bonz_d
Vice Admiral
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2008
- Messages
- 5,276
1st I'm going to start by stating that I hope we can have a civil discussion on this topic. I will state some observations and opinions that are my own and if you disagree say so but please also give a reason why you disagree and not just because that's the way it should be.
Over the past few weeks I've seen many posts here regarding bow stops and winch posts. Many asking questions about their trailers and including pictures to which I see many replies that just state the the bow stop needs to be under the bow eye and give no explaination as to why.
Many of the pictures I see posted are of older trailer with winch posts as old as the trailers. Many of these posts were built back when it was common practice to have the eye above the winch. Where the winch mount was placed at the top of the post or on a post mount that also held the bow stop at the end of it making it impossible to get the boweye under the stop. In these instances what is that person to do? Take an old trailer and spend a hundred or so dollars on a winch post just so they can get the eye under the stop? Replace the trailer?
Now just to be clear with everyone, I do agree it is best to have the stop under the boweye as it does add a level of saftey but by no means is it an absolute end all and gaurantee the the boat is not going to move or come off the trailer in a high speed panic stop, especially when I see so many of these trailer that do not even have brakes on them. In many of the pictures I see posted I have to wonder if the winch post will stay in place if a panic stop is incountered.
It is my opinion that we as a group are trailering bigger and bigger boats every year. As the loads get heavier more precautions need to be taken and the way we secure them needs more attention. It is also just my opinion that if a boat on a trailer is moving around on it then it has not been properly secured no matter how larger of small the boat is.
Now in my case yes I have a small boat on a lightweight trailer. Am I really concerned where the bowstop is. NO. I have had my boat on the trailer, which strap attached, saftey chain attached and a gunwale strap across the midship and have been able to raise the tongue of the trailer until the stern of the boat was touching the ground and the boat moved not one inch. Boat attached to the trailer the same way I have been down potholed filled gravel roads and again the boat has not moved on the trailer.
And you are all right that I would not try this with a 5000# boat! But again, when I was young and all the large boats were built of planks or ribs and plywood they were carried on a flatbed type trailer on cradles and there were no bowstops at all.
So what is the answer or how do we answer these people with these older trailers with the winch mounted at the top of the post and can not be adjusted? Do we just tell then that the eye needs to be under the bowstop and leave it at that? Or them them their trailer is junk and they need a new one? What?
Over the past few weeks I've seen many posts here regarding bow stops and winch posts. Many asking questions about their trailers and including pictures to which I see many replies that just state the the bow stop needs to be under the bow eye and give no explaination as to why.
Many of the pictures I see posted are of older trailer with winch posts as old as the trailers. Many of these posts were built back when it was common practice to have the eye above the winch. Where the winch mount was placed at the top of the post or on a post mount that also held the bow stop at the end of it making it impossible to get the boweye under the stop. In these instances what is that person to do? Take an old trailer and spend a hundred or so dollars on a winch post just so they can get the eye under the stop? Replace the trailer?
Now just to be clear with everyone, I do agree it is best to have the stop under the boweye as it does add a level of saftey but by no means is it an absolute end all and gaurantee the the boat is not going to move or come off the trailer in a high speed panic stop, especially when I see so many of these trailer that do not even have brakes on them. In many of the pictures I see posted I have to wonder if the winch post will stay in place if a panic stop is incountered.
It is my opinion that we as a group are trailering bigger and bigger boats every year. As the loads get heavier more precautions need to be taken and the way we secure them needs more attention. It is also just my opinion that if a boat on a trailer is moving around on it then it has not been properly secured no matter how larger of small the boat is.
Now in my case yes I have a small boat on a lightweight trailer. Am I really concerned where the bowstop is. NO. I have had my boat on the trailer, which strap attached, saftey chain attached and a gunwale strap across the midship and have been able to raise the tongue of the trailer until the stern of the boat was touching the ground and the boat moved not one inch. Boat attached to the trailer the same way I have been down potholed filled gravel roads and again the boat has not moved on the trailer.
And you are all right that I would not try this with a 5000# boat! But again, when I was young and all the large boats were built of planks or ribs and plywood they were carried on a flatbed type trailer on cradles and there were no bowstops at all.
So what is the answer or how do we answer these people with these older trailers with the winch mounted at the top of the post and can not be adjusted? Do we just tell then that the eye needs to be under the bowstop and leave it at that? Or them them their trailer is junk and they need a new one? What?
