maineiac5586
Senior Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2009
- Messages
- 728
The problem is there is no beam at the end of the trailer (,other than the 1 that holds the rollers). I agree vertical would be best. The bracket that holds the tailight would be great but that's just a thin piece of bolt on metal not structural. I'd use a gun wale strap but my bimini top gets in the way thereI thought transom tie-downs were designed to keep the boat from bouncing up and down on the trailer (i.e., to make the trailer and boat move as one object). The placement in the picture would not accomplish that as the boat could easily bounce around when hitting a bump. I'd want my transom straps as close to vertical as possible; I believe that is what Boat Buckles are designed for.
Also, as mentioned previously, in every case the strap is either rubbing against the boat or the trailer, which means will wear pretty quickly.
The strap isn't but 1/8" thick at best.I'd use a gun wale strap but my bimini top gets in the way there
If you zoom in you'll see the issue with the bimini top location. I guess I could thread a gun wale strap under the bimini top but it adds a degree of extra step to do that
Exactly. I think I'm going this routeThe strap isn't but 1/8" thick at best.
No reason you couldn't put the strap on then lay and secure the bimini on top of it
Of course, bouncing around needs to be avoided. But that's not the only purpose.I thought transom tie-downs were designed to keep the boat from bouncing up and down on the trailer (i.e., to make the trailer and boat move as one object). The placement in the picture would not accomplish that as the boat could easily bounce around when hitting a bump. I'd want my transom straps as close to vertical as possible; I believe that is what Boat Buckles are designed for.
Also, as mentioned previously, in every case the strap is either rubbing against the boat or the trailer, which means will wear pretty quickly.
Do you have a brand name and model of the straps you like for the transom? Or picture? I already installed a true bow tie down.Of course, bouncing around needs to be avoided. But that's not the only purpose.
A well designed "system" includes both bow and transom tie downs. They must ensure that the boat cannot move forward OR back. On the bow, I'm not talking about a winch or a safety chain, but a true bow tie down.
Often transom straps end up angled like the ones in the picture above. It is what it is....the design of the trailer forces that to happen.
As a trailer boater that was rear ended at high speed while stopped at a traffic signal, and thus causing the boat to "bounce around" (understatement), I consider myself an authority on the subject.
Over the gunnel straps are useless because they don't address the forward or back movement.
Retractable straps are useless because you never know when they will fail because of constant submersion.
Ratchet straps are iffy. An unexpected force can cause the mechanism to fail.
The only transom tie downs I will put on my boat are quality buckle straps that are equipped with a sleeve to protect it from the boat's bottom, plus a cinch to constrain the buckle.
Anyone can say what's good or bad, but until a situation comes up where you really need them, you may never know.
Of course, bouncing around needs to be avoided. But that's not the only purpose.
A well designed "system" includes both bow and transom tie downs. They must ensure that the boat cannot move forward OR back. On the bow, I'm not talking about a winch or a safety chain, but a true bow tie down.
Often transom straps end up angled like the ones in the picture above. It is what it is....the design of the trailer forces that to happen.
As a trailer boater that was rear ended at high speed while stopped at a traffic signal, and thus causing the boat to "bounce around" (understatement), I consider myself an authority on the subject.
Over the gunnel straps are useless because they don't address the forward or back movement.
Retractable straps are useless because you never know when they will fail because of constant submersion.
Ratchet straps are iffy. An unexpected force can cause the mechanism to fail.
The only transom tie downs I will put on my boat are quality buckle straps that are equipped with a sleeve to protect it from the boat's bottom, plus a cinch to constrain the buckle.
Anyone can say what's good or bad, but until a situation comes up where you really need them, you may never know.
I can't get a picture because my boats are in Winter storage. I think Quik Lok is one of the preferred brands.Do you have a brand name and model of the straps you like for the transom? Or picture? I already installed a true bow tie down.
You are correct. They will only prevent the boat from moving back. The bow tie down needs to be angled toward the back to keep it from moving forward.I mostly agree with what you say, but the location of the straps picture will do nothing to keep the boat from moving forward in the event of being rear-ended; if anything, the straps as shown in the pictures are pulling the boat toward the tow vehicle.