Winch cable rating

[cfelton]

I'm thinking of replacing the steel cable on my electric winch. It is getting rusty and I dont want it to break while loading the V. It looks like 3/16 steel cable on it now. I saw some 3/16in. stainless steel cable at Lowes thats rated at 840 lbs and 1/4in thats rated at 1200 lbs and I'm wondering what do you guys use on yours? The 1/4 in. looks too big!

[RidgeRunner]

I don't have cable on my manual winch. I use the strap type. I wanted to change to cable (because the strap rots fast)but then I hate when the cable gets rusty and doesn't lay on the drum right. The strap won't work for your application, it is too flexible and would fold up on itself in the corners of the drum. 1/4 sounds to big. Seems to me the larger cable diameter would create memory issues and unwinding on the drum when there is no tension on the cable. 3/16" sounds about right. I would verify what the capacity of the winch and match it up. Was the original cable galvanized steel? I wonder how the stainless rates against the galv. steel in break strength?
I might have thrown in a few unanswered questions, but I didn't want to leave you hanging..

[bassarama]

I'm changing over to stainless steel cable too. SS cable may not be as strong as regular steel cable, but it has far less memory. Remember, your winch has a pulling rating which is based on its frame construction and mechanism. I'm going to get 1/4 inch for mine, as long as I can spool enough to reach the boat when launching and pulling it out.