If the side of your winch spool are solid, then it appears your winch is generally sound. Hack saw the old bolt. Take it to Charleston Hardware or similar and buy a new one. Go to West Marine or similar and buy an new strap/hook. You could get a new bolt as West Marine. You’ll just pay a premium. Reassemble.
I’ve always used straps. 'Seems like a strap will do less damage when it parts than a cable will. A parting cable will do real damage to any flesh it finds upon parting.
The strap replacement chore is pretty quick and not expensive.
I use a cable on my winch. I added the winch and stand to my boat after I got tired of dealing with the bar on the Float On trailer. I got a heavy duty winch rated for I think 15,000lbs or something like that, it was the biggest that I could find and a 2 speed gearing. I unhook it from the boat every spring and unwind it to check the cable, no problems so far and its been on the trailer for about 5 years now. When I do replace it, I’ll just buy a cable rated at the same lb but the next one will be coated. I wanted the cable because my old battlewagon is heavy and I was tired of hook-up problems.
Mark
Mako 262 Twin Yammaha F200s
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
I just replaced mine a couple days before I destroyed the boat. My bolt was bent pretty badly also, but it still came right out after I unbolted it. I put the same bolt back on the winch and it worked with no problem. I prefer straps over cable for two reasons. 1-You don’t have to worry about the cable slivering off and cutting your hand. 2-The cable has a tendency to bind into itself on the reel under lot’s of pressure.
