CarMan
Member
How do you go about it? Ratchet staps? But how exactly? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Strapping boat to trailer
- Thread starter CarMan
- Start date
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
Usually on trailerable boats, with two straps, one at front (eye on bow) and one at stern (two eyes on stern) with bits of old carpet under the straps where ever the straps make contact with any part of the boat.
Do you have any eyes on your boat, can't see one on bow in that pic
Do you have any eyes on your boat, can't see one on bow in that pic
CarMan
Member
Thanks for the instant response. Yes the bow has an eye fixed to the winch - as you say, hidden in the pic. Need to think more about the stern though . . . . . . .
jfm
Well-Known Member
I guess there's a bow eye where the winch webbing is attached, so I'd agree with you about using that plus a pair of "ski tow" eyes on the transom
I dont like the position of the red/green light - would dazzle helmsman!
I dont like the position of the red/green light - would dazzle helmsman!
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
of course, should have looked harder.
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
They may not be immediately obvious on stern, often one each side of outdrive/outboard, not on actual transom etc. Anything there at all you can attach a strap to?
MapisM
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Need to think more about the stern though
[/ QUOTE ]Depending on how they're located, you can possibly use the cleats - ideally, crossing the straps if feasible.
Need to think more about the stern though
[/ QUOTE ]Depending on how they're located, you can possibly use the cleats - ideally, crossing the straps if feasible.
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
A picture of the rear would be very helpful, so we can see if straps would foul outdrive/outboard etc.
Or someone who has towed same model
Or someone who has towed same model
GrowingLad
Well-Known Member
Hi Carman,
Here's a picture of mine when I towed her from the UK to Greece.
As brendan said, get yourself some carpet, when you strap it down there is a hell of a lot of strain, which could cause damage to your boat.
With yours as you have a slopping cabin roof it might be a little tricky.
Also, not having any eyes on the trailer for the staps makes it a bit trickey.
With the ratchet end I looped it under the trailer and then hooked the hook end to the bottom of the ratchet mechanism.
I recommend getting bright coloured ones so you can see them clearly in the mirrors, doesn't matter how many times you checked they are tight the buggers suddenly come loose what with all the bouncing about.
Here's a picture of mine when I towed her from the UK to Greece.
As brendan said, get yourself some carpet, when you strap it down there is a hell of a lot of strain, which could cause damage to your boat.
With yours as you have a slopping cabin roof it might be a little tricky.
Also, not having any eyes on the trailer for the staps makes it a bit trickey.
With the ratchet end I looped it under the trailer and then hooked the hook end to the bottom of the ratchet mechanism.
I recommend getting bright coloured ones so you can see them clearly in the mirrors, doesn't matter how many times you checked they are tight the buggers suddenly come loose what with all the bouncing about.
GrowingLad
Well-Known Member
Ahh bugger, the resize didn't work, right, how do I get my picture the same size as carman's with photobucket?
It seems to do it either too big or tiderly small.
It seems to do it either too big or tiderly small.
landlockedpirate
Well-Known Member
At the front I back up the winch with another strap, this stops the boat moving forward (The winch stops it moving backwards).
At the back as Brendan said, put a couple (or 1 long) strap accross the ski eyes and down to the trailer.
Lastly, and mainly because I was a boy scout , I put a 5000kg strap over the widest part of the hull. This stops the boat bouncing on the trailer and reduces risk of damage. I remove this strap when not moving the boat to avoid deforming the hull.
At the back as Brendan said, put a couple (or 1 long) strap accross the ski eyes and down to the trailer.
Lastly, and mainly because I was a boy scout , I put a 5000kg strap over the widest part of the hull. This stops the boat bouncing on the trailer and reduces risk of damage. I remove this strap when not moving the boat to avoid deforming the hull.
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
You change the default size of the uploaded pic. When you log in, at top centre of the page, where you upload, click on options. Ybw would like you to use the 640x480 option. I've never tried to change the size of a pic once uploaded, so you may have to upload again to change
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
I've found putting a twist in the tie-down between the trailer and the point it passes over the boat (usually the gunwhale) stops the annoying "fluttering" noise.
Police rather like to see an attempt at stopping the boat sliding off backwards as well as the winch strap. A strap angled towards the stern helps there, like it would if you were to hook it over the outdrive legs and forward to the trailer.
I towed a boat on a slightly flexible trailer (!) and found not having the straps too tight helped. Otherwise you're transferring loads into the boats hull.
Police rather like to see an attempt at stopping the boat sliding off backwards as well as the winch strap. A strap angled towards the stern helps there, like it would if you were to hook it over the outdrive legs and forward to the trailer.
I towed a boat on a slightly flexible trailer (!) and found not having the straps too tight helped. Otherwise you're transferring loads into the boats hull.
jfm
Well-Known Member
I would be very careful taking straps right over the coachroof. Not saying it can't be done, but you need to have a good understanding of strength of coachroof and tension in your webbing as you crank the ratchet handle. There is risk of overcooking it for those who judge it wrong (your good self excluded)!
It might be better to use the aft cleats (if they're butch, can't tell from picture). Here's a pic of a professionally loaded boat (in a differnet context); shippers seem always to use the cleats
It might be better to use the aft cleats (if they're butch, can't tell from picture). Here's a pic of a professionally loaded boat (in a differnet context); shippers seem always to use the cleats
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
I too would never put a strap over the top if it can possibly be helped.
Even if tensioned correctly, one good bounce over a pothole etc could do damage
Even if tensioned correctly, one good bounce over a pothole etc could do damage
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
Okay you lot, clear out of the way and let an expert in.
First of all CarMan, if you had said it was a Merry Fisher 625, you wouldn't get people talking about the 'outdrives' and we could have cut to the chase.
I have the Antares 650, the Beneteau equivalent.
Strap down is done with two straps, one forward and one aft and the winch strap is snapped onto the towing eye.
The trailer in your picture is an SBS trailer, probably the 1800, which is what I have.
These pictures will show you how to use two straps and the SBS trailer has corresponding eyes just behind the side frame of the trailer to take the hook ends of the straps.
I presume this is a potential purchase, which is a pity as I would love to see some side pictures of the boat on the trailer and know how many notches up the rear roller assemble is mounted. I ask as my trailer set up damages my boat whenever I recover it and that set up you have must be correct.
[ QUOTE ]
I dont like the position of the red/green light - would dazzle helmsman!
[/ QUOTE ] Yes jfm, you are correct. Two years ago I posted a report here of my first night time passage of the Swellies and mentioned that I had to stick my head out of the wheelhouse window to be able to see above the glare.
First of all CarMan, if you had said it was a Merry Fisher 625, you wouldn't get people talking about the 'outdrives' and we could have cut to the chase.
I have the Antares 650, the Beneteau equivalent.
Strap down is done with two straps, one forward and one aft and the winch strap is snapped onto the towing eye.
The trailer in your picture is an SBS trailer, probably the 1800, which is what I have.
These pictures will show you how to use two straps and the SBS trailer has corresponding eyes just behind the side frame of the trailer to take the hook ends of the straps.
I presume this is a potential purchase, which is a pity as I would love to see some side pictures of the boat on the trailer and know how many notches up the rear roller assemble is mounted. I ask as my trailer set up damages my boat whenever I recover it and that set up you have must be correct.
[ QUOTE ]
I dont like the position of the red/green light - would dazzle helmsman!
[/ QUOTE ] Yes jfm, you are correct. Two years ago I posted a report here of my first night time passage of the Swellies and mentioned that I had to stick my head out of the wheelhouse window to be able to see above the glare.
GrowingLad
Well-Known Member
Cheers Brendan for the puter tips.
And thanks guys for the tip about over the coach roof, to be fair she's laid up like the proverbial brick house but I shall look into alternative methods.
JFM, how have you come by photos of my other boat /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Thanks again chaps.
And thanks guys for the tip about over the coach roof, to be fair she's laid up like the proverbial brick house but I shall look into alternative methods.
JFM, how have you come by photos of my other boat /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Thanks again chaps.
CarMan
Member
Thanks all for the comments - overwhelmed by the response in a few minutes. No MC, not a potential purchase - bought a year ago, motored home and never towed yet! Will get some pics of the stern to see what's what but the cleats are inside the deck area
Its_Only_Money
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
...probably the 1800, which is what I have.... I would love to see some side pictures of the boat on the trailer and know how many notches up the rear roller assemble is mounted. I ask as my trailer set up damages my boat whenever I recover it and that set up you have must be correct.
[/ QUOTE ]
Look different trailers to me, single side frames vs double and rollers vs bunks. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
...probably the 1800, which is what I have.... I would love to see some side pictures of the boat on the trailer and know how many notches up the rear roller assemble is mounted. I ask as my trailer set up damages my boat whenever I recover it and that set up you have must be correct.
[/ QUOTE ]
Look different trailers to me, single side frames vs double and rollers vs bunks. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
michaelh
Well-Known Member
I'd suggest another strap on your rig. You've got 2 holding it onto the trailer which is great but you are relying on the winch to stop it going backwards and the winch post to stop it going forward.
The weak point here is the winch, which is fine until something goes wrong - like a pawl failure. In this case the boat can slide back. I always attach a safty rope from the towing eye to the winch post. I'd also suggest a strap from the transom to the trailer ( as per lakesailor's post). IMHO
The weak point here is the winch, which is fine until something goes wrong - like a pawl failure. In this case the boat can slide back. I always attach a safty rope from the towing eye to the winch post. I'd also suggest a strap from the transom to the trailer ( as per lakesailor's post). IMHO
