Balex Automatic Boat Loader
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: General Forums
Forum Name: The Boat Shed
Forum Description: Discuss all things boating.
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=137778
Printed Date: 14 Jan 2025 at 10:24pm
Topic: Balex Automatic Boat Loader
Posted By: davidc
Subject: Balex Automatic Boat Loader
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2023 at 4:55pm
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Has anyone got a Balex Automatic Boat Loader, or seen one actually in use? Any impressions on how reliable they are at getting the boat onto the trailer, and their quality of manufacture? |
Replies:
Posted By: Pcj
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2023 at 5:08pm
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seen a demo at the boat show,looks easy but depends on how your trailer is set up as to whether it goes straight using buddy rollers? ------------- "Times up" |
Posted By: Kandrew
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2023 at 6:12pm
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Very good build quality and great if you’re at a ramp that is well protected so no waves come in and push your boat around. You don’t back your boat in as deep as you would with a trailer with a winch on it, so you let the weight of the boat push the boat down on the trailer holding it straight. I have an electric winch on my boat works great. You can get them with remotes and power off and power on. Could be another option, my wife and daughter can work the winch while I hold the boat. https://www.marine-deals.co.nz/boat-trailer-winches/powerwinch-rc30-electric-trailer-winch-12v-11500lb?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI55L1lu7EgAMVRtAWBR0_rw94EAQYASABEgJzUPD_BwE" rel="nofollow - https://www.marine-deals.co.nz/boat-trailer-winches/powerwinch-rc30-electric-trailer-winch-12v-11500lb?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI55L1lu7EgAMVRtAWBR0_rw94EAQYASABEgJzUPD_BwE There’s also this option where you use a cordless drill to turn your winch. Cheap way to see if an electric winch would solve your problem. https://www.marine-deals.co.nz/boat-trailer-winches/sea-socket-trailer-boat-winch-attachment?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImqfEpO3EgAMV0GwPAh3L-QI-EAQYASABEgLNTPD_BwE" rel="nofollow - https://www.marine-deals.co.nz/boat-trailer-winches/sea-socket-trailer-boat-winch-attachment?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImqfEpO3EgAMV0GwPAh3L-QI-EAQYASABEgLNTPD_BwE |
Posted By: letsgetem
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2023 at 10:56am
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Not backing the trailer in as far, would also reduce salt water causing rust!!! At the back where salt water gets, its rusting; at the front it isnt. I am thinking I should get an electric winch, for my boat; the $1099 one at Marine Deals would do.
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Posted By: Pcj
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2023 at 11:15am
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Not sure why a lot of trailers end up axle submerged. Most modern well set up trailers boat just slides off/on. Mine the wheels just touch the water and have to hold handle and gently let it down and reverse on retrieval.First have a dozen winds are the hardest then it just rolls in to position. The old trailer yeah well ,what can I say. Darn near winch off,even when submerged.
------------- "Times up" |
Posted By: Kandrew
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2023 at 11:35am
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Pcj wrote:Posted By: Kandrew
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2023 at 11:45am
I reckon those sea sockets would be worth a try, you would need a good cordless drill but the benefit would be charging the battery at home on the charger. Electric trailer winches need a car battery to run off, you can either run heavy cables down to the back of the car then plug your winch into the plug or like I’ve done mount a separate battery on your trailer and hook a smart charger onto it when it’s sitting at home. |
Posted By: Gurnie
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2023 at 11:53am
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I have a balex on a Haines 725. Wife recommended getting one and while it was expensive I would not get a biggish boat without one now. Turns retrieving and launching on any ramp in pretty much any conditions into a one person job. The build quality and operation of the balex has been great. I would not recommend one if you never boat by yourself, are beach launching or at a really rough ramp, A cage on your trailer, a boat catch system or an organised crew will be faster at getting your boat in and out of the water. |
Posted By: letsgetem
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2023 at 7:21pm
| I tried winching with a Ryobi 18v drill. Started ok, with the boat partly supported in the water, then later it wouldnt move it. |
Posted By: Kandrew
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2023 at 7:44pm
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Posted By: davidc
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2023 at 9:37am
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Wouldn't have occurred to me to use a drill to winch in a boat. Seems rather small, especially with the power of a cordless. Thanks for all the thoughts on a Balex. Will consider that option versus a dry stack. |
Posted By: deltadreams
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2023 at 12:02am
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I had a RC 30 on my trailer, like the link to Marine Deals above. I have a Fi Glass Lightning which is not a heavy boat, the winch has given me nothing but trouble over the past 18 months+[over heating on a pull out of the water.] I decided to get a Kings winch fitted, like what is used on a 4 X 4. Here in Perth it cost $269.00 plus fitting, so all up the cost was around $500, I had a stand alone battery pack fitted to the draw bar which was extra but if I go out with another vehicle no problems for power. I know that in NZ the cost is more but with a quick recovery makes it worth even when doing a solo trip. I would post a photo but it's on the phone so if you want like me to send it to anyone leave a PM with you phone number [i'll check messages from time to time] DD ------------- Remember: it's not a fish until it's landed |
Posted By: kimber7wsm
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2023 at 7:28am
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I use one of the drill adaptors. 7.2m Challenger, so not particularly light. It rips it up on the 5:1 side, let alone the 10:1. You do need to make sure your drill speed is set to low, not one of the higher speeds. If I start to winch the same time as someone with a 5m boat does manually, I'll be 4 times faster. I'm not kidding. It also helps to have one of the higher drills from a manufacturer, not the cheapest one. Cheaper ones don't have the power out put. For $35 or $39, I really struggle to understand why you would invest in either a Balex or stand alone winch, battery, solar pack system. Even if you have to buy a better quality drill. It's still way cheaper and lighter and you can use it for all the jobs around the house.
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Posted By: letsgetem
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2023 at 8:47am
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I am unsure why my Ryobi 18v drill wont do it. Its set to the low gear. Could you describe a drill that would do it. Is torque whats needed. My Ryobi is max torque 45Nm.
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Posted By: kimber7wsm
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 6:29am
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Yup, high output is needed. I use a Dewalt 996. Just checking the specs it does 95nm. It's more expensive but I do a lot of heavy work and it's been exceptional. I think the 999 has superseded it, so you might find a deal somewhere. Any other brand with similar output will do the job, I think my mate uses a AEG. Don't know what model. That's on the 5:1 side of the winch. you could use a lower power drill on the 10:1 for sure, but how low I'm not sure. If you don't mind waiting a can borrow a lower power drill and try that, to see what happens. I'm hoping to go out on the weekend. I suspect something like the Dewalt 805 would do it, but don't know so can't recommend that. Mitre10 are doing them in a kit for about $340. How big is your battery and was it fully charged? I suspect a 2Ahr wouldn't be large enough. I use a 5Ahr.
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Posted By: strx7
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2023 at 11:16am
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It's all in the ratio of the winch vs the torque output of the drill. we have a 5M alloy boat, I use a $70 cordless drill, the winch is a 2 speed, 5:1 and 10:1. While it will winch on the 5:1 I use the 10:1 as the speed the boat comes up at on 5:1 is dangerous. even in 10:1 on the low speed it fair hoofs it up the trailer, miles faster than anyone could hand winch a boat up. I'm currenting building a 6m alloy, and the winch on the trailer for that has 10:1 & 15:1. at 15:1 my cheapy drill should still get it up the trailer faster than any handwinch will. The biggest thing you have to be careful of when using a cordless on a trailer is the torque applied to the drill when the load goes on the winch. it needs to be braced against your body well or you could very easily do yourself a arm or wrist injury. If this was an issue, you could look at making a L bracket and U bolting it to the winch post for the drill to load against meaning a child/smaller person to older fragile person could still safely operate it.
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