Rear Tie Downs

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Rear Tie Downs

Let's talk about another part of these pictures. You could have used regular string for the straps and then made a case that transom straps don't work. All of these pictures and arguments are worthless without knowing the rated strength of the straps, the ratings on any hooks/eyes, the weight of the boat, and the severity/speed of the impact. That pontoon looks like a large bull riding a small heifer. We have no way of knowing how well the driver/owner did at securing this boat.

My only real contribution to this thread, is to state that you can weaken the sides of your boat with the belly strap, if you are winching it so tight that the sides press inwards. I've seen guys doing this at the ramp all of the time and it never looks boat friendly.

 

[Bill3434]

Re: Rear Tie Downs

Sounds to me like improper use of straps or using straps not strong enough for the task. From what I can see from the pictures, the straps look to small for a boat of that size. But what do I know I was only a qualified accident investigator for 19 of 21 years that I worked in law enforcement. If I was investigating I would be looking at the rating of the straps and how they were hooked up, trailer does looked to stressed another clue of strap failure. Truck doesn't appear in the pictures to show signs of high speed stress but that doesn't always occur in high speed accidents. The boat does not appear to show signs of speed other than it's not on the trailer where it is supposed to be. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Rear Tie Downs

Trailer doesn't have to look stressed. The eyes (attachment points) on the trailer might have failed. The straps on the rear are to hold the trailer to the boat, not the other way around.

 

[Bill3434]

Re: Rear Tie Downs

Trailer doesn't have to look stressed. The eyes (attachment points) on the trailer might have failed. The straps on the rear are to hold the trailer to the boat, not the other way around.

I can only go by what the pictures show and available information presented.

 

[Hai Nhi]

Re: Rear Tie Downs

I got 2 of these straps from HD, which have the locking snap hooks, 2000 lbs load, break strength of 6000 lbs - each. 8 ft.x 2 in. x 2000 lbs. Auto Ratchet Tie Down-04106 at The Home Depot

I also plan to use belly strap using a 10000 lbs rating Keeper 27 ft. x 2 in. x 10,000 lbs. Heavy-Duty Ratchet Tie-Down-04622 at The Home Depot

Safety chain from bow eye to front of trailer too, in addition to a newly replaced heavy duty 2" bow strap.

I'll also try to drive carefully, with enough sleep, no distraction (phones & texts).

It's my first boat (total GW ~= 7500 lbs). So over protected is better I guess.

Thanks for the posts.

Nhi