Do you strap your boat down when trailering?

ssobol · Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 6:06 pm Post subject:

I guess it depends on how you describe unsecured. If the boat is attached by the winch strap, is that secured? Some people would say yes.

dkbnjmn · Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 7:45 pm Post subject: Securing vessel for the road

I run a ratchet strap across roughly the middle of the cockpit down to strong points on each side of the trailer. In addition, I run a retired (but still excellent shape) mooring line on each side from stern cleat forward to and around a crossbeam on the trailer, and back to the cleat. When combined with standard blow lashing, she is quite secure. I tow my 22 Cruiser to the Keys and back every year (2400 miles round trip) and have never (yet! fingers crossed) had a problem.

kennharriet · Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 8:01 pm Post subject:

The RCMP said a boat has to be secured by the bow and stern. He said he had investigated several accidents where only the bow was secured. I saw a large jet boat in a sudden stop ride over the bow roller, over the top of the truck cab and several hundred feet down the pavement on the keel.

thataway · Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 9:13 pm Post subject:

The boats can slide off to the side in a sharp turn, or panic stop, with jackknifing.

I have cam straps from the frame to each stern eye--I have a 12,500# rated ratchet strap over the entire boat just forward of the cleats, from the trailer frame across the boat to the frame on the other side.

I have a SS chain thru the bow eye, as well as the winch strap. If I was going to be on really rough roads, I might put a second ratchet strap on the bow...Having guide on bunks helps, but does not guarantee that there will not be side slipping in a sharp turn or accident.

flagold · Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 5:39 am Post subject:

"Notice that a lot of power boats do not have straps on them."

I've seen 3 on the road (in various pieces) and 2 on the ground at the ramp.

colbysmith · Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 9:52 am Post subject:

While I will, on a very rare occasion, tow my boat to the local lake without a stern strap, 99.9% of the time my stern strap is on and tight! (It's only 3 miles on lower speed limit roads to the local lake.) I use a strap that goes completely across the stern as the way my trailer is set up does not allow for a preferred cross strapping between the transom eye bolts. That tightened down stern strap still allows the boat to slide ever so slightly to one side or the other if I take a curve fast enough, or even just from a cross wind. My bow strap is tight enough to keep the bow eye under the winch so no issue with the bow ever jumping up and over the bow roller.

ssobol · Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 11:57 am Post subject:

Sheepshead · Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 12:25 pm Post subject:

The landing I normally use is a short distance and slow speed limit area from my house.
I don't strap down when launching there.

after seeing all the comments, maybe I need to change my ways.

cmetzenberg · Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 3:09 pm Post subject:

So i trailer a Tomcat. my trailer has internal guides that prevent any sort of transverse shifting. I keep the bow winch strap and a safety chain on the bow pad eye. I've never used stern straps because of the internal bunks. However, if the bow padeye failed there would be nothing checking longitudinal motion....Thoughts?

ssobol · Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 3:31 pm Post subject:

CaptMac · Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 5:46 pm Post subject: boat tie downs

If i am towing the Blue Moon to the local boat ramp in 35 mph speed zones on the island then I will use only the back strap.

If i am towing on the interstate or anytime over a 35 mph speed zone then I will use a front and back strap.

hardee · Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 11:46 pm Post subject:

From home to the ramp at John Wayne Marine is about 3 miles. Max speed limit is 35mph. I still strap it down, bow and stern with 6K# ratchet straps, and the bow is chained down from the bow eye to the trailer with a 5K# turnbuckle. The transom, with twins, does not have a good access for a cross tie. For long tows at highway speeds I have added a cross cockpit strap just aft of the cabin bulkhead.

The plan is that the boat and trailer should be all one joined up piece.

I also have a camera inside the cabin door. It shows the cockpit and anything either side of it and behind as well.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

Nancy and Bud · Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 5:55 am Post subject:

Tell us more about the camera setup

Foggy · Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 8:23 am Post subject:

Having seen a boat dislodged forward on top of the tow vehicle after an
interstate emergency highway stop and another lying sideways on concrete
after rolling off its trailer from slow speed cornering (US 1, Keys Hwy), I
strapped my 26' CD Venture with staunch ratchet straps*: one athwart ship
strap over the cockpit (like Blue Moon above), one short vertical bow strap
and two "X" directed stern straps.

* 5,000 lb Snappin Turtle Tie Downs; the metal ratchets were wrapped then
taped to protect the hull when underway.

Better safe than sorry making the boat/trailer one practical unit.

Aye.

hardee · Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 3:02 pm Post subject: