Has anyone added a bow eye to a Laser Pico to winch and haul it securely on a trailer?

[RyanDeno]

Hi all! I have a Laser Pico and a jet ski trailer that I've converted to fit my Pico. However, there is no bow eye on the front of the bow, near the waterline, to secure the boat to the winch hook. Has anyone done this before? Can I drill directly into the boat and use a screw in type bow eye or will I need to put a inspection port in and add a backing plate inside the hull? Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

 

[Refueler]

I've just fitted a winch eye to front of my 24ft mobo ....

Stainless steel U with two plates and nuts. Bow was drilled ... U with one plate and GRP putty passed through drilled holes and second plate and nuts on inside with more GRP putty .... tightened and excess putty smoothed out.

If you cannot access the interior to use nuts - then I suggest an inspection hatch be made to allow this. Screwing to the GRP may last one or two lifts - but its asking for trouble sooner or later ... IMHO

 

[dunedin]

Is the Pico a moulded plastic boat rather than GRP? I would be very wary of cutting a hatch into that.
But also wondering why would need an eye at waterline level - or indeed to use a winch for such a small light dinghy.
Usual approach is to keep the boat on the launching trolley on the trailer, and just use the forestay fitting for a front tie down.

Will the jet ski trailer suspension, designed for a heavy load, be way too firm for a dinghy? Certainly need to ensure hull supports fit the Pico, rather than just rollers.