the below winch. Is a 1:1 ratio harder or easier to crank given the same weight load as a 4:1? I am just not sure how the ratios work. Thank you. DL16003

asked by: Dan V

Expert Reply:

A 1:1 ratio will be much harder to turn than a 4:1 ratio. The 1:1 will move exactly 4 times quicker though.

The Dutton Lainson winch part # DL16003 has a 1:1 ratio and a 400 lb capacity. It would make easy work of what you are trying to do since the needed ratio in your application is 2:1 (sorry to use more confusing ratios). What that means is that for your application you can get by with a winch that has half the capacity of the boat. So a 150 lb winch would work fine, and a 400 lb winch like the DL winch would work even easier.

expert reply by: Jameson C