Need for Transom Straps

[atx111]

Ok, I know this has probably been beaten to death....but, I want to know everyones opinion on this. On my previous boat, 19' Bowrider, don't remember the weight, I used transom straps religiously. Picked up a new boat the other day that weighs 4200# dry. 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." He said if I were in an accident bad enough to move the boat away from the trailer, two little straps wouldn't do a thing. So, even though I wasn't all that comfortable, I took his word and towed it home without issue. The things is too, it would be difficult to get the transom straps on without the possibility of the straps rubbing pretty hard on a couple of areas that stick out. So, like I said, I used them religiously on my lighter boat, but do I need them on a heavier one?

 

[stevetedder]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Your right.... Beaten to death. YES for your own protection and others. If you do ever have an accident with a boat that size in tow not only will you feel like a schmuck for not doing whatever you could to secure it, if someone is injured their lawyer is gonna have a a field day with you. Think negligence.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Do you ever see a flat bed semi rolling down the road with no straps because he is hauling 45,000 lbs on the trailer and he tells the DOT officer that its to heavy to move? I think they would take the driver to jail.
That is the worst answer I have ever heard.
They are there to keep if from starting to move under most conditions, not to hold it there in an accident.
You really should have them, if for no other reason then just to take the bounce out while traveling down the road. It will move up and down on the trailer and can wear the trailer and the hull.

Go and get them and give that guy a sign that says "Im stupid" so everone else will know not to ask him anything.

 

[arks]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

The things is too, it would be difficult to get the transom straps on without the possibility of the straps rubbing pretty hard on a couple of areas that stick out. So, like I said, I used them religiously on my lighter boat, but do I need them on a heavier one?

YES you need them. That salesman is an idiot.
You need to figure out a way to strap it down so it doesn't damage the gelcoat- even if it means wrapping the strap with a towel or something. There's a lot of different ways to secure the transom to the trailer.

 

[atx111]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Yup, that's pretty much what I thought too, although I've heard that argument more than once. The only thing I need to figure out is the best way to orient them. On the pic, you can see that the eye is above, for lack of a better description, a section of the transom that sticks out a little. I'm just concerned that the strap over time might get worn. Although I guess replacing some straps every now and then is better than having the butt end of your boat bouncing around when you're driving down the road.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Or Else I get to add you to my album

 

[atx111]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Ouch! Transom straps added before that boat is towed another inch!

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

YES you need them. That salesman is an idiot.

 

[ondarvr]

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.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Do you think this would have happened if the boat had been secured with transom straps? Not only did this do hull, truck and trailer damage, it trashed a couple out drives as well. There is a very basic observation that one learns in High School Physics -- "An object in motion tends to stay in motion!". That is why occupants of a vehical are required to wear seat belts. In a sudden stop (as in car hits tree for example), unrestrained, said occupants will continue on only to be stopped by the tree as well. Ever see the sides broken out of a semi-trailer or a load spilled as the truck rounded a corner? Same principle applies and it doesn't matter if something weighs 10 pounds or 30,000 pounds. It is a very simple concept and the sales person should know better (but then he/she probably flunked physics).

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

It would have taken a huge set of transom straps to stop that boat from moving forward as far as it did. The hooks and securing points on the trailer would have needed to be huge also.

Transom straps pull a boat forward when in use, I rarely see any that go straight down and never see any that pull rearward, which is the direction they would need to be mounted to even have a chance at keeping the boat on the trailer.

About the only thing they do is keep the boat from going backwards off the trailer, same with the bow strap, they all pull forward.

Like I said before, the winch post is the only thing keeping the boat in place in a sudden stop.

 

[atx111]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Seems like I stirred up a hornets nest! The way the transom straps would attach to my trailer, they would put forward as well as downward force on my trailer.

 

[Red_BOFUS]

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.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

http://netboattalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289

 

[arks]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

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

Not just smaller boats!
My old 23 footer weighed 4500# and if I didn't tighten the straps well enough, I could see the hull bounce off the rollers into the air on rough roads.
Bifflefan's reply is SPOT-ON.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Not just smaller boats!
My old 23 footer weighed 4500# and if I didn't tighten the straps well enough, I could see the hull bounce off the rollers into the air on rough roads.
Bifflefan's reply is SPOT-ON.

True, even some larger boats can bounce around, but don't expect them to do any more than that on a heavy boat.

I also said you should use them, just don't expect much.

Tie downs straps won't keep a 45,000 lb load on the trailer in a wreck, they only secure the load so normal, or slighlty more than normal stresses can't move it. In a wreck there is crap everywhere.

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

Ok guys here ya go, for those of you who don't know, hauling freight is what I do for a living, and about 75% of it is delivering brand new boats to dealers. Transom straps as installed on MOST boat trailers will not stop forward progress, but are still required by law, they do stop the smaller boats from actually lifting off the trailer (yes I've actually seen them hover inches off the trailer)

If you really want to secure your boat to the trailer then simply go to a local truck stop or any place that sells QUALITY straps and get four 2" ratchet straps with boat hooks on them (they have a working load limit of 10,000lbs each) install the transom straps as you normally would putting pressure in a forward motion on the transom. 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.

It doesn't make a difference if I am hauling boats or 45,000lb steel coils with my Freightliner, I always use what is required and then some, you see if I'm found negligent for improperly securing my load and someone gets injured or killed, then I would go to jail. Quite honestly the same should go for anyone that hauls something, but it doesn't..........why? Because I'm looked at in the eyes of the law as a professional who is trained in what I'm doing, as any of us should be trained in hauling a boat properly.

The salesman is definately an idiot, because if the boat was "hevay enough not to move, then why even bother with a bow strap?

Are we seeing the light now?

 

[64osby]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

atx111, I also think your sales guy is an idiot. I would sell a set of straps anyday of the week, at least 100% markup, unless you expected them for free.

Thay make a protector the wraps the strap and fastens with velcro. I would route the straps off the side and down to the trailer. If you went staight back it would put a lot of strees on the back of the boat.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

If you went staight back it would put a lot of strees on the back of the boat.

Please explain.

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Need for Transom Straps

True, even some larger boats can bounce around, but don't expect them to do any more than that on a heavy boat.

I also said you should use them, just don't expect much.

Tie downs straps won't keep a 45,000 lb load on the trailer in a wreck, they only secure the load so normal, or slighlty more than normal stresses can't move it. In a wreck there is crap everywhere.

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.