how are you tieing your boat to your trailer?

[doehunter]

I'm kinda embarrassed to admit it but I have been towing without a tiedown strap. (and I know better) Well, only once this year and it's about 40 miles.
I looked at out local Academy store and looked on WM website and I don't see any that would be long enough.
It seems like it would need to be around 18 ft long?

 

[Yosi]

Harbor Freight Tools.

 

[medkid134]

Hello doehunter

I have a 1990 26d Which is very close to the same as the S and for a tie down strap I actually used a 3 in wide cargo ratchet strap across the beam of the boat right behind the main hatch. I put carpet scraps and foam scraps under the straps to avoid wear on the paint. and I attached the strap ends to the trailer.
great set up easy and fast and 3 in cargo straps are found in any hardware store. cheap and secure
I trailered my boat 300 + miles with this never a bounce off the trailer

 

[doehunter]

Hello doehunter

I have a 1990 26d Which is very close to the same as the S and for a tie down strap I actually used a 3 in wide cargo ratchet strap across the beam of the boat right behind the main hatch. I put carpet scraps and foam scraps under the straps to avoid wear on the paint. and I attached the strap ends to the trailer.
great set up easy and fast and 3 in cargo straps are found in any hardware store. cheap and secure
I trailered my boat 300 + miles with this never a bounce off the trailer

That sounds pretty bullet proof. I like it!
I can't say I ever saw one in a store but I'm gonna look.
thx

 

[Kermit]

When bringing our H260 home we all realized there was no strap. We used dock lines. I have no idea if they would have done any good in a mishap or not. Thank God for no mishaps!

 

[doehunter]

When bringing our H260 home we all realized there was no strap. We used dock lines. I have no idea if they would have done any good in a mishap or not. Thank God for no mishaps!

When I bought my boat the PO was just using a big rope and I kept using it too. Now it's one of my dock lines. Somewhere along the line I just got lazy and quit strapping it down. (hanging my head in shame!)
I like the idea of a flat strap on the fiberglass in lew of a rope. Seems like it would spread out the load.
I wonder how much vibration a 3" strap is gonna have at highway speeds?
I know the little ones do it a lot. It's nerve wracking.

 

[justsomeguy]

When I bought my boat the PO was just using a big rope and I kept using it too. Now it's one of my dock lines. Somewhere along the line I just got lazy and quit strapping it down. (hanging my head in shame!)
I like the idea of a flat strap on the fiberglass in lew of a rope. Seems like it would spread out the load.
I wonder how much vibration a 3" strap is gonna have at highway speeds?
I know the little ones do it a lot. It's nerve wracking.

Give it a twist or two.

 

[Fred]

Stern Tie-Down

I also use a ratchet strap but I run it behind the rear deck cleats. This has the effect of holding the boat down and pulling it toward the front of the trailer. After loading the boat I tighten up the strap before giving it the "Macgregor bump" and I find that it helps moving the boat forward to the front stop on the trailer. Once the boat has slid forward I retighten the strap.

 

[Doc_holiday]

I use a 3" strap too but I have it across the bow by the hatch. I think if you don't have the bow firm on either the Y or a bow support, you should. The boat likes to bounce when you hit uneven spots such as on and off bridges. I never see any flutter of the strap like the little ones. I think I got my strap at advance auto parts but surely they have some at harbor freight or northern tool.

 

[DJN51]

Make sure to add a safety chain to boweye.Dont put your trust in winch cable or strap.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

1+ on a safety chain.

I use a rope around the bow... behind 1st upright.

Bass boat trick, keeps the bow planted on the trailer, and the boat from bouncing.

 

[THECUSCUS]

Alittle overkill perhaps, but I put a strap across the bow and across the cockpit, just behind the winches ( the boat can't slide off the trailer). I also now use foam padding, duct taped to the straps where they touch the hull. On our 1200 mile trip to the Keys, we had no problems with the boat jumping around.

 

[PuckandTitania]

Since I usually only tow mine about a quarter mile up the hill to the dry sail lot, I didn't strap the boat to the trailer. Our ramp and the hill up have a pretty steep grade and the residual water in the ballast tank would wash back and forth causing the bow to bounce a lot. After stripping two new winches and nearly leaving the boat on the road, I started using a transom tie down from the bow eye to the trailer. If I take it out on the road, I use two straps, one 1 1/2 inch across the bow just behind the bow cleat and a 3 inch behind the cabin. I know, overkill, but better safe than sorry.