Ruined week-end

[Nova II 260]

Thought about adding a bow chain to your trailer/boat?

Article (absconded from another forum)

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Ruined week-end

And stern tie-downs. If that doesn't convince a person that a boat needs to be tied down at the bow and stern nothing will. It is also apparent that this driver was following too close as it was obviously a rear-ender. Too bad we couldn't see how the winch strap was fastened. I'd bet it was over the bow stop rather than under it.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Ruined week-end

I don't think straps would have made a difference in this case. If you crash head on into something while towing, your boat is coming forward. Bow and transom straps are not rated for crash forces...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Ruined week-end

Would straps and a safety chain have eliminated damage?? Probably not!. Would it have lessened it? Probably.

 

[new_boater]

Re: Ruined week-end

if you look at the picture carefully he had the bow strap on (it is ripped) but probably not below the the winch strap not that that would have helped at speeds
at probable speeds(45-70) when you slam into something as it appears he did by the condition of the truck front, and you have 3000-4000 lbs even if the boat had stayed on the trailer there is a good chance it still would have went forward as a entire unit and may have caused more damage. simple physics says object in motion wants to stay in motion

but at least it looks like the boat is not to badly damaged just can't say the same for the truck

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Ruined week-end

Appropriate sized bow and stern straps are good... mine were rated for 1000 lbs breaking force when I had my accident this summer.

The stern straps both snapped when the boat came off the trailer. The bow chain came off its mount (rusted) but the winch held. I was only doing 45.

Next time I'm using a better bow chain, and I'm gonna watch for rust. I'm also getting some stern straps with 2500 pound ratings... mostly so the boat stays on the trailer if I have an accident.

I was lucky, my boat didn't land on my truck... if it had, I'd be one dead boater.

I'm spending $$ now to upgrade the trailer's suspension, brakes, and straps. Totally worth it.

Erik

 

[_brad_]

Re: Ruined week-end

So let me get something straight...

The bow strap is supposed to go under the bow stop? And why is this?

I know I'm a newby.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Ruined week-end

it is suppose keep the boat from crawling over the bow stop. the bow eye should be pulled up under the stop,. then a chain added straight down the the tongue. i use a chain with a turnbuckle.

 

[rndn]

Re: Ruined week-end

I don't think proper straps would have made much of a difference in this case.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Ruined week-end

There some strange forces at work with loads on trailers and I can speak from experience. I broadsided a lady who pulled out of a driveway. I was towing a double snowmobile trailer with two sleds on it. The sleds are held on the trailer with a steel rod through the skies and a turnbuckle arrangement at the rear. The tongue of the trailer bent down and absorbed much of the shock. There was no other damage to the sled or trailer. Can't say the same for either car. If that boat had been properly tied down the the tongue framework would likely have buckled downward as well. The rear trailer frame members would have probably been bent upwards. Again, I do not dispute that there would have been damage -- but I also contend it would have been less severe. If you look at the picture, the winch strap is still attached to the bow eye which indicates the winch failed, the strap broke, or the one-tooth winch lock failed. Had a suitable safety chain been attached there would either be a length of chain hanging from the bow or there would be a hole where the bow eye once resided. There is also no evidence that stern tie downs were used. Those straps are are a lot stronger than one might think. Although the damage at the front of the truck looks ugly, I suspect this crash took place at a relatively slow rate of speed as the drivers side fender doesn't have a wrinkle in it.

 

[HollaGeo]

Re: Ruined week-end

The boat looks brand-new as does the truck. I am sure the guy driving went out and bought this set-up just to spend money. He probably did a half-*** job securing the boat and didn't have experience towing. If he only asked somebody with experience, this could've been avoided.

 

[shipoffools]

Re: Ruined week-end

When you are in a situation where the transom tie down and bow strap let loose, where the boat lands is only one of many problems you have

 

[WaterWitch2]

Re: Ruined week-end

So this isn't a recommended set up? All of my trailers were set up this way.

 

[ktmrider]

Re: Ruined week-end

I'm new to boating and trailering. Can someone provide pictures of a proper way to tie a boat to a trailer? Safety is a priority. Much appreciated.

I have a 6000-7000 lbs boat/trailer with a Ford F250 7.3 PSD 4x4 as the tow vehicle.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Ruined week-end

I don't have pictures but here are some thoughts:

1. The bow strap is not only used to pull and keep the boat forward against the bow roller/stop, but to help keep the boat from going forward in the event of a sudden stop (crash). As such it should go under the roller not over it.

2. Straps on the stern are used to keep the boat on the trailer. Remember that you are securing the boat not for normal towing but for abnormal conditions. Sudden stops and crashes.

3. A safety chain is a really good idea to backup the bow strap. Under crash conditions the forces on that bow strap get really big (see picture above with broken strap)

4. If you are new to boating it is probably a good idea to get your boat/trailer weighted. Weight is very misleading. Tendency is to use the dry weight of the boat as specified by the manufacturer. Reality is that you take that as a starting point. Add trailer, gas and any other fluids, life jackets, cooler, etc., and you get a really different weight.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Ruined week-end

So this isn't a recommended set up? All of my trailers were set up this way.

Definitely not. 1) The stop should be above the bow eye, and 2) the winch is set up backwards (should feed under). BTW, the "winch post" you have is not capable of being set up properly...

 

[Matthew_B]

Re: Ruined week-end

4. If you are new to boating it is probably a good idea to get your boat/trailer weighted. Weight is very misleading. Tendency is to use the dry weight of the boat as specified by the manufacturer. Reality is that you take that as a starting point. Add trailer, gas and any other fluids, life jackets, cooler, etc., and you get a really different weight.

I'm guilty of that one big time. I have a truck camper, so I have no cargo carrying area when I go camping. My boat becomes a beast of burden to haul all the extras when I go camping. For a week trip, it hits around 1000 lb extra