Gunwale strap necessary with transom straps?

[MachSchnell]

Is a gunwale strap necessary for towing if the transom has a pair already? I'm adding another pair to the bow eye, too.

Thank you!

 

[skargo]

Re: Gunwale strap necessary with transom straps?

I use transom straps only. Of course, adding an additional strap over the gunwale couldn't hurt.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Gunwale strap necessary with transom straps?

Depends on how heavy your boat is. I broke 2 transom straps cutting the corner on a curve coming out of Boater's World one afternoon. Have not used a transom strap ever since.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Gunwale strap necessary with transom straps?

Depends on how heavy your boat is. I broke 2 transom cutting the corner on a curve coming out of Boater's World one afternoon. Have used a transom strp ever since.

Interesting, how the heck did the break? need details.

 

[cribber]

Re: Gunwale strap necessary with transom straps?

I've got a chain and wench strap on the bow eye up front and two transom straps at the back. For my 5 mile commute to the ramp we're good.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Gunwale strap necessary with transom straps?

While certainly better than nothing, a gunwale strap does nothing for prevent rearward movement of the boat should the winch strap and safety chain fail. Yes -- I will agree that it is remote. Transom straps do two things. They keep the boat on the trailer and they prevent rearward movement of the boat.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Gunwale strap necessary with transom straps?

I cleaned a couple of transom straps off the trailer in Northern Minnesota on a real rough tar road.

The new ones I put on will tear the eyes out of the boat before they break. I doubt that's a problem anyway, the old straps were getting weak with age.

John

 

[mike343]

Re: Gunwale strap necessary with transom straps?

A comment for Silvertip--the straps keep the 1500 lb trailer attached to the 6000 lb boat.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Gunwale strap necessary with transom straps?

I also have a wench strap and saftey chain up front. Wench came with a cable but
after about 15 years was getting pretty weak looking so replaces with a nice strap.
My boat is in full sun so always cover the strap to keep the sun off the bow strap.
also use a gunnel strap and transom straps. Works very well if you remember to remove both.
How many cross the transom straps or have a mounting out to the side so transom straps
prevent movement from side to side?

 

[Stachi]

Re: Gunwale strap necessary with transom straps?

I cross my transom straps to prevent side to side action,...also use gunwale straps and bow straps in addition to chain and winch strap...safety first !

 

[Lou C]

Re: Gunwale strap necessary with transom straps?

I also have a wench strap and saftey chain up front. Wench came with a cable but
after about 15 years was getting pretty weak looking so replaces with a nice strap.
My boat is in full sun so always cover the strap to keep the sun off the bow strap.
also use a gunnel strap and transom straps. Works very well if you remember to remove both.
How many cross the transom straps or have a mounting out to the side so transom straps
prevent movement from side to side?

Yeah many wenches get weaker after 15 years but they tend to get expensive to replace....most times after lengthy conversations with lawyers and judges....however my 16 year old WINCH is doing just fine.... plus using a strap on your wench will get you into a whole pile 'o trouble in some places...

I also have transom straps....a safety chain on the winch....and a chain and tunbuckle to hold down the bow to the frame...this last thing I got from Champion trailers and is super strong...a bracket for the frame....chain....and a turnbuckle with a hook that goes into the bow eye to both keep the bow from bouncing up and down and it will also keep the boat from being pushed foward onto the tow vehicle if you ever got rear ended bad.....

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Gunwale strap necessary with transom straps?

Where do you guys find all these "wenches" I am not going to the right places !!!

 

[dingbat]

Re: Gunwale strap necessary with transom straps?

Interesting, how the heck did the break? need details.

Snapped right in two where it made the bend coming over the bottom of the hull coming up from the trailer hook. Sounded like a gun went off. Strap less than 3 months old.

I looked on Iboats for transom straps. Of the 5 listed only one gave any sort of a load rating. The one that did was rated at #2400 per pair, working load 1/3 rated load. That means that the working load of a pair of straps is only #720. I carry over #1000 of fuel alone.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Gunwale strap necessary with transom straps?

Where do you guys find all these "wenches" I am not going to the right places !!!

I agree. I've never been able to find a trailer that comes with a fine lookin' wench! What I really want is one that will drive the boat, while I take photos!



???

 

[roscoe]

Re: Gunwale strap necessary with transom straps?

Snapped right in two where it made the bend coming over the bottom of the hull coming up from the trailer hook. Sounded like a gun went off. Strap less than 3 months old.

I looked on Iboats for transom straps. Of the 5 listed only one gave any sort of a load rating. The one that did was rated at #2400 per pair, working load 1/3 rated load. That means that the working load of a pair of straps is only #720. I carry over #1000 of fuel alone.

Still wonder how cutting the corner made the straps break? hmmm.
I wonder if their was movement between your boat and the trailer?


Boat Buckle makes some heavy duty straps, 5500# straps, and 2500# hooks.
http://www.immioutdoors.com/boatbuckle/transom/products_transom_heavyduty.htm

But the question boils down to... How heavy is your trailer?


THe straps will secure your boat to your trailer.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Gunwale strap necessary with transom straps?

Still wonder how cutting the corner made the straps break? hmmm.
I wonder if their was movement between your boat and the trailer?


Boat Buckle makes some heavy duty straps, 5500# straps, and 2500# hooks.
http://www.immioutdoors.com/boatbuckle/transom/products_transom_heavyduty.htm

But the question boils down to... How heavy is your trailer?


THe straps will secure your boat to your trailer.

Time for lesson in mechanics I see.

A trailer is not a rigid platform. It is quite wimpy in fact, if you look at the bending moments caused by the flexing of its structural supports. Your boat is not a solid object either. Hopefully is does no flex as much as the trailer from a boater?s standpoint but from a structural standpoint they are quite flexible as well.

What does this mean? You have two objects of two difference masses in a constant state of motion at differing frequencies. This unbalanced movement creates torque. You may or may not be able physically see the movement but it is certainly measurable by monitoring the load variance where the two objects interact. Put a load cell between the hull and the bunk and tell me that the boat is not in constant state of motion atop the trailer.

I will not bore you with the particulars, but rest assured that the bending moments (i.e. torque) generated by the distortion of the various structural members, say a panic stop where the trailer severely deforms under the weight of the forward momentum of the mass, could very easily exceed the combined weight of the two objects by a factor of five or more.

Here is an experiment for you. You will need the following:
1 ? large person (to simulate the boat)
2- two cinder blacks (to simulate the support of the rear axle and the hitch point.)
2- two 2? x 6? x 12? long with a nail pounded into the end grain of each board. (to simulate the trailer)
1- spool of thread (this will be your transom straps)

Put the one 2? X 6? on the ground and sit the 2-cinder blocks on top. Place one block on the very end of the bottom board and the other block roughly 18? in from the other end. On top of this, you place the remaining 2? x 6?. Be sure that top board lines up with the board on the bottom and that both nails are located on the cantilevered end of the setup.

Now use the thread and tie the two boards together by the nails using the thread. Make sure it is tight so it holds the two boards together.

Now go stand in the middle of the board causing it to deflect. Did the string break? What if you jumping up and down on the board? Did it break yet?