Oh Sugarfoot

[Wandering Sagebrush]

When I brought the boat back from the beach, it looked like it was a bit bouncy on the trailer. Now I know why!!!! Eeek!!! The stitching rotted. I bought a new one, but i think I will trim this one back about 3 feet, and have it re-sewn for a spare. Looks like this is something that needs to be on the annual inspection list. It could have been a disaster!

 

[Don and Brenda]

OUCH! Mine was looking a bit stiff and old this past year, so did not want to take a chance, now there is a bright yellow heavy duty one in it's place.

 

[Sea Wolf]

When my trailer winch cable began to look like it might fray, or break a few of it's stainless steel strands, I replaced it with an oversized stainless cable, two increments/sizes larger than the original, and with a factory swaged connection and a new hook.

I do use rope winch lines on small aluminum and fiberglass sailboats, as I like the soft feel and flexibility.

However, a loaded C-Dory of 4,000 to 9,000 pounds would seem to need a steel cable to survive the jerking and pulsating loading put on the cable. (Though the plastic fibers are technically more elastic!)

UV light also has a very deleterious affect on plastic fibers that it doesn't have on metal.

A flat belt of slightly elastic nylon would be OK, too, if sewn properly and inspected often. They sure spool/roll up nicely on the drum.

Good that you had the requisite safety chain!

Joe. :teeth :thup

 

[Chester]

I just replaced the UV damaged strap on our winch and now keep something over it to extend it's life.

 

[Dreamer]

Thanks for the alert. That will be the first thing I check when I next visit the boat.

 

[JamesTXSD]

We replaced our original strap right before we left Texas in early May. I went with the same HD yellow strap that was OEM from King; the boat stuff guy told me that was "overkill" for the weight of our boat. "So, you don't want to sell it to me?" 8) Sold! Ours came apart at the hook two years ago; I cut it back and put the hook back on. Got that much more time out of it. A small price to pay to be sure the boat stays on the trailer.

 

[stlof]

Been there, done that. Had to get home with a bowline holding the strap.

 

[ghone]

This is why I like the extra bow hold down strap, the winch strap has backup down to the trailer frame to hold the bow in the winch roller. Some folks have a chain and turnbuckle on the big boats the 22 just needs a cam style bow strap to hold it down. Good thing to change the winch strap every few years thanks for the heads up.

 

[wapiti]

I hate seeing my C-Dory bouncing even ever so slightly on the bow roller. Had to refinishing the edge of my bow where it meets the bow roller a couple of years ago when my winch strap broke and i didn't notice it immediately. I really like the idea of an extra tie-down. What is the consences on a good tie-down? I have seen reference to using a turnbuckle and a ratchet strap.
All suggestions/ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks! Wapiti

 

[Will-C]

Everyone has their own way of doing things. To hold the bow in place when trailering we use stainless steel turnbuckle ($35) attached to the trailer frame via 1/2 inch shank stainless steel ubolt with a short length of chain and a shackle with a threaded pin which we use to attach to the bow eye. So we have a winch strap, the security chain, and the turnbuckle all throught the bow eye. I tighten the turnbuckle last and only hand tight by placing a phillips screw driver throught the hole in the middle of the turnbuckle to get a little more leverage. Then I tighten the jam nuts top and bottom, the boat's bow does not bounce anymore while trailering. Pictures in my album under trailer mods. Straps and stitching wear out and get damaged by the sun etc. the turnbuckle arrangement is going strong after four years and over 20k of trailering the boat. We are on our second winch strap. The first one we cut off about five feet and then had it repaired (restitched) and carry as a backup/spare.
D.D.

 

[Sea Wolf]

Everyone has their own way of doing things. To hold the bow in place when trailering we use stainless steel turnbuckle ($35) attached to the trailer frame via 1/2 inch shank stainless steel ubolt with a short length of chain and a shackle with a threaded pin which we use to attach to the bow eye. So we have a winch strap, the security chain, and the turnbuckle all throught the bow eye. I tighten the turnbuckle last and only hand tight by placing a phillips screw driver throught the hole in the middle of the turnbuckle to get a little more leverage. Then I tighten the jam nuts top and bottom, the boat's bow does not bounce anymore while trailering. Pictures in my album under trailer mods. Straps and stitching wear out and get damaged by the sun etc. the turnbuckle arrangement is going strong after four years and over 20k of trailering the boat. We are on our second winch strap. The first one we cut off about five feet and then had it repaired (restitched) and carry as a backup/spare.
D.D.

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