How to Determine if Winch is Strong Enough for a 1995 Maxum 2000 SR2

Question:

I have a 1995 maxum 2000 sr2 boat on a 1995 escort trailer. I need to buy a new winch. The current winch has a 1500 capacity. Should I be looking for a winch with a higher capacity? My current strap ripped and it was only a year old.

asked by: Mike

Helpful Expert Reply:

I looked up your 1995 Maxum 2000 SR2 and I believe that the dry weight of your boat is 2,700 lbs. Generally, the weight capacity of a boat winch is 2:1 so your winch would be able to handle a 3,000 lb. If you have good rollers and a short distance to winch your boat you will increase the capacity of your winch but if you have wooden bunks and a long distance to winch your boat then that could change your weight capacity to a 1:1 ratio.

In the case of the latter, you will need a higher rated winch like the Fulton XLT # F142425 (3,200 lbs) that you referenced.

If your strap ripped, then it could simply be that your strap was not rated high enough for your boat so you may just need a different strap. If your winch is rated high enough for your application let me know what kind of strap it takes, and I can see if we have something compatible with your winch that is rated high enough.

I have attached a helpful article on winches that you can reference as well.

expert reply by: Jon G