My Macgregor 25 just sits on the trailer with the bow hook and gravity keeping it on its bunks as I drive down the highway. That's the way the previous owner trailered it. Is this OK or do I need to strap the boat to the trailer? Thanks, Richard
- Status
I don't
We 've towed our 5000 pound Oday on a thousand mile trips with out tying the boat down.Once I tried to get the bow further up the tralie by going down hill and slamming on the brakes.The boat didn't budge.We have rollers on our trailer. I was surprised that this didn't work.I would think that any situation that would cause you to make the boat pull on the straps would probably bend the straps or tear out cleats.
We 've towed our 5000 pound Oday on a thousand mile trips with out tying the boat down.Once I tried to get the bow further up the tralie by going down hill and slamming on the brakes.The boat didn't budge.We have rollers on our trailer. I was surprised that this didn't work.I would think that any situation that would cause you to make the boat pull on the straps would probably bend the straps or tear out cleats.
Strap it down
The trailer and the boat should be one unit, intact, strapped down. I've seen a boat being trailered roll right off the side of the trailer when taking a turn too fast. You can never anticipate other drivers and when you might have to take quick evasive action. Ever see a flat bed without its load being strapped or chained down? Even a bulldozer is chained and it weighs how much?
The trailer and the boat should be one unit, intact, strapped down. I've seen a boat being trailered roll right off the side of the trailer when taking a turn too fast. You can never anticipate other drivers and when you might have to take quick evasive action. Ever see a flat bed without its load being strapped or chained down? Even a bulldozer is chained and it weighs how much?
Straight line stops are easy! try a high
speed lane change to avoid a pedestrian. Or try dropping the right hand wheels off the shoulder! Any maneuver that would roll a child off the seat could roll a boat off a trailer. Strap them both down. IT'S the LAW!
speed lane change to avoid a pedestrian. Or try dropping the right hand wheels off the shoulder! Any maneuver that would roll a child off the seat could roll a boat off a trailer. Strap them both down. IT'S the LAW!
You are STUPID not too...
....and is why I am scared of other drivers out there. I would think that this would common sense and not a debate. Slam me all you want, but I just can't believe that there are people out there like this. It takes all of 2 minutes to do and under $40 dollars for decent (yes, don't be cheap..buy ones rated for the job, a 200 pound strap won't stop a 3000 pound boat). I could care less about you destroying your boat because of this, but you could kill my family because of this! Maybe some people just shouldn't be on the road (let alone towing a boat!)
....and is why I am scared of other drivers out there. I would think that this would common sense and not a debate. Slam me all you want, but I just can't believe that there are people out there like this. It takes all of 2 minutes to do and under $40 dollars for decent (yes, don't be cheap..buy ones rated for the job, a 200 pound strap won't stop a 3000 pound boat). I could care less about you destroying your boat because of this, but you could kill my family because of this! Maybe some people just shouldn't be on the road (let alone towing a boat!)
Tie that baby down!
I always tie down the stern and make very certain the bow winch is locked in place. My wife is a commercial driver and has seen several boats that have come off of their trailers, often at the same expressway S curve. My last boat was a Mac 25 and it was easy enough to move the boat forward by braking sharply, I am sure it could just as easily moved side to side. I never found out because I used a large strap from the rear corner of the trailer, over the boat & attached to the trailer on the other side.
I always tie down the stern and make very certain the bow winch is locked in place. My wife is a commercial driver and has seen several boats that have come off of their trailers, often at the same expressway S curve. My last boat was a Mac 25 and it was easy enough to move the boat forward by braking sharply, I am sure it could just as easily moved side to side. I never found out because I used a large strap from the rear corner of the trailer, over the boat & attached to the trailer on the other side.
Tie It Down...
...ever followed a boat,or anything else on a trailer, that's not tied down and it hits a big bump? Guarantee they will come apart.
...ever followed a boat,or anything else on a trailer, that's not tied down and it hits a big bump? Guarantee they will come apart.
Florida DMV towing regulations...
requires that the load be secured against moving, leaking or detaching. Now, it does not specify how you are to do that, but I doubt that the "force of gravity" will be acceptable to a local magistrate. You also should consider that you have to keep your insurance company happy if you would like them on your side. Accidents happen, trailers jack knife and overturn and they also get rear ended and broadsided; if the boat was not tied it will likely detach from the trailer causing a technical breach of the FL regulations. We trailer boats interstate and rather than ascertain what the regulations are in each jurisdiction along the way we try to encompass all. We strap the boat to the trailer well so if it overturns and slides down the road that trailer will be going with it. We rather exceed the requirements than having to be in a position to try and defend negligence.
requires that the load be secured against moving, leaking or detaching. Now, it does not specify how you are to do that, but I doubt that the "force of gravity" will be acceptable to a local magistrate. You also should consider that you have to keep your insurance company happy if you would like them on your side. Accidents happen, trailers jack knife and overturn and they also get rear ended and broadsided; if the boat was not tied it will likely detach from the trailer causing a technical breach of the FL regulations. We trailer boats interstate and rather than ascertain what the regulations are in each jurisdiction along the way we try to encompass all. We strap the boat to the trailer well so if it overturns and slides down the road that trailer will be going with it. We rather exceed the requirements than having to be in a position to try and defend negligence.
Straps!
My straps are rated At Least 10X the weight of the boat. They encircle the boat and trailer and do not rely upon hardware at the boat or trailer. In the event of an accident, what is left of my boat Will be secured to the trailer. These straps are Tight at any speed above 5mph. When parked, they are fully relaxed. I buy new ones every couple of years and relegate the old ones to some less critical use. This has been the rule with any boat or other load that I strap. (Old climbers die hard, if it ain't rated - I don't trust it.)
My straps are rated At Least 10X the weight of the boat. They encircle the boat and trailer and do not rely upon hardware at the boat or trailer. In the event of an accident, what is left of my boat Will be secured to the trailer. These straps are Tight at any speed above 5mph. When parked, they are fully relaxed. I buy new ones every couple of years and relegate the old ones to some less critical use. This has been the rule with any boat or other load that I strap. (Old climbers die hard, if it ain't rated - I don't trust it.)
Yes!
My Oday 22 is definitely strapped from the cockpit cleats to the trailer. Last year I had a trailer tire blow out on the expressway at 60 MPH. That'll put the fear of God in you real fast. Even with the straps on, the boat lurched forward maybe 8" bending the upper end of the winch pulpit to the side, and breaking the bow roller in the process. I shudder to think how much worse it could have been if the boat wasn't strapped.
My Oday 22 is definitely strapped from the cockpit cleats to the trailer. Last year I had a trailer tire blow out on the expressway at 60 MPH. That'll put the fear of God in you real fast. Even with the straps on, the boat lurched forward maybe 8" bending the upper end of the winch pulpit to the side, and breaking the bow roller in the process. I shudder to think how much worse it could have been if the boat wasn't strapped.
Going to get some straps today!
OK-I'm convinced that I need to buy some big straps and secure the boat to the trailer before I leave the driveway again. Thanks for all the persuasive comments. I can't believe I listened to the previous owner who said they weren't necessary . Richard
OK-I'm convinced that I need to buy some big straps and secure the boat to the trailer before I leave the driveway again. Thanks for all the persuasive comments. I can't believe I listened to the previous owner who said they weren't necessary . Richard
synchronicity has it right
straps around the boat and the trailer is the only sensible way to go. do not rely on tie downs secured to any deck hardware! and get at least a 10,000 lb strap, one just forward of the cabin and another across near the middle of the cockpit. also remember to keep your winch strap tight. it's ok to loosen your straps when parked in your driveway but please cinch everything down tight when you are on the road no matter how short the trip.
straps around the boat and the trailer is the only sensible way to go. do not rely on tie downs secured to any deck hardware! and get at least a 10,000 lb strap, one just forward of the cabin and another across near the middle of the cockpit. also remember to keep your winch strap tight. it's ok to loosen your straps when parked in your driveway but please cinch everything down tight when you are on the road no matter how short the trip.
Also...
Your winch strap and hook should be the back-up system for holding the bow of the boat. You should have another strap or chain dedicated to that purpose and that is positively locked against coming lose. The integrity of your winch is only as good as the 10 cent spring on the ratchet pawl - fine for cranking the boat up on the trailer, but not for trusting it on the highway.
Your winch strap and hook should be the back-up system for holding the bow of the boat. You should have another strap or chain dedicated to that purpose and that is positively locked against coming lose. The integrity of your winch is only as good as the 10 cent spring on the ratchet pawl - fine for cranking the boat up on the trailer, but not for trusting it on the highway.
have to slam you on that one chris,
let's just not jump out there and start calling people stupid. that's the one thing that i like about this planet, we all get a chance to do something stupid once or twice a week. everybody makes mistakes, to make the same one twice is what i would have to classify as stupid. richard was given some incorrect information, thought it didn't sound to good and went out there and checked it out. sound's pretty smart to me. my people perish for lack of knowledge. it's really great to have a place where people can exchange ideas and information and possible keep from getting in some real trouble out there. may God's favor be with everyone out there, and your families as well. dpatrick
let's just not jump out there and start calling people stupid. that's the one thing that i like about this planet, we all get a chance to do something stupid once or twice a week. everybody makes mistakes, to make the same one twice is what i would have to classify as stupid. richard was given some incorrect information, thought it didn't sound to good and went out there and checked it out. sound's pretty smart to me. my people perish for lack of knowledge. it's really great to have a place where people can exchange ideas and information and possible keep from getting in some real trouble out there. may God's favor be with everyone out there, and your families as well. dpatrick
I like to make a distinction between
stupid and ignorant. Ignorant can be cured with education. But stupid is like ugly, there just ain't no cure. Stupid holds his hand if front of his face and challanges you to hit his hand before he moves it, AGAIN AND AGAIN. Ignorant only does it once.
stupid and ignorant. Ignorant can be cured with education. But stupid is like ugly, there just ain't no cure. Stupid holds his hand if front of his face and challanges you to hit his hand before he moves it, AGAIN AND AGAIN. Ignorant only does it once.
Straps on Trailer Sailer
I seldom am able to get the boat all the way up to the front roller. As a result, I tap the breaks a few times to get my H260 to move up where it belongs. I always use straps because if the boat slips forward that easily, it seems logical that it could slip back just as easy.
I seldom am able to get the boat all the way up to the front roller. As a result, I tap the breaks a few times to get my H260 to move up where it belongs. I always use straps because if the boat slips forward that easily, it seems logical that it could slip back just as easy.
- Status