Have never tried one but that lower gear should make it a lot easier. Been looking at one myself for the very same reason.
Anyone have one of these? I am trying to find out how hard the handle is to turn when in the lower gear. I usually have to pull my boat up 4 or 5 inches after loading and my present winch is just too hard to turn by this old man. I dont mind paying the price for one if it makes the loading go a lot easier. I have had to put the boat back in to get it winched up to where it needs to be. Resulting in having to get in the water to do so.
Have never tried one but that lower gear should make it a lot easier. Been looking at one myself for the very same reason.
Dorotto self latching catch. You pull up on the trailer and the latch grabs the eye on the boat and you just pull out and hook your winch out of the water. You attach a rope to the handle and when you launch, you just float the back of you boat and pull the rope and it releases you. No more backing in too far when fishing alone and you boat floating off the trailer. It is one of the best things that I have bought for my boat. It is a must have if you fish alone.
Quailtail LIKED above post
I have been looking at the Drotto latch. Am considering it. I could come in a little hot and get to the winch, but would rather kind of ease in to the winch roller. The problem is while still in the boat, you can not bend over far enough to see where the boat eyelet is compared to the roller. You think you are good and learn too late after pulling out, you should have gave it 4 or 5 more inches. Seems the boat slides back a little after shutting off the motor. I have a glass 21 ft boat is it is heavy. I just don't have enough butt to turn that winch handle.
If you back in a little further you can come in easier. You do need to bump it a little. If you have the u-bolt loop instead of the big cast loop, it would latch easier. Yes the 2 geared winch would be easier to crank.
I installed one of these on my boat so when I fish by myself it makes loading so much easier. I still keep rubber boots with me as all ramps are not the same. Winch is easy to turn in low gear. I did a search on this winch before I purchased and it got great reviews.
I have a two speed Fulton, it works good I'm winching a 20 foot deep v on a bunk trailer. I usually only winch the last foot or two. On low speed my wife can even winch it up!
You can buy a 2500 lb electric winch from Harbor Freight for half of what the Fulton winch costs..... A little bracket fabrication and you'd be set.
crappiemax, fishin813 LIKED above post
The two speed winches work great and the effort required to turn the handle is much lower in the lower gear.
But with every advantage comes a disadvantage and in the lower gear ration the cable retrieve rate in inches retrieved per handle turn per handle turn is much lower or slower. Handle turns easier but takes many more revolutions than what is required in high gear.
They do definitely make pulling the boat up to the winch easier through the the gear reduction. Use high gear intitially, when it gets hard switch to low gear and you are golden!