Bow Eye Placement Question

[minuteman62-64]

The bow eye on my boat is located so that the pull of the winch is pretty much parallel to the trailer (which seems to be pretty standard based on posts I've read). To facilitate safety chain hook-up I've had recommendations to add a second bow eye. I'm thinking about doing so and pondering the location.

My question is: If I added a second bow eye, maybe 4"-6" below the current bow eye, would there be any advantage in using that new eye when winching the boat on to the trailer? The winch pull on the new bow eye would tend to slightly raise the bow. Winch pull easier/harder/no significant change?

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Bow Eye Placement Question

Can't you just hook the saftey chain to the existing eye? I believe this is the standard. how big of boat? Who is telling you to do this? Never heard of that before.

LK

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Bow Eye Placement Question

Your making a lot to do about nothing.Secure the safety chain in the same eye as the winch strap. If you have an accident that is enough to pull the existing eye out, it is going pull any thing else you put on.In 35 yrs of boating i have yet to see two eyes on a boat. Not saying there isn't such an animal but i haven't seen it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bow Eye Placement Question

Agreed. the fewer holes in a boat the better.

For this and all questions, describe your boat; otherwise the word "boat" is meaningless. What you do with a 14' tinnie on bunks and a 28' cruiser on rollers is very different.

 

[chrome dome]

Re: Bow Eye Placement Question

l've seen two bow eyes on local boats, mostly tinnies though,

don't know whether this is part of your problem but when l replaced the winch strap on my early 80's runabout a couple of years ago the new hook and latch was larger than the old one which made it a pain to fit onto the original small bow eye...along with the safety chain..could do one up easily but you almost had to hang upside down from the bow to get them both on,
eventually got tired of playing that game and replaced the old bow eye with a much larger one,

l've got another project boat with the same problem...but someone at some stage has added a large stainless shackle to the bow eye so l won't be changing that,

if it ain't your issue please ignore this babble,

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Bow Eye Placement Question

If this is a glass boat, the addition of another bow eye will weaken the mounting area of both.

Just follow the earlier recommendations and hook your safety chain in the winch strap's hook.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Bow Eye Placement Question

Your making a lot to do about nothing.Secure the safety chain in the same eye as the winch strap. If you have an accident that is enough to pull the existing eye out, it is going pull any thing else you put on.In 35 yrs of boating i have yet to see two eyes on a boat. Not saying there isn't such an animal but i haven't seen it.

Here is the double bow eye on my 18' Starcraft.

Original eye was too tight a fit for the chain, and is also tight on the launch line, so I installed another eye.