Winch strap hook

[am_dew]

My saga with my winch continues (see http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=343247 for part 1)...I bought a new winch strap online (Tie Down Engineering, 2"x20' rated at 5000 lbs) and arrived today but it turns out that the strap hook's "throat" is smaller than the hook on my current strap and this does not allow both the winch strap hook and the bow safety chain's hook to play nicely while they are both attached to the bow eye. My bow eye is the single bolt variety and trying to attach two relatively heavy hooks to it simply does not work well. In this case, they both will attach but the winch strap hook will not straighten out and causes the strap to not tighten straight in line with the winch's spool (not good). I might be able to do away with the safety chain hook and simply use a quick-link on the end but that's a pain to deal with each time I launch/retreive the boat.

Here is probably a dumb question but I will ask anyway. Is it OK to just tie your winch strap to the hook? My thought there is that I would cut the strap off the hook on the old and new straps and tie the old hook on to the new strap.

I shopped around locally for another winch strap but the one's I found had the same smaller hook on them.

I wish I could come up with a way to convert that bow eye into something more suitable for easily attaching multiple things to it and still maintain safety and strength. Replacing the bow eye with a dual bolt variety is not an option I really want to consider as doing so would mean some significant re-work of my bow.

 

[soaringhiggy]

Re: Winch strap hook

you can replace the hook on the safety chain with a shackle that should allow both the strap and the chain to work together. I would not cut the hook out and tie into the new strap, it could slip to easly.

Just my 0.02.

 

[am_dew]

Re: Winch strap hook

Major edit after reading the above again...

Thanks, that's what I will try next. I like the convenience of a hook but at this point I'll settle for the shackle if things work out using it.

BTW, my bow eye is like this one:

 

[109jb]

Re: Winch strap hook

Get yourself a "sewing awl" and go ahead and cut the new hook off and put the old hook on in its place. Here is a link. With the sewing awl you use heave polyester cord and you can sew heavy stuff like thick leather, canvas, and winch strap too. It will take a while to do it, but is easy, works well, and will provide a strong connection like the original. Don't forget to take a cigarette lighter to the cut end to keep it from frayiing..

 

[am_dew]

Re: Winch strap hook

Get yourself a "sewing awl" and go ahead and cut the new hook off and put the old hook on in its place. Here is a link. With the sewing awl you use heave polyester cord and you can sew heavy stuff like thick leather, canvas, and winch strap too. It will take a while to do it, but is easy, works well, and will provide a strong connection like the original. Don't forget to take a cigarette lighter to the cut end to keep it from frayiing..

That looks like it might just be the ticket! Thank you. I wonder though if I can reproduce the small stitches that the strap now has with that but I suppose if you cross stitch it with reasonably small stiches good it should be plenty strong.

 

[Seon]

Re: Winch strap hook

Get yourself a "sewing awl" and go ahead and cut the new hook off and put the old hook on in its place. ... With the sewing awl you use heave polyester cord and you can sew heavy stuff like thick leather, canvas, and winch strap too. It will take a while to do it...

I agree but I'd recommend to bring the strap and hook to an auto upholstery shop and have them sew it. Probably won't cost you anymore than what you'd pay for the awl plus you'll know it's done right and it'll look professional .

 

[4JawChuck]

Re: Winch strap hook

I use stainless steel quick links on the rear eyelets for hooking up a skier or a tube, they make them in large sizes and a drop of locktite on the nut will make it permanent. I leave mine hanging and they are locktited...no hassle.