Tie Downs needed for 25 SK?

hewebb · Nov 18, 2013

I have a wing keel and only tie the bow to the winch using the bow eye. Not sure about the swinger as most of the keel weight is on the trailer and not holding the boat down. A friend tows his 26 foot with the retractable keel resting on the trailer and does not use a aft tie down. We both travel hundreds of miles to sail on various lakes a couple of times a year. An aft tie down would be easy for peace of mind with the bow winched down.

KD3PC · Nov 18, 2013

some states REQUIRE aft/stern tie downs. While you may think the bow eye is secure, you will be sadly mistaken in the event of an accident or tire blowout. There is only minimal glasswork there.

I would tie the boat down in all three areas. At least.

Ron20324 · Nov 18, 2013

You must assume your insurance company is not reading this post. Just because you have gotten away with going strapless thus far does not make it right. People get away with things, but only until they get caught. Please do not drive in front of me. The airflow at highway speeds, coupled with a bump in the road can lift the boat off the trailer and send it flying all over the road- winch strap or not. And, no, one strap is not enough. If it breaks, you've got NOTHING. How many broken straps do you see laying on the highway?

That you would risk life and limb of innocent people- just to save the cost of a proper strap-down- is inexcuseable.

ShotgunSlim · Nov 18, 2013

I strap my C22 swing keel boat down fore and aft with the same straps the military uses to secure cargo in their C-130 aircraft. As it was explained to me by someone with far more towing experience: The straps are there, not to hold the boat on the trailer, but to keep the trailer under the boat when you hit a big enough bump to get everything air born. If you drive with same number of mindless idiots on the roads that I do, sooner or later you will have to leave the road or suicidally swerve around someone and that's when things get nasty.

rgranger · Nov 18, 2013

hewebb said:
I have a wing keel and only tie the bow to the winch using the bow eye.

I'd be scared. If you ever get into a partial jack knife situation, the rear of the boat can come over the bunks and then all heck will break loose. A simple ratchet strap around the aft cleats takes about 1 minute to secure.

watercolors II · Nov 18, 2013

Rollers are good and bad!

You say that your trailer has rollers not bunks, this makes the launching and loading of the hull on the trailer much easier than bunks but, as a couple fellows have said the weakest link in holding this boat on to the trailer is the winch strap and boweye!

As someone else has stated, the bouncing of the trailer over rough and uneven roads will cause the stern to walk sideways, so strapping the hull to the trailer in this area will eliminate this walk, in your case with the rollers this bounce will place added stress on the holding requirements of the bow area.

I feel that strapping the bow down to the base of the trailer as well as the stern will create problems when the trailer flexes when encountering road imperfections. I would reinforce the bow by additional strapping in a forward lose manner rather than tight down to the main trailer frame to allow for some movement.

Benny17441 · Nov 18, 2013

Straps don't cost much and will keep the boat attached to the trailer in a variety of circumstances. The lighter the boat the more important it be tied down.

dscribner · Nov 18, 2013

We strap our Lancer 25 at the bow eye, the stern and and midway. It only takes a few extra minutes to be safer.

Mulf · Nov 18, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWuVqZoltSw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zYAwMPZBGU

Surely a tie down strap or two is worth avoiding having the above happen.

rgranger · Nov 18, 2013

Or even a hard break or a head on.... if the pressure from the boat on the stop causes the stop to fail....

Joe · Nov 18, 2013

rgranger said:
Or even a hard break or a head on.... if the pressure from the boat on the stop causes the stop to fail....

Hey... a roof rack for your ski boat... nice.

Barnacle Bill · Nov 18, 2013

I think in most states it is a requirement to have the load (a boat in this case) secured. Even if not required, it is foolish not to tie down the stern of the boat to prevent a boat from coming off the trailer. I have seen this happen in person (not mine, but I was behind a boat that came off) and it not only will damage the boat, but it also could damage other's property or kill or injure someone. So, take a few minutes and tie her down and head down the road with more confidence.

petersea · Nov 18, 2013

Just for info the law for commercial flat bed truck is a tie down for every 10 feet of length of cargo. So a 25 foot boat would require two tie downs. I would not consider the bow eye a tie down. Better safe then sorry here and it only takes an extra minute or two. Why not just use dock lines from the cleats to trailer frame problem solved !

rgranger · Nov 19, 2013

Good luck with your new boat. And don't ratchet the straps too much. You can actually deform your hull.

And here is another good use for those straps. Two summers ago, the reservoir I sail on was down about 6 feet. When I went to retrieve my boat, I backed the trailer off of the end of the ramp's slab and got my tires hung on the overhang. A guy walks over and said to me... why don't you dive under the trailer with your ratchet straps, and tie them off to your boat, then ratchet the trailer up under your boat. I was skeptical but it actually worked without much fuss.

Crazy Dave Condon · Nov 19, 2013

I have over two million miles of towing sailboats over my lifetime primarily as a dealer.

I use to make sure the trailer tongue strap was attached along with the safety chain. (I would shorten that chain by twisting it). If no safety chain, I use to add a heavy line for security. In addition, I added a small line to the winch handle on the trailer tongue in the event the safety latch came unloose.

I never put a strap across the forward deck. Essentially it is not needed due to the trailer tongue strap connection. However, you are pulling the deck down and may be harming the construction. First there is the stress being put on the deck forcing it onto the bunk boards and then the bow eye as well. When you apply the second tie down strap on the back, now you are contorting the boat. So never put a strap across the forward deck as it is not needed and it causes damage to the boat in the long haul.

I will put a strap over the rear of the boat and will twist it to keep it from flapping it in the wind. Make sure you pull over after 20 miles max to make sure the strap has not worked loose. I also would take the rudders and add another line to tie it up in the up position for example the hunter water ballasted rudders.

Ensure your lights are working, brakes if any are working and fluid resivoir is full and safety trailer chains are attached. On those chains, cross chain to the tow vehichle and shorten them by turning those chains if needed and place the hooks on so they will not slip out if you hit a huge bump. Also, check your grease in the axles as well.

It sounds like a lot but other than a few minor incidents, no major incidents over the years except for a reckless tractor trailer drive who came across the center line and hit my boat.

Crazy Dave Condon · Nov 19, 2013

Rgranger;

IF you ever go off the end of the ramp, simply put two 2 X 6 boards at the end of the ramp and jammed against the first set of tires. Worked every time when pulling out if the axle or axles went off the end of the ramp. This included SML.

watercolors II · Nov 19, 2013

end of ramp

The fellows are now warning you about backing your trailer off the end of the launch ramp.

What happens is that the powerboater’s use their engines to power their hull further up onto the trailer and the prop wash washes the bottom material away from the very end of the paved launch. This creates a big hole for the trailer tires to drop into and you may not be able to pull the trailer up out of this hole.

I’ve used 2x4s but, the easiest way is by using the boat to lift the trailer up to it.

When I encounter a questionable launch ramp, I tie a length of line to the trailer directly underneath the hulls headsail sheet winches before backing into the water. I tie a fender to the other end so that end can float on top of the water. Using a boat hook on the fenders retrieve the line attached to the trailer and use the sheet winches to lift some of the trailer weight up off the ramp to pull the wheels out of the hole.

rgranger · Nov 19, 2013

Watercolors! said:
When I encounter a questionable launch ramp, I tie a length of line to the trailer directly underneath the hulls headsail sheet winches before backing into the water. I tie a fender to the other end so that end can float on top of the water. Using a boat hook on the fenders retrieve the line attached to the trailer and use the sheet winches to lift some of the trailer weight up off the ramp to pull the wheels out of the hole.

Nice trick! I'll tuck that one away for future use....

Tie Downs needed for 25 SK?

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