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Winch Help Please!

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willyg0808
Posts: 4231 - Karma: 1,364
Hey guys I need some help finding a good winch for me. I just need a winch to save time setting up drop in's, bungees this winter. My budget is around $500 but the creeper the better. Thanks!
Nov 8 2010 6:49PM
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zerospinskier
Posts: 4867 - Karma: 350
You aren't going to find much in that price range pre-made. I would look for a used one on wakeboard/wakeskate forums. If not you can easily build one in that price range. Wakeskating.com (I think that was the good one) has a LOT of info about building them. Many people have posted the plans for their frames on there. That is where I found all the info and ideas to build mine (which I still have never finished because I am lazy so all the parts are sitting in my house).
Nov 8 2010 7:05PM
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VanMelle
Posts: 1277 - Karma: 1,141
hey man, if you know anything about mechanics you can make one pretty easy. We made one for about $200, but we got a free snowblower motor, then bought a clutch, throttle, chain and a homemade box...heres the link to a pic
https://newschoolers.com/ns/content/pictures/id/384211/member_id/139235/
Nov 8 2010 7:09PM
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Bright_Nation
Posts: 400 - Karma: 12
Hey man,

Sorry to burst your bubble, but 500$ is really low. For something that works you're looking at around 1500-2500$ commercial.  I could maybe build you a frame for 500$, but that's about it. My custom winch cost me somewhere a bit over 800$ I think, but it was awhile back so I don't have an exact figure.

Aside from price, I would never want to carry my winch around to hit urbans. Winches are heavy, as in most of your body weight. (No hate, but I see you ride 151s, so you're probably not a huge guy) Even with a couple of buddies, a bungee will be MUCH easier and faster to use.  I built my winch specifically for use wakeskating so I could build a slider park at my cottage, and that is where it excels.  We put it on the point at the start of the summer and leave it there.  It takes at least two of us to move it over the rough terrain to get it up there, and it's not an easy task.

The noise is also a consideration.  Engines are not quiet.  If you're trying to be all stealthy hitting some rail, the constant sound of an engine is not going to help.  Bungees are silent.

Now that I've gotten all of that out of the way if you still are set on a winch, PM me and I'll give you all the advice I can.  The cheap way of doing it is definitely building your own, and if you have access to the right tools and plan well I'm sure you can pull it off.

I might even have some CAD and SketchUp models of my winch frame lying around somewhere.

GOOD LUCK!
Nov 8 2010 7:14PM
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kyle-decker
Posts: 1489 - Karma: 1,516
Unfortunately they aren't cheap, I'm getting a custom winch built that is upwards of $3,000. I've used a home made operation and it gave me more problems than anything, but did end up with some shots out of it. I'd suggest first maxing out your speed abilities with the bungee. Its a lot of work but if you get 3-4 people to pull that thing back you can get decent results. Watch "The Arena" by Technine, I think its safe to say those guys max out what you can do with a bungee. Its on iTunes for less than $10.

From my experience the riders mostly like the winch more because it allows you to carry your speed and have time to setup, where the bungee is super quick and barely any time for setup. Hope some of this rambling helps!
Nov 8 2010 7:14PM
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VanMelle
Posts: 1277 - Karma: 1,141
ya i forgot to add that we got a lot of our extra pieces to make it for free...so unless you have hook-ups its gonna cost a pretty penny, and ours isnt as legit as say the redbull winch, but still hauls you in pretty well. I would just go with a bungee to save money and a pain in the ass since it took a month or two to get ours done.
Nov 8 2010 7:22PM
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willyg0808
Posts: 4231 - Karma: 1,364
Haha, decker!! I was at the premier in Columbus! I was the guy who did the robot for the Volkl Walls. The Arena was sick but it took some muscle for the guys to stretch it out far enough to get speed.

vanmelle- thanks for the advice and idea. i might pm you later

bright_nation- thanks a ton for the imput. i will definentaly be in touch with you. i appriciate the advice about the noise, I never really thought of that

when I googled winches I found atv winches for $250-$300. will those not give me enough power/speed?
Nov 8 2010 8:47PM
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zerospinskier
Posts: 4867 - Karma: 350
So it sounds like you are going to build one.

The best place to get all the parts is at

I would suggest making a spool out of a hub and large grinding wheels. It is the cheapest way that still works well. You can find all this info and more on http://www.wakeskating.com/. I suggest going there and doing research. You will find almost everything you need.
Nov 8 2010 8:56PM
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willyg0808
Posts: 4231 - Karma: 1,364
thanks so much man!
Nov 8 2010 8:59PM
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willyg0808
Posts: 4231 - Karma: 1,364
you really think atv winches wont work though?
Nov 8 2010 9:00PM
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connory998
Posts: 1197 - Karma: 34
not nearly enough speed.
Nov 8 2010 9:00PM
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Bright_Nation
Posts: 400 - Karma: 12
ATV winches max out at maybe 2-4mph.  For a decent winch you really want a max of 20mph.

That was one of my initial thoughts when I first began designing my winch.  There isn't really any good way to convert an ATV winch to something practical for skiing/ wakeskating.
Nov 9 2010 12:36AM
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,054
http://beachwinches.com/TahitiMXOmenWinch.aspx

step by step.
Nov 9 2010 12:49AM
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zerospinskier
Posts: 4867 - Karma: 350
Haha yes. I remember when those guys made that. Classic.
Nov 9 2010 12:53AM
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,054
the only difference is that rather than using a belt drive into a chain drive, then to your spool, i would recommend using a clutch assembly with a chain drive directly onto the horizontal drive coming out of the engine. you're essentially building a go kart, but instead of wheels, youre turning a spool. I'm planning on making one in the weeks to follow, and i'll document my steps.
Nov 9 2010 12:53AM
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Bright_Nation
Posts: 400 - Karma: 12
This.

Makes for a very cost effective, easy to maintain drivetrain.  All good things.
Nov 12 2010 3:32AM
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zerospinskier
Posts: 4867 - Karma: 350
Yeah a ski winch definitely only needs a centrifugal clutch. We don't create a lot of torque at all since it is pretty easy to slide on snow. For wakeskating or wakeboarding, most people use a torq-a-verter because a lot of times a clutch will be too weak and slip when trying to get up out of the water.
Nov 12 2010 2:28PM
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willyg0808
Posts: 4231 - Karma: 1,364
how much horse power/ volts/ pound pulling capacity should one have to give me a solid amount of speed?
Nov 13 2010 8:57PM
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,054
5hp will prob be good for you, 9hp will get you hauling ass
Nov 14 2010 2:48AM
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willyg0808
Posts: 4231 - Karma: 1,364
do they have adjustable speed usually? like will i be immedietly thrown into 20mph or will it be gradual?
Nov 14 2010 8:27AM
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Hamster.
Posts: 1636 - Karma: 26
Like the problems you had in Helsinki? haha
Nov 14 2010 10:18AM
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,054
almost all of the horizontal drive motors have a throttle cable, i believe.
Nov 14 2010 12:10PM
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Bright_Nation
Posts: 400 - Karma: 12
All horizontal shaft motors (to my knowledge) have a throttle lever.  Putting a cable on it can take a bit of work though, but nothing impossible.

            ***MAKE A DEAD MAN'S THROTTLE!!!!***

Normally I don't use caps, but this could literally save your life.  A dead man's throttle is a setup that when it is released goes back to idle.  This means that if you trip, drop the control or anything else like that, the rider stops.

I was dragged 200ft by my ankle underwater and almost drowned before I installed one on my winch.  I got lucky, but not everyone will be. So for fucks sakes, make a dead man's throttle!!!


A really easy, good looking throttle is a bike brake lever.  I used half of a broken set of handlebars and an old Avid disk brake lever for mine.  I also used 6ft of brake cable to attach it to my winch.  Its a very clean, smooth and easy to use setup.  The added bonus of this cabled throttle setup rather than mounting it directly on the winch is that winches can jump around a bit when riders start. The 6ft cable keeps the operator and his toes a safe distance from moving parts.


...also, ALWAYS tie your winch off to stakes, a tree, a railing or whatever other solid object you can find.  If you don't, it'll be the winch going for a ride, not you.
Nov 15 2010 10:46AM
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,054
would you care to take some close up shots of your setup? i've been sketching up ideas for the throttle assembly and it sounds like you have something that works pretty well.
Nov 15 2010 10:50AM
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Bright_Nation
Posts: 400 - Karma: 12
Closeups will most likely have to wait until Christmas.  I'm currently at University in Toronto and my winch is up north at my cottage.  I could probably sketch something out or maybe get my uncle to take some shots soon.

I love my throttle assembly though, and would highly recommend it.  If you're a mountain biker, you probably have all the pieces you need lying around already.

PM me some pics / specs and i'll sketch or CAD an adapted version that would work for your setup.  I love working on stuff like this, it's pretty much what I'm going to school for.
Nov 15 2010 11:38AM
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zerospinskier
Posts: 4867 - Karma: 350
Here is a little collage I made of frame designs I liked. I made it when I was trying to decide which design to go with. It can help you get some ideas.

Click for larger image


Here is what I decided on.

Click for larger image
Nov 15 2010 2:50PM
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,054
the light blue one towards the bottom left is almost dead on to the design i am trying to make.
Nov 15 2010 2:55PM
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