On Wed, 22 Aug 07, "Don White" wrote:
why not install a light trailer hitch on your vehicle.

*Surely* he has a good reason for rejecting that obvious solution....
I sure would like to know what it is though lol! I suspect he's
launching/retrieving over a steep embankment, across a marsh, or
across a beach though.

But anyhow, an electric trailer winch usually has a switch that shuts
itself off unless someone is holding it down. You could change it out
but it's there for a reason so I wouldn't advise changing. It wouldn't
cut off automatically. But yes, you could mount it to a post on the
bank and drag boat motor and trailer up the bank with it. A trailer
winch usually comes with about 20'-25' of line but you can drag it
from further away by using a chain or rope between the winch hook and
the trailer tongue. You'd have to reattach each time you've pulled it
up 25' though. And yes, a winch usually has a fuse in the line between
it and the battery.
I can't see an advantage of having a winch with more pulling power
than you need. Besides, you can always double the pulling power by
doubling the winch cable.

Rick