www.iFourWinns.com

I've been telling family members for years - if you're on winch duty, CONTROL it! So I go to launch by myself for the first time ever and what do I do?

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Damn, that's a bump...hopefully it won't bruise too badly, but....

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1988 215 Sundowner 5.7L OMC

Ouch! That is a warning everyone needs to follow. A buddy of mine was launching another friend and caught the spinning winch handle square in the mouth. Busted up all of his front teeth. Nasty nasty injury and required lots of surgery.

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Former owner of:
1996 Four Winns Horizon 200 5.8L VP
2006 Four Winns Horizon 260 8.1L VP
2007 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer

Current boat
2004 Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport Twin 350 Mags

That's terrible Cincy. I can see how it happened though. It only takes one split second not paying attention. I'm very lucky my wrist isn't broken (at least I don't think it is, it's starting to hurt more and stiffen up). All of that swelling happened in the time it took just to look down at it.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I thought this thread was going to be about women on board.

Glad you're OK-sure that thing isn't broken?

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

Your looking for the "Wench" thread

Wench
–noun
1. a country lass or working girl: The milkmaid was a healthy wench.
2. Usually Facetious . a girl or young woman.
3. Archaic . a strumpet.

Winch
noun
1.A stationary motor-driven or hand-powered machine used for hoisting or hauling, having a drum around which is wound a rope or chain attached to the load being moved.
2.The crank used to give motion to a grindstone or similar device.

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

Ouch. Hope you get better soon!

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

It looks like it is, and a few hours later it looked even more so. But the swelling is down somewhat today and its just sore.

That was just from launching by myself; loading should be interesting...

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

3. In the boating world otherwise known as "The Wrist Buster"

Sorry hope you are all right.

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Chris and Alicia
Las Vegas, NV
ALTIVA
1996 Four Winns 238 Vista Dlx 5.8Fi

Ouch!..............Mike, does your winch have a removable handle?

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2005 Four Winns Funship 214 VP 5.7/Duo Prop

Ouch Mike!!! Hope that gets better fast. When I launch n load myself (which is what I do most of the time) I came up with a little trick to make it easier n safer. I don't have a dock right next to the ramp so that is why I came up with this...
Get ready for launch, plug in straps off. Back in as far as I can without putting Jeep tires in the water. Unhook safety chain and turnbunkle. Take a line and loop the loop end under one front cleat. Put line in bow area. Un wind winch till stern floats. Then take free end of line, run it around back of winch post, and tie off on opposite side front cleat. Now this line will hold the boat from rolling off the roller trailer. Then unwind winch just enough to take tension off the hook, un hook it from bow eye. Line is still holding boat ...I climb up on the spare.. Get in bow... Put drive down half way, put blower on n start up. After engine is warm look back to see if it's clear and untie line n back off. Works well because you don't have to unwind the winch all at once. To load I reverse this process. Drive up, put line on cheat run it around to the other side cleat n secure boat . Shift to neutral, shut off trim up drive. Climb over on to spare and hook up winch, line is still holding boat. Winch up all the way done.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Johnny nope, not removeable.

This was partly the result of being my 1st time alone and partly because I forgot my water shoes and was trying to do it all while standing on the tongue. Won't make that mistake again, but I think all would have gone ok if not for that. It's the loading that has me most concerned; this boat is a challenge to get on the trailer even with two people. Fortunately at least, it's during the week, the lake has been DEAD calm and the ramp is abandoned. Which is making for some of the most beautiful boating I've ever seen. Boating after Labor Day is awesome.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

.
Has the swelling gone down?

I hope it's not a hematoma. (no, I'm not a doctor, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night)

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

Dammit Jim!!! Don't suggest such a ridiculous outcome!!!

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

That is exactly how I broke my hand last year. Was rushing and on an unfamiliar ramp and the winch slipped out of my hand. Before I could jump out of the way--the spinning handle got my right hand--shattering my index finger and detaching my middle finger bone from the bones in the hand.

That was the first hour of a week long vacation on a floating house. It was a painful week. When I returned home, I had to have surgery. I had two metal pins sticking out of the side of my hand for a month and months of physical therapy. It has been 14 months and I still have pain in the index finger (probably always will).

Needless to say--I ALWAYS take my time now and make sure there is ZERO tension on that winch. I was not a rookie when this happened (even though it was a rookie mistake). Definitely be careful.

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum