New to winching, what line should i get?

[masonater]

wow, great info here. Thanks for the responses. Now i know what to research. I like the idea of tight weave wraps that block sand. It was gusting 40 today, sand went everywhere. Safety thimble is very slick, will get that for sure. Ive been looking at the winch plows, very cool tool. Already have some good gloves and recovery strap. i need some good USA shackles and a tree strap, even though all we have are dead pine trees and scrub oak bushes.

[antichrist]

I like CM shackles.

http://www.cmworks.com/SearchResults.aspx?search=catid:1243

I use the ones with a 5:1 design factor because it let's me go slightly smaller yet still have a good safety margin. Keep in mind that the "ultimate strength" is when it begins to deform, not when it breaks.
Here's a video of what I mean. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=513Rn7uuJao
I don't know the brand, but it gives you an idea.

The Van Beest green pin are another good brand of shackle.

http://www.vanbeest.nl/home

I have several of their self-locking eye hooks and like them. They do need to be sprayed with WD-40, or the like, periodically.

[yorker]

i need some good USA shackles and a tree strap, even though all we have are dead pine trees and scrub oak bushes.

I usually hunt down Crosby shackles. http://www.thecrosbygroup.com/ I've always had good luck with them.

Crosby carbon shackles have the highest design factor (6 to 1) in the industry. All of Crosby’s design factors are documented. Crosby purchases only special bar forging quality steel with special cleanliness and guaranteed hardenability. All material chemistry is independently verified prior to manufacturing. The design of Crosby shackles assure that strength, ductility and fatigue properties are met.

[LR Max]

Sounds like finding a point to tie off to might be difficult. I see you are in Nantucket. While I am not familiar with this place (I take that back, I got kicked out of the hat shop there when I was 17) but it sounds like trees might be few and far between.

A ground anchor might also need to be included in your setup. A winch isn't any good without something to attach it to!

Of course the pul pal is great. But if you are handy, I've seen a number of ground anchors made out of an old semi-float axle shaft. Grind the spline side down to a point (or if you find a broken one, then it might already have the point on it ), weld a simple "plow" about 8" from the wheel flange, and you are good to go. Hammer it into the ground and start pulling. If you weld a big enough plow to it, it might perform alright in the sand. Hammer it in, then use hi-lift to get it out. Cheap and semi-easy considering you MIGHT use it once a year.

Do a little looking around. Like I said, cheap and actually fairly compact.

Dunno, just a suggestion. Normally I never think ground anchors are worth their weight in a rig but for sand, it is a whole other ball game!

[yorker]

one of those would be worth looking into.

or:
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6564515.html

[bpj911]

this is what we use

http://alliedboltinc.com/product/1-inch-X-66-inch-NO-WRENCH-SCREW-ANCHOR-8-inch-HELIX~1167.aspx

They come bigger and longer as well. We use them at work all the time

[antichrist]

I usually hunt down Crosby shackles. http://www.thecrosbygroup.com/ I've always had good luck with them.

Oops, thanks, forgot about them.

[yorker]

Oops, thanks, forgot about them.

I just like Crosby shackles- but honestly have no specific reason to chose them over the other good brands. The 45 degree marks ont hem are kind of cool. I also try to buy other rigging bits made by Gunnebo:

http://www.gunnebojohnson.com/shackles/model-858/

http://www.gunnebojohnson.com/shackles/model-854/

As long as you insist on a reputable brand you'll be ok. The Chinese ones might be ok too but I just won't take chances on stuff like this. I imagine most people feel the same way.

Masonator: don't forget a couple snatch blocks:

http://www.dodgepowerwagon.com/glovebox/snatch.html

[SafeAirOne]

Hmm. Winches? Shackles? Ground anchors? Snatch blocks?

Perhaps Nantucket is a little more of a remote, rugged, inhospitable operating environment than everyone thinks when they picture Nantucket? Kinda sounds like a 4x4 off-road enthusiast's heaven.

Martha's Vineyard is probably the tame, laid-back place I'm thinking of...

[I Leak Oil]

Ouch!

Which island has Jaws? Perhaps the winch could be used for a little heavy duty surf casting?

[masonater]

Jaws was over on the other island, he knew better than to mess with us. Sure could have used my winch last summer to help me reel in this bad boy!

[1971Series88]

^^^That^^^ is pretty funny - BUT very sad...

[masonater]

^^^That^^^ is pretty funny - BUT very sad...

sad indeed, i just couldn't resist. it was dead for weeks before it washed up. No word yet on the cause. Not too many of these left in the entire ocean, something like under 3,000 i think...

[I Leak Oil]

I think I can smell that from here!
What test were you using?

[yorker]

I think tht is pretty cool. They have to die of something sometime, It is neat that you got to see it close up.