Transom Straps vs Over the Gunnels

Wandering Sagebrush

Wandering Sagebrush

Free Range Human
My boat has a strap that goes over the gunnels at the back of the cockpit. If I am on a winding road, the boat has moved on the bunks, getting close to the guides. I don't think it hurts anything, but it is irritating.

I suspect that transom straps would stop that, but I am curious as to what others use and/or think is safest.

Thanks in advance.
 
When we bought our boat it had a rather light weight long nylon strap over the cockpit attached to the trailer on both sides. I guess it would have prevented up and down movement of the boat on the trailer on a rough surface but did little or nothing for side to side movement. I have replaced it with 2 heavy nylon straps, one from each transom corner angled down and forward a couple feet to the trailer. I feel it's a better set up then the long strap over the cockpit.
Rich
 
If you want it not to move sideways you need to cross tie across the stern. Tying down from the boat to the trailer will still let it slip because the lines, or straps will stretch some. So you have some choice though ----- chain down or cross tie and NO BUNGI'S.

Tying the boat down to the trailer will keep it from moving, mostly. If you want to prevent motion then you have to tie against that motion, like a spring ling at the dock.

Hope that is some help.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Two straps, low on the transom with major strong stainless eyes. They are above the water line. Then two hefty black straps, two inches wide with over center locks that are angled down and outboard of the stern on both sides to the trailer. If the boat moves with that setup, then there has been a major collision and all bets are off. I would NOT tow a boat the size of a CD with over the transom only straps. The stretch in that axial type of tie down will not keep the boat from entering your rear window in a collision. Also you need to make sure that the front end of the boat starting at the winch eye has a chain down to the trailer for additional margin against the boat looking really really big in your rear view mirror during any kind of collision.

Just my thoughts. I've towed boats with the over the transom straps, but they only weighed less than a thousand pounds, but I still used a bow chain to the trailer.
 
When I bought the Dog,she would constantly slide from side to side so I cut down those worthless guidons to just contact the hull just below the waterline.Now she slides no more & self centers on the trailer every time I pull out & I no longer see the blue chaulk on the plastic bunks from slipping & sliding.Vern/C-Dog Oh yea,I use transom tie downs only.
 
If you want it not to move sideways you need to cross tie across the stern.
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Yep. Harvey is 100% correct. Just like towing an expensive car on a trailer.

I just use two straps from the towing rings down to the trailer. But I'm not trailering across the country either. If I was, I'd probably add one that goes all the way over the gunnel.
 
I believe it is generally recomended to have both transom straps to hold down and centered and a gunwale strap over to hold down I use both on any length of tow more than a few miles in town. In 8000 miles so far including hwy 101 no slips or slides. More is better. George
 
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