I am getting ready to take my new Hunter 260 from the dealer to the lake. I was going over some final prep for the trip with the yard guy, who will also be meeting me at the lake to give me my "Instruction Day".(He's Hunter qualified) When asking him "Does the boat come with tie-down straps?" He replied with "With the weight of this boat you don't need them". Now everything I read and common sense tells me to use a tie-down strap! But this guy brings boats all over Colorado for this Dealer. I know he knows his "stuff", BUT....Can any 260 owners that have trailered thier boat around respond to this and Help me. We will be towing the boat for a good 3 hour trip on main a interstate highway and the wind NEVER blows in Colorado. Thanks all...BLUESKIES & HIGHTIDES.....RB
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Red - it depends on the trip
Red, for any lengthy trip where you can be reaching speeds above 55mph, I would tie down. From the picture you can see the yellow strap that went over the boat and tied to the frame of the trailer. I also sewed carpet to those parts that touched the hull. I towed 60 miles each way for two years before using the strap. The roads were under construction and were boucning the boat around. Not much though just about 6 inches. Jim S/V Java
Red, for any lengthy trip where you can be reaching speeds above 55mph, I would tie down. From the picture you can see the yellow strap that went over the boat and tied to the frame of the trailer. I also sewed carpet to those parts that touched the hull. I towed 60 miles each way for two years before using the strap. The roads were under construction and were boucning the boat around. Not much though just about 6 inches. Jim S/V Java
Attachments
Straps
Just remember straps hold the trailer to the boat not the otherway around! If the strap vibrates it will rub the gel coat so make sure you use some padding and keep the straps tight. Mark Price S/V Wendy Lee
Just remember straps hold the trailer to the boat not the otherway around! If the strap vibrates it will rub the gel coat so make sure you use some padding and keep the straps tight. Mark Price S/V Wendy Lee
No Worries
Red, I towed our 260 all around Minnesota and parts of Canada. We never tied down and the boat never moved. It really does weight alot and the trailer is well built to carry the load. Happy towing!
Red, I towed our 260 all around Minnesota and parts of Canada. We never tied down and the boat never moved. It really does weight alot and the trailer is well built to carry the load. Happy towing!
Secure that load !!
The Law says that your load must be secured. You may think that the boat won't move on the trailer because of it's weight but...Say you have an accident, or have to make a panic stop and the trailer jacknifes or flips over.The trailer goes one way and the boat goes another. Next thing you know the boat hits the car in the next lane and kills someone. You are to blame because you didn't have a secure load. Oh well, probably won't happen .
The Law says that your load must be secured. You may think that the boat won't move on the trailer because of it's weight but...Say you have an accident, or have to make a panic stop and the trailer jacknifes or flips over.The trailer goes one way and the boat goes another. Next thing you know the boat hits the car in the next lane and kills someone. You are to blame because you didn't have a secure load. Oh well, probably won't happen .
Insurance
I don't know if you need to use straps or not. If something happened, and the insurance company found out you did not use straps, they could very well raise a stink about it. You just spent a small fortune on your boat, what is another $15.00 going to matter?
I don't know if you need to use straps or not. If something happened, and the insurance company found out you did not use straps, they could very well raise a stink about it. You just spent a small fortune on your boat, what is another $15.00 going to matter?
Rubbing at the bow
When we bought our H26 at a boat show in '98 we took delivery at the dealer's shop after they trailered it back without a strap. The boat apparantly vibrated a lot against the bow roller and subsequently needed some gelcoat repair there. I always use a strap at the back and another small one from the bow eye down to the trailer. Never had any problems with this setup. Congrats on your new boat, you'll love it.
When we bought our H26 at a boat show in '98 we took delivery at the dealer's shop after they trailered it back without a strap. The boat apparantly vibrated a lot against the bow roller and subsequently needed some gelcoat repair there. I always use a strap at the back and another small one from the bow eye down to the trailer. Never had any problems with this setup. Congrats on your new boat, you'll love it.
Physicists call gravity
"the weak force" - there's a reason. You could probably get away with it 997 times out of 1000. Want to gamble? Use a strap for the same reasons you keep PFDs, flares, a fire extinguisher on the boat - you probably won't need them, but if you do there ain't no substitute.
"the weak force" - there's a reason. You could probably get away with it 997 times out of 1000. Want to gamble? Use a strap for the same reasons you keep PFDs, flares, a fire extinguisher on the boat - you probably won't need them, but if you do there ain't no substitute.
Use Staps
When I'm not posting on this site I'm suing insurance companies for injured parties - yeah, yeah, evil plaintiff's lawyer rides again. Anyway - your insurance company is going to look long and hard at you while they decide if you've voided your coverage without those straps. It may work out or they may deny, and if they deny and you sue them for protection, you may win - but its a hassel that's easily avoided. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
When I'm not posting on this site I'm suing insurance companies for injured parties - yeah, yeah, evil plaintiff's lawyer rides again. Anyway - your insurance company is going to look long and hard at you while they decide if you've voided your coverage without those straps. It may work out or they may deny, and if they deny and you sue them for protection, you may win - but its a hassel that's easily avoided. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Thank You!
Just to thank you all, and let you know that I brought a strap today and plan to use it. Thanks Again....HIDHTIDES & BLUESKIES...rb
Just to thank you all, and let you know that I brought a strap today and plan to use it. Thanks Again....HIDHTIDES & BLUESKIES...rb
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