Upgraded to a Fulton F2 3000# winch - what a difference!

[biglar155]

After a few years of 'heming' and 'hawing' I finally decided it is time to upgrade the winch. (The fact that the price came down a bit helped too!)

I figured that if I ever need to retrieve in a "no power loading" zone, I'm gonna need a good winch.

I went on Amazon and ordered a 2-speed Fulton F2 3000 lb winch. When the box arrived at my house and I opened it up, I was NOT disappointed! This thing is beefy!

I always thought it was a standard winch under a bunch of plastic just to look "cool" - boy was I wrong.

Here's the new F2 next to the OEM winch:

The silver portion of the new winch is not (as I had assumed) simply part of a plastic housing. For those (like I was) who don't realize what they are looking at, that silver portion is the aluminum casting that makes up the frame of the winch.

Here it is installed:

I can see you have to be careful with the low range. That has some power. It feels like you could yank the bow eye right out of the boat with it if you put too much force on it.

This may be a simple upgrade, but I'm happier than a cold pig in warm mud right now.


Oh - since a curious mind out there is bound to ask what the red tape on the floor in the first pic is for:

I put red duc-tape on the floor to mark where the trailer tires are supposed to be when I stop. (I THINK I got this idea from someone on the board, but don't recall for sure. It may have been a "toilet vision.") Then I slowly pulled forward and made a "dotted line" of tape so that I could guide myself back in to the building with my mirrors. Works great and I hit the same spot every time - which is good because if I back up too far, the Yamaha will crush my Daysailer!

 

[itsdgm]

@biglar155 WOW, that winch is beefy. I didn't realize that until I saw your side by side pic.

I have painted stripes on my curb & storage area to help me guide the trailer in also. I guess great minds do think alike.

 

[jetboater4life]

I put that winch on my trailer last summer and think it is absolutely fantastic. I put a square of Hydro turf on top of it and now it's a great step.

 

[Speedling]

Bought it beginning of this season and it is awesome because now my wife can crank the boat up! We have a no power load rule so we just cheat a little and this makes it much easier.

 

[Speedling]

Oh, and btw, I have a 2x4x10 wood on the floor where I need to stop with some 4" block holding it in place. Works great.

 

[jetboater4life]

I mounted a 1x6 on my back wall because I have to hit it to fit in my garage and didn't want to puncture my sheet rock.

 

[Ronnie]

That looks bigger than mine. Damn, now I have winch envy. I love my F2 winches as well. The smaller versions are just as tough but Fulton does produce a cheaper version with a plastic housing instead of metal. I made the mistake of ordering a couple of those, the cases were cracked during shipping to me. I traded them in for the F2s and never looked back. I expected the F2 trailer jacks to be the same but have been disappointed with two of the four I've had so far.
View attachment 8458 View attachment 8459

Edited to make images full vs thumbs (Julian)

 

[ScarabMike]

Just got one for the Scarab. The oem one is nice, but here in FL it will fall apart quickly. Cant wait to get it installed.

 

[Gym]

I put my F2 on last season. It works so easy I now winch the boat on and off. Power loading is an option but I was becoming too entertaining at the ramp as I was doing front flips over the bow to hook up the winch strap but no more.

 

[Speedling]

I am a sight at the ramp no matter what.
Option one is I park boat on side slips area, go get trailer, with kids in tow, put it in water, wife then gets in to pull me out. Then I get boat and put it on trailer. Hopefully she is done with kids and winches me on. Then she pulls me out and we unload in lot.
Option two is I do it all myself and winching from boat stinks! Great winch and really should have came with trailer.

 

[jetboater4life]

My wife has learned how to back the trailer down so when launching we start out with all kids/passengers in the boat and me watching / guiding her down the ramp. Then I unhook the boat and push off while climbing in the front. Then I start it up and back clear while she parks. I nose up to the dock and pick her up and then we are off. Retrieval is similar. I drop her off at the dock and she backs the trailer down. Then I drive on and power up so that the eyelet is snug to the roller. Then I leave the boat idling forward while I do a quick front flip over the bow and winch it tight. She pulls us away from the ramp and we unload. What I like most about this is that I don't have kids running around the ramp area. I would not do this if the ramp had rocks as sucking one up would not be cool.

 

[biglar155]

I wish my wife could drive the rig or the boat, but as Clint Eastwood always said, "A (wo)Man's gotta know (her)his limitations."

 

[jawsf16]

I have the single speed and love it. The best part is that the teeth are hidden and can't bite ya! That and the great mystery forward neutral or backward switch is foolproof.

 

[Ronnie]

I never use the two speed but its nice to know its there.

 

[GTBRMC]

@biglar where did you buy? How much?

My stock winch is about done

 

[biglar155]

@biglar where did you buy? How much?

My stock winch is about done

I got it on Amazon. It's around $130 right now. If memory serves, they used to be closer to $200.

 

[GTBRMC]

Thanks for the info. I may well go the same route.

 

[biglar155]

Thanks for the info. I may well go the same route.

You won't regret it!

 

[njmr2fan]

My winch and bow roller are all one unit, I cant see how this would mount on my galvanized 2014 Shorlandr trailer for our AR190?

 

[Ronnie]

I don't think it is a bolt on mod for those with newer shore lander trailers.