safety chain with the winch cable

[alloffroad]

My trailer has a short piece of chain attatched to the winch cable so I only have a foot to play with to hook to the bow of the boat. Is this chain needed in california. I have never seen this before.

 

[impatico]

Re: safety chain with the winch cable

hmm, if I read that right shouldn't the chain attach to the trailer itself? as a 2nd safety?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: safety chain with the winch cable

My trailer has a short piece of chain attatched to the winch cable so I only have a foot to play with to hook to the bow of the boat. Is this chain needed in california. I have never seen this before.

if I understand you correctly, the winch cable and the safety chain are connected to the same hook.... If so that is wrong and they should have two separate hooks.... first the winch cable is attached to the boat, second the winch is used to load the boat on to the trailer, third the safety chain is attached to either the bow eye or if not possible then to the winch cable hook at the bow eye.

This is so that if the winch cable or mechanism fails the boat will still be attached to the trailer at the front

california or not... no clue.....this is something that every boat should have.... well worth the extra few seconds

 

[Sabbath]

Re: safety chain with the winch cable

It's not a matter of needing it through state legislation, it's a matter of safety, as has been described above.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: safety chain with the winch cable

Attach one end of the chain to the trailer bow support.only a fool would not use it !!!

 

[riskibusiness]

Re: safety chain with the winch cable

I wont push my boat around in the driveway without the safety chain. Btw I have seen safety cables but personally I use a chain.

 

[oregoncruiser]

Re: safety chain with the winch cable

Might be a California thing though. I just bought a new to me boat that came from California. It is an 04, with 52 hours. Immaculate boat! original owner said he drydocked and had the trailer stored since new. First thing I noticed when I hooked on to pull it home was no safety chain. Unbelievable!! I rigged up a temporary for the drive home, then attached a permanent one first thing. So.... maybe Ca doesn't require them, and therefore manufacturers find that to be another opportunity to save a buck.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: safety chain with the winch cable

The safety chain can also be tightened with a ratchet strap or turnbuckle to prevent the bow from bouncing on the road.

 

[alloffroad]

Re: safety chain with the winch cable

OK. I see what the PO did. They attatched the chain to the trailer on one end but to the cable hook on the other end. Not to the boat hook. I will fix that befor I go out next time.