Can Boat Winch be Mounted on a Dock

Updated 05/12/2020 | Published 05/11/2020

Question:

Hi there, Can a hand winch be mounted on a dock as opposed to a trailer? I have a 12’ fibreglass boat and on occasion I’d like to pull it up a ramp onto my dock. I’m not sure what kind of winch to choose. Any help pointing to a model of winch or tool would be greatly appreciated. All the best

asked by: CJ

Expert Reply:

Sure, you can mount a boat winch on your dock if you like, you just need to make sure you mount it on a secure place on your dock that you are confident can hold the weight, which shouldn't be an issue.

As for the winch, it depends on how heavy your boat is and how far you are winching it in. For a short distance, the Boat-size-to-winch capacity is 2-to-1 but longer distances decrease that. A 12 foot fiberglass boat might weigh anywhere from 500 lb to 1,000 lbs so I recommend a 2,500 lb winch, the 2-Speed Boat Trailer Winch with 20' Strap # 315-W2500D.

I have added a link to a video review for you to check out as well.

expert reply by: Kyle S