The singing yellow strap

[Joe Blizzard]

I have one of those big yellow ratchet-straps that I use to tie my boat to its trailer. The side with the ratchet on it is fine, but the all-strap side vibrates like crazy at highway speed. Enough so that it sometimes leaves a scuff mark on the hull at the closest point. Any suggestions on how to stop it from oscillating or something else I should be using?

 

[Ross]

Run a tie from the middle of one of the straps to the middle of the next. You have to change the resonant frequency of the strap.

 

[sand sailor]

put a twist in it and it will stop

 

[David Hall22685]

I usually wrap a rag around it or lay a rag over where the strap hits the boat.

 

[Napa Ed]

sand sailor +1

Put a twist in it.

 

[sailingdog]

A couple of twists in the strap, on either side, and leaving it flat over the boat will prevent it from singing...

 

[caguy]

Twisting it also gives it some elasticity.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Protect your boat finish with something soft like foam or carpet, etc.

 

[Dan Hill]

We also do the twist! Works great.

 

[Mich222]

We do the twist too!!

 

[catsailor]

Who let Chubby Checker in to this thread?

 

[kenn]

Everybody - let's do the (strap) twist! :dance:. It works!

Plus, we put rags or socks between the strap and the hull.

 

[Joe Blizzard]

Everybody - let's do the (strap) twist!

Brilliant! Thanks all, can't wait to try it. (It's the simple things...)