Homemade Wakeboard, Wakeskate Winch From BeachWinches.com

Here is a simple wakeboard, wakeskate winch that you can bring anywhere. Ride your wakeboard or wakeskate places a boat can not go. This is a very exciting project and for more info about beach winches go to http://www.beachwinches.com. 
You can use this winch for wakeboarding, wakeskating, skimboarding, snowboarding, etc. so this one winch is a very verstile machine.

*Update
Here is a short video describing what a beach winch is.

Step 1: First the Spool

First I built the spool

Here is my spool. I do cnc machining so I cut my spool walls out of heavy duty plastic. I am confident it will work just fine because i've seen it used before. If it doesnt work I will replace it with steel walls.
 
Materials:
1/2 all thread.
1/2" galvenized pipe.
threadlocker.
ny-lock nuts. 
Go Kart hubs.
washers.
etc.

Comments

[Allonsy]

this is awesome. and i havnt even read it yet.

[Historymaker]

Check this out! converting your truck or vehicle into a wakeboard winch. Minimum hassle, very simple, no serious building.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0iYlOtXBSo&feature=colike

[Bravewildheart]

So easy!!

[florman]

I was just wondering if there was a way to make it continues.

[worldburrito45]

would it work if you used a old rim off a car (probably very small one) as the spool?

[ThomasSmith]

One more question, what was the total width of your spool walls? I found one that has a width of 15 inches. Would this be too big to fit into your frame?
Thanks

[Rockout101]

Sorry misread the question...if the "height" of the side walls for the spool that is fine. The overall width of the spool should not be over 8 inches.

[Rockout101]

The width of the spools in this instructable is 8 inches. The height of the side walls is 15 inches. A 15 in width seems a little excessive. You only need at most 8 in for the width. Take a look at our new spools here: http://beachwinches.storenvy.com/collections/7287-spools
These are a higher quality spool which you need. The spool is one of the hardest things to build because it has to take a beating and not break under pressure.

[ThomasSmith]

I am currently buiding your winch and following your design and I have just about everything except the sprocket. I was wondering if you could help me find the sprocket you used?
Thanks

[Rockout101]

Thanks for your comment! The sprocket I used is a 60 tooth sprocket from NorthernTool.com. They have a good variety of sprockets. The gear ratio I have is 1:5 and hauls me (200 lbs) roughly 20+ mph on a skim board at full throttle. When you are done post your winch on these comments. Keep winchin!

[fatty_inc]

Why did you start with centerifugal clutch? I am trying to figure out if I want to get the tav 2 clutch or the one you used. What are the main differences.

[Rockout101]

Starting with a centrifugal clutch for your winch build is a cheap alternative to get your winch up and running. Use a centrifugal clutch if you want to use your winch to skimboarding or snowboarding. But if your want more power so you winch is more versatile so you can wakeboard or wakeskate then go with the tav 2 clutch. Check out our website for more information http://beachwinches.com/TCvsCC.aspx

[mdoucet]

where do you get the bolt on bearing holders...the green things

[lrobson]

hi mate your winch is a good idear just wondering if you could help me where did you get your middle hubs from ? i have made this winch up and is stead of making a spool i done one out of a cr rim and put metal around the out side to make my spool did not work ever well so i am going to do it propley and folow your desin.
thanks

[Rockout101]

Hi Irobson, thanks for the comment! Check out our website http://www.beachwinches.com for this winch plan and a few extra plans too. We have a store filled with most your winch parts including winch hubs. The website will help guide you through the building process. Hope this helps. Thanks.

[benthekahn]

I finished mine today. It pulled a skier on grass for about 50 feet before the connecting link broke. I welded the chain, so it should be good for a while now.

[bazery]

Quick question about the hubs, do the hubs have a groove to lock into or do they have a screw against the bar.
If there is a slot how does if fit the pillow block.
I think if i could see more pics of the shaft and the hubs on the shaft I would understand.

I'm in the process of building the frame, spool is the next project.
Great ible by the way

[Rockout101]

The most common hub used in winches is the go kart hub. Most of these hubs have keyways and locknuts all ready in. For a winch that will be pulling people on it what I would do is drill a small hole all the way through both the hub and the shaft and place a locking bolt through both to give you the best way to attach your hub.
Congrats on building your winch! Please share your pictures on here for others!

[electro]

How about having a collar on the rope at a set distance from the end. When the collar enters a hinged split tube that is slightly narrower than the collar it activates a kill switch for the engine. That way there wont be any mishaps when the operator get too carried away spectating and the handle gets jammed on the spool !!

[Rockout101]

I have another winch plan that I can easily put on here. Plan on putting it on later this year so subscribe to me to be the first to be notified. The picture is a preview. Thanks to everyones comments!

[richiendn]

TC2 1002 Replaces Comet 218353A TAV2 30-75 Torq-A-Verter which is no longer manufactured.


http://gokartsusa.com/Baja-Heat-Minibike-TC2-Torque-Converter.aspx

[TeamSlash]

I am going to use this to Paraglide with... Static line towing sweet!

[pantarhei]

I hope you know what you are doing. AFAIK this type of winch is not suitable for paragliders and it would be very, very dangerous.

[mikejs]

This is fantastic. I've been contemplating a DIY build like this for a while, thank you for putting together the instructions.

Any sense on what the speed is for the winch?

[Rockout101]

Thanks for the comment! For this winch you are looking speeds between 10-15 mph depending on the weight of rider. Now if you installed a torque converter instead of a centrifugal clutch you can increase your winch speed to 15-20 mph.

[syco123]

Make 2 and put one on each opposite shore and tether the non pulling one to your back. Then you could ski all day with minimal fuss.

[stevezone]

much simpler and cheaper than building 2 units... to run the rope as a loop then just grab the opposite rope to go the other way

[jstoner]

This is a really cool concept, something I had never heard of. I had to go google around to find a video to figure out what the heck 'beach winching' was. Looks like a lot of fun though.

Here's a question: does anyone mess with a loop system? Instead of a winch pulling the rope in one direction, you'd have a loop of rope and (at least one) pulley down the beach, and you'd run the rope around and around the loop and surf on that loop out in the ocean. You could even have more than one person on the loop at a time.

[Rockout101]

For more about beach winches go to www.beachwinches.com.

[jstoner]

beachwinches.com is great if you already know what it is and you want to get involved. If you've never heard of such a thing, I think this is more straightforward:

http://www.broadbandsports.com/node/5808&gvsm=1

[Longchamp]

Can someone explain the concept behind what beach winching is? I cant really find a text description anywhere.


Do you just swim out with the end and it tows you back in quickly?

[Rockout101]

THe basic concept is that you pull the line out and walk down along the water line until you are at the end of the line. The line has a wakeboard handle. The second person starts the engine on the winch and waits for a signal from the rider. After the signal the rider can start in shallow (shore) or deep water (more like a regular wakeboard ride) and the engine controller pulls the throttle all the way. The rider at the end must throw the line away and the engine controller cuts the throttle and stops the handle from rolling up into the winch. THis is a very basic concept but I hope it helps.

[Rockout101]

I plan on putting a step in at the beginning explaining what Beach WInches are. I explain a little bit and have a full length video on my website. www.beachwinches.com.

[trs5]

Hi I have a question? does someone have to manual stop the motor? I'm trying to think of a way to have it shut off when the line is at a certain length. I always wanted to wake board via winch! no good places to do it near me

[Rockout101]

You can install a go kart brake system on the spool to stop it more efficently.

[billytwix]

well done! i figured the hubs were go cart.

[antidoteco]

sick !

[mikeasaurus]

nicely documented. you should include an edited version of the video from your website here to illustrate it's use.

[Rockout101]

I will work on getting a good video on here soon. Thanks.