Trailer tiedown issues

T

tparrent

New member
I'm trailering my C22 from NYC to North Carolina next weekend.

I pulled her out of the water today and as I drove a mile or so form the launch ramp back to the marina storage lot, my cockpit gunwale tie down strap became loose.

In fact, my gunwale tie down strap ALWAYS loosens up! I have good quality strap that has a positive locking lever. I then wrap duct tape around the buckle so that it can't accidentally pop open.

None of this seems to matter as the strap loosens up even without the buckle opening.

I actually prefer to use transom tie downs but they loosen up even more quickly than the gunwale strap! Also, the transom tie downs have to reach around the stern and back to the trailer rather than going straight down. They certainly would not keep the boat from going forward in an emergency (nor would the gunwale strap) due to their geometry.

Today I actually thought about having a couple of beefy aluminum plates made that I could bolt on to the trailer and extend beyond the stern. I would then hook the transom straps to those plates for better angles. Of course I would have to take them off prior to launch so that would be a hassle but I think they could be worthwhile for longer trailering trips.

IN the past I have tried ratcheting tie downs but they seemed inadequate for three reasons: 1) I can't figure out how to use the dang things half the time 2) if I put to much pressure on them they will damage the gelcoat and 3) they still loosen up!

I would sure appreciate any suggestions before I hit the road on Friday. There's enough stress on a trip that long without having to worry every mile about the tiedowns.

Thanks

Tom
 
I have the same problem with the belt buckle. I still use the strap, but I also use a stretchy 1/2" nylon rope, tied with a bowline on one side of the trailer, run over the gunwales in front of the engines, looped around the trailer and run back over the gunwales and back around the side of the trailer where I tied the bowline to start. Then I use a trucker's hitch (or an alpine knot, either of which can be found on Google) to give me a mechanical advantage to cinch the whole mess tight. A bowline and a trucker's hitch are the two most essential knots in my arsenal. The alpine knot is easier to loosen after use, but it's not nearly as quick and easy to tie as the trucker's hitch.
 
smittypaddler,

I replied in the other, similar thread, but... it sounds like we have a similar arrangement. Maybe because I also used to be a kayaker (not that I never kayak any more, but I mean with a roof full of boats :D). Only difference is that I eliminated the buckle altogether and just use the line "advantage" to tighten two loops of strap towards each other.

I've enjoyed reading your logs - thanks for writing them :thup
 
Yep, with that setup it will always loosen up. Mine always does the same thing. The boat will shift if you hit a bump or curb. If there's a fix without spending another fortune I would also like to hear it. I can have my boat perfectly centered between the side boat guides when I leave my house. By the time I get to where I'm going it has almost always shifted. :disgust :disgust
 
I don't have this problem and the only thing I can think of is trailer flex may be part of the problem. Your trailer age/conditon? Also have you tried different tie down ratchets/straps?

Jay
 
But is shifting the same as loosening? The reason I ask is that my boat will shift some, side-to-side, because the outer bunks are not spread as wide as the chines are. So what happens is that, presuming I start with the boat centered, it will shift over to one side until the chine stops it (because it gets to the bunk).

However, this does not loosen the strap - there is not that much possible side-to-side movement before the bunk/chine put an end to it. I've trailered thousands of miles and the strap stays tight. Also, once the boat shifts, it stays where it decided to shift to (seems to like to shift to port). This is with one tight strap over the boat and down to the trailer on each side - straight down so there is no "angle" forward or aft (thus no parallelogram that way), and one chain/turnbuckle straight down from the bow eye.

I have taken a look at spreading the bunks wider so that they each contact a chine and thus the boat cannot shift side to side at all. I would have to make a couple of changes in the bunk supports, so I haven't done it yet - but I may in future.

When I posted asking about this before, a number of people responded that their boats do the same (shift a little to one side or the other, while the strap remains acceptably tight). It looks like most trailers do not have the bunks set as wide as the chine "hooks."
 
I use a ratchet tie down over the stern of Journey On. I run it in back of the cleats and in front of the stanchion supports (or the other way around.) My idea is to stop the boat from going forward or backward.

I ALWAYS use a tiedown. Once, in Mexico, a set of motorcycle straps kept my sailboat from launching into a house. Still get a cold sweat when I think of it. It was only luck I put them on before we went south. Never forgot after that.

Here's my source for tiedowns:Ratcheting Tiedowns. I cut it to length, otherwise you'll have a lot of webbing flying around. I get the twin J-hook, and they have never slipped off. They do offer a snap hook. And on line information.

I just pass it over the aft part of the boat, hook each end to the shackles on the trailer and ratchet it down. Note that it doesn't have to be super tight; you're not trying to keep it from moving a little, just to keep it from moving a lot. And spray the mechanism with silicone spray and keep the webbing inside when not hauling the boat. I put padding between the ratchet and the hull. Polishes the bottom paint whilst I drive.

I have an EZ Loader roller trailer and the boat sways some, but it has always stayed put.

Boris
 
My boat shifts if the freshwater washdown grill, (on the bottom of the hull) is on or up against a bunk board. I rarely use straps (Prefer a good piece of line and a couple of good knots), except for on the transom tiedowns. They help with the shifting side to side if I cross them instead of just running them straight down to the trailer. A good hunk of line well tied, (the bowline and the truckers knot are a great combo), will out hold a web strap and buckle any day.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon
 
For our Venture we use a rachet strap across the cockpit that attaches to the trailer. It was purchased from Tractor Supply Co and it works great. It's easy to use and never slips. In addition, the boat is secured to the trailer with 2 independent chains attached at the bow eye, along with the winch strap. The boat never moves an inch.
 
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