Need for Transom Straps

[64osby]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

If you placed the strap from the handle straight back and then down to the trailer, if the boat bounces, all the force will be placed on the rear edge of the platform. It will force the platform up and down, like a lever.

If you place them to the side, most or all of the force of the bounce will travel direct to the trailer.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

I never said anything about using straps fpr a 45,000lb load, what I said is whether it be a boat or a 45,000lb load I use what is required , if not more. There are actually several cases where during a wreck, the load has stayed secured to the trailer.

That wasn't directed at you, I agree with you 100%, it was to another post he was agreeing with.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

If you placed the strap from the handle straight back and then down to the trailer, if the boat bounces, all the force will be placed on the rear edge of the platform. It will force the platform up and down, like a lever.

If you place them to the side, most or all of the force of the bounce will travel direct to the trailer.

It depends on what "sticks out" and how far. If its a swim step or something similar, yes go around it in some way. If its the contour line of the hull, it won't make much of a difference.

 

[atx111]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

It's along the contour line of the hull...I'll just have to think of the best way to do it.

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

That wasn't directed at you, I agree with you 100%, it was to another post he was agreeing with.

Yeah I just noticed that, we just happened to use the same 45,000lb weight reference....lol.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Yeah I just noticed that, we just happened to use the same 45,000lb weight reference....lol.

Actually I think I may have misread his post, so what I said may not apply

 

[64osby]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

I just looked at your pic again, I missed the hook eye next to the platform the first time. You will be fine running straight down from the eye.

I only saw the handle the first time.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

It's along the contour line of the hull...I'll just have to think of the best way to do it.

Pad the strap with something, a pad designed for the shoulder strap on a seat belt may work.

 

[atx111]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Using a shoulder seat belt pad is a great idea! Thanks!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Lateral straps do nothing to keep the boat from going forward. It does prevent lateral and vertical movement. As for the picture I posted, note that there is no damage to the front of the truck. This was simply a quick stop. As I said, objects in motion tend to stay in motion. If your straps point forward by two feet then an alternate attachment is required. They need to be as close to straight down as possible. Even a foot forward is acceptable as the boat will not be launched over the winch post as was the case in the picture. The point being made is that in a high speed head-on crash a boat will likely end up on top of or into the back of the tow vehicle regardless how well it is tied down. Remember that High School physics also taught the formula regarding "force" = mass times velocity. The bow and stern eyes will not withstand those forces nor will the straps. The purpose of the straps is to take care of the fast cornering and quick stop scenarios as well as minor crashes. As an example, an accident a few days ago killed a young man when a truck hauling landscape blocks lost one and it went through the windshield of a minivan going the other way. The block passed all the way through the vehicle. 55 MPH in both directions equals one block with an impact of 110 MPH. Tie downs anyone?

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Yeah the jerk in Minneapolis that should have learned the FIRST time he had blocks come off his truck and was cited for it, then he does it again less than a year later and kills someone, there's a perfect example of why we should all be using whatever we can to make it safer.

 

[iop]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

for the price of the straps... this thread is FUBAR!!!

 

[roscoe]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Then take the other two straps and hook both into the loop on the bow and run them back at approximately a 45degree angle and attach to a solid mounting point on the trailer where they will not move.

Sixmark is spot on with this.

I have a commercial hauler friend that does large boat hauling, as well as flatbed tractor trailer work.

This is how he always secures the boat.

On smaller rigs, you are securing the trailer to the boat, and preventing hull damage at the same time.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Don't know if this thread needs another $.02, but here's mine anyway.

In the mid 70's, I moved equipment on a lowboy for a road construction outfit. The guy who trained me on loading equipment and chaining it down always said the NOTHING was heavy enough to stay on a trailer without being tied down. He said he found out the hard way when he lost a D8 cat that he was hauling a short distance at low speed. Dropped one tread off the side of the trailer before he noticed it bouncing.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Transom straps don't really do much in an accident, if the boats starts moving forward it needs to go several feet before the straps would even come tight, with that amount of momentum they will break instantly. The winch post is the only thing keeping the boat from launching into the tow vehicle in a sudden stop (collision).

Should you use them....yes.....will they do much in an accident....not really.


On a smaller lighter boat, the straps will keep it from bouncing around and may keep it on the trailer in a minor accident.

I was stopped for a signal and hit from behind. The trailer tongue bent, then split in half. The broken rear part bounced off my rear bumper, then put a hole in the gas tank, finally impaling itself into the pavement. The bow eye pulled out of the stem of the boat and the bow of the boat landed on my trunk, veered to the left and came to rest in the opposite lane of traffic. The transom of the boat never moved in relation to the back of the trailer. The transom tie downs held fast, though all 4 s-hooks straightened out a bit. My car was a convertible and the top was down. I suspect that without the transom straps the stem would have hit me in the back of the head.

Straps are required in my state. I was sure glad I read the regulations!

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

My salesman told me the same thing?I have a huge strap that I bought at a truck stop that I secure to each side and then across the stern, is this a cool way to do this or not? My boat comes in around 3200 pounds dry.

When I worked in the boat industry back in the 60's, that was the only way we strapped any size boat down. It was a heavy duty strap that went from one side of the trailer...straight up and over the stern of the boat...and down to the opposite side of the trailer. There was no inherent pull either forward, or rearward. Somewhere in my commercial boating abscence this was changed to using two transom straps....

Irregardless...no trailered boat should be on the highway without some sort of transom hold down.

Happy boating!

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Remember that High School physics also taught the formula regarding "force" = mass times velocity.

Minor correction Silvertip... "force" = mass times acceleration (or in this case deceleration). Other than that you were right on the mark.

My vote is to use straps to keel-haul the sales person.

Why would he NOT want to sell you something? Out of stock? I would fire him if he worked for me (not that I sell boats for a living, or even sell anything.)

My boat weighs less than a 1000 pounds and I always use a chain to secure the boat in front (plus the winch strap) and heavy "rod-saver" tiedowns (they came with the boat, used) in the rear. My tie downs go almost straight down. They tie into the end of the bunks. I don't like that, but I have not figured a more secure solution yet.

Years ago, (in the 60's) I remember my granddad's 14 ft aluminum fishing boat having two bars and chains across the top of the boat to secure it down to the trailer.

TerryMSU

 

[ifallsguy]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

I asked the salesman to put some transom straps on it and he said, "Nah, dont need them, this boat is way too heavy to worry about it bouncing around."

Go back to the dealer and tell them you need that in writing. When they ask why, tell them your insurance company and your lawyer need to know who to sue if you are in an accident. And for the police to know who to come after if you get stopped and ticketed.

The salesman is a jerk. Talk to the manager and tell him he needs to give you the transom straps. Period. My bet is he will be willing to sell you THE ONES THAT CAME WITH THE BOAT FROM THE FACTORY.

My bet is they won't put it in writing and will just give you the straps.

Then find another dealer to service your boat.

 

[atx111]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Yeah, I was a bit surprised when he told me I didn't need them either. I mean, you'd think word gets around, especially to boat salesmen, about trailering mishaps. You'd also think they'd be trying to sell you everything they possibly could too