Worm Gear Winch and Hoist Recommendations to Lift a 50 Pound Kayak

Updated 02/27/2017 | Published 02/25/2017

Products Featured in This Question

Dutton-Lainson Hand Winch - Worm Gear - Loop Drive - Ceiling Mount - 1,500 lbs

(16)

$87.47

Bulldog Pulley Block for Powersports

(12)

$25.09

Dutton-Lainson Hand Winch - Worm Gear - Hex Drive - 1,500 lbs

(288)

$128.85

Hand Winch Cable with Safety Hook 1/4" Diameter x 25' Long - 1,400 lbs.

(25)

$41.29

Dutton-Lainson StrongArm Electric Winch w/ Remote and Pulley Block, AC Powered - 1,200 lbs

(171)

$574.60

Question:

I plan to use this winch to lift a Kayak weighing 50 lbs including all related gear less then nine feet off the floor. Is their a lighter winch available with perhaps a small gear ratio and/or a larger spool to reduce the number of turns required to raise and lower this load ? I plan on lifting my kayak up from two opposite directions simultaneously onto this spool by winding one over the spool and one under. Will this be any concern or is a divider of the wind spool necessary since one cable will be pulling over the top of the wind spool and the opposite side cable from under so both pull the same direction whether going up or down . Or would it be better to pull to a center point and that point connected to the winches spool ?

asked by: John

Expert Reply:

At 1,500 pounds capacity worm gear winch # DL10954 is the lowest capacity available. Speed is an issue with worn gear winches because they allow for the precise movement of a load. If you used # DL11011 with a series of pulleys you could mount the winch lower and operate it with a power drill to speed things up significantly.

Regarding pulling 2 lines in at the same time the preferred method would be to use pulleys and one line feeding in to the winch though you might find success using a single line exiting the drum in 2 different directions. It just hasn't been tested that way.

For a wire rope/cable you can use # DL24100 which is 1/4 in diameter and 25 feet long. And for a pulley the most cost effective option is # BDW20004.

Another option you might like is an AC powered electric hoist # DL25727. It is rated at1200 pounds, includes a cable, remote, and 1 pulley. This option will be a lot easier than cranking a hand winch.