Transom straps

[ferrellb]

I live 1.2 miles from where I launch. I do not reach 25 mph in the entire trip. I always install my transom straps before going home and pull them just before dunking the trailer at the launch. Is this necessary? I am not trying to be lazy but it may be overkill at the speed I am driving. I give a ton of space ahead of me and I am not sure if the straps protect me in a hard braking at 15mph. It is probably not relevant but I do have a chain bow eye from the trailer and a fulton winch and strap. I will brace myself for the answers!

I would never go any longer distance or higher speed without strapping the boat down.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Transom straps

my boat doesnt leave the driveway without the strap on it. 10 seconds on and 10 seconds off to save me some troubles. all it takes is one dummy to pull in front of you to ruin your day if its not strapped on.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Transom straps

all the states have a law, controlled load. requires the load to be strapped to the trailer. bump a curb, throw the boat off center, and a knocks a hole in the hull, insurance won't pay, negligence. quick stop, boat comes off. you are liable. yes, strap whether it is a block or 1,000 miles.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Transom straps

Does this help you understand why?

Note that there is no damage to the truck so it was a sudden stop that caused the problem. Because of no transom tie downs, there are now two junk outdrives, a damaged trailer, and heaven knows what happened with the bow and stern of the boat, not to mention the bed of the truck. Newtons law states that an object in motion tends to stay in motion. That also applies to boats on trailers.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Transom straps

I don't use them but I do only drive three minutes at 25 mph and well if something goes bad at 25 mph- your drunk and shouldn't be driving

 

[Pony]

Re: Transom straps

I don't use them but I do only drive three minutes at 25 mph and well if something goes bad at 25 mph- your drunk and shouldn't be driving

That might be the stupidest thing I have ever read on this forum.......

Its not always about you.....its the other guy on the road too. Someone else might be drunk or not paying attention. What you have just said is absolutely absurd. Thank goodness you couldn't be driving much further away from me than you already are.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Transom straps

That's cool I'm glad I don't live in Wisconsin either.

Lighten up dude! I been hauling loads my whole life and never lost one. The only way my boat could come off the trailer is if someone hit it hard and then then well straps wouldn't do much good as chunks of boat would be just as bad.

There is no reason for your load to bounce even if you lost a tire. You just have to learn how to tow a load.

I have noticed that the guys at the ramp who use straps tend to hit every pot hole the way in.

That's cool if you disagree but I do at least hope you get the humor part (thought the funny face was a dead give away).

That's a great pic of the fountain I wonder what the story is. It's not just they didn't have transom straps because if the bow was secured properly the winch strap and safety chain would have let it move forward over the bow roller. Looks like the boat was shorter than the trailer and not properly secured, now that's stupid.

 

[JB]

Re: Transom straps

You are both waaaay out of line. Knock it off and apologize. You first, Pony.

 

[franco802]

Re: Transom straps

I always leave the house fully strapped

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Transom straps

I don't use them but I do only drive three minutes at 25 mph and well if something goes bad at 25 mph- your drunk and shouldn't be driving

sounds like you have never ridden a motorcycle in the city. 99% of the time its the other guy. have you ever ripped your pant leg on the front license plate of a car that almost broadsided you on a cycle 1 block from your house? I have. I dont worry about me. I worry about the other guy.

 

[Pony]

Re: Transom straps

You are both waaaay out of line. Knock it off and apologize. You first, Pony.

I apologize for being out of line. I overreacted because I take safety seriously.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Transom straps

some of you have missed the point. LAWS say load must be controlled. if the boat flips, or anything, the trailer must go with it. they only way the trailer goes with it. is if it is strapped. you see everything of a semi trailer strapped down. you have the same responsibility. if not you are considered negligent, and did not CONTROL your load. does not matter what size boat, lawn mower, lumber in a utility trailer.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Transom straps

sounds like you have never ridden a motorcycle in the city. 99% of the time its the other guy. have you ever ripped your pant leg on the front license plate of a car that almost broadsided you on a cycle 1 block from your house? I have. I dont worry about me. I worry about the other guy.

Oh yeah I have I grew up in south florida and I now live in the daytona area where twice a year all the amateur riders come out.

And I totally agree with you that is some crazy dangerous stuff there that I wouldn't think of doing it again.

Hey Pony don't sweat it I really didn't take any offense to anything you said at all. I'm sorry if you did and completely apologize.

I'm not at all saying don't be safe, but I am pointing out that my trailer tire would have to leave the ground by a couple feet in order for my boat to leave it's trailer.

Pony the only way you could be in danger by my driving to the ramp is if you were tailgating me while a drunk ran into my boat. That's quite a bit to happen on scenic two lane riverside drive.

That's what ferrelb was talking / asking about.

Will transom straps help you in his stated situation? No, only if he flips his whole rig at less then 25 mph. (oh and ferrelb no they don't do anything for hard breaking no matter how fast your going unless they are pulling backwards on the boat something I've never seen)

Hey TD no we didn't miss the point and you are absolutely correct about the laws. If you do have a serious problem and your boat leaves the trail you will get a ticket for an unsecured load.

I'm just trying to have the discussion that ferrelb was looking for.

Oh sorry about the typo on the fountain subject it was supposed to say that it would not have let it move forward not that it would.

Well got go for a boat ride, have a good day everyone.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Transom straps

i'm in agreement. but one of the objectives of this forum is to teach the proper, safe ways of doing things. Dealers everywhere, sell combos, that are not legal, under weight trailers for the load, no straps, not bow tie down.
i keep my Chris Craft 5,000lbs, at my Bro in Laws, in Ormond, he tows it with out straps, and is aware of the situation, i never hook up, with out the straps. i like my money, and plan to do all i can to keep it. i have seen too many boats messed up between Jax and the Keys.

 

[ferrellb]

Re: Transom straps

I knew I was starting a firestorm with this... I will continue to use the straps. I have been surprised before by my boat moving off the bunks before I expected it at the ramp. I followed somebody's advice on here and sprayed the bunks with a VERY LITTLE bit of silicone spray. I, almost a year and a half later, still regret it. I guess it is conceptual that an incident at 15 mph could get the boat moving. Thanks for the info.

FB