Safety Bow Chain

[jrp210]

Hello,

I purchased a used boat this year and while launching the boat over the weekend, the safety chain I attach to the bow came off. I have no idea why and am not sure how to re-attach. I have an EZ Loader trailer so it makes me very nervous since the boat can easily roll off the trailer if the cable snaps.

Is there something on the trailer in which to attach?

Thanks,
JP

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Safety Bow Chain

JP, welcome to the iboats.com forum. The experts here, which I am not, can help you with any problem concerning your boat, motor and trailer. Pictures always help them see what you see and understand your question clearly. My comments are the bow safety chain serves a dual purpose. The number one priority is to prevent your boat from shifting forward on the trailer during hard braking. Most trailers have an "eye" at the base of the winch stand for connecting one end of the chain. The other end of the chain connects to the bow-eye on your boat. I have seen some boaters loop the chain around the main center beam of the trailer in the absence of an eye. There's a lot of mass to stopped in this situation. Your concern during launch and recovery is also legitimate since the winch strap/cable could break. I always loop my safety chain around the winch stand and then to the boat's bow-eye as a precaution against the boat sliding off the trailer onto the ramp particularly when the hull is wet. Hope this helps!

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Safety Bow Chain

You must have a loooong safety chain.

 

[skargo]

Re: Safety Bow Chain

Hello,

I purchased a used boat this year and while launching the boat over the weekend, the safety chain I attach to the bow came off. I have no idea why and am not sure how to re-attach. I have an EZ Loader trailer so it makes me very nervous since the boat can easily roll off the trailer if the cable snaps.

Is there something on the trailer in which to attach?

Thanks,
JP

I have an easy loader and the other end of the safety chain you put down inside the winch stand, "locking" it with a slot on one edge of the winch stand, which catches a link.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Safety Bow Chain

I have a 20 Chaparral bow rider, 4 bunks cradle the hull on an EZ drive on trailer, theres no way this boat is going to slide off the trailer backing down the ramp, in fact If I don't back quite far enough in the water (fenders not completely submerged) I hardly can even pull the boat off with all my might. I do use a safety chain from bow eye to trailer frame base of winch post, this only protects me in case of an accident on the highway so the boat don't end up on my roof.
I guess those EZ loader roller bunks are the ones that can dump the boat off the trailer inadvertently,? mine sure won't slide off until she's almost floating.

 

[boat1010]

Re: Safety Bow Chain

I have a 20 Chaparral bow rider, 4 bunks cradle the hull on an EZ drive on trailer, theres no way this boat is going to slide off the trailer backing down the ramp, in fact If I don't back quite far enough in the water (fenders not completely submerged) I hardly can even pull the boat off with all my might. I do use a safety chain from bow eye to trailer frame base of winch post, this only protects me in case of an accident on the highway so the boat don't end up on my roof.
I guess those EZ loader roller bunks are the ones that can dump the boat off the trailer inadvertently,? mine sure won't slide off until she's almost floating.

Smiling... I have see many boats slide off the trailers going down the boat ramp. If it has a good grade and you are backing down and tap the brakes you could be in for a BIG surprise. The chain is more got safety if the strap breaks so it does not go off back-wards. The nose piece is what is stopping it from going forward.

 

[skargo]

Re: Safety Bow Chain

I have a 20 Chaparral bow rider, 4 bunks cradle the hull on an EZ drive on trailer, theres no way this boat is going to slide off the trailer backing down the ramp, in fact If I don't back quite far enough in the water (fenders not completely submerged) I hardly can even pull the boat off with all my might. I do use a safety chain from bow eye to trailer frame base of winch post, this only protects me in case of an accident on the highway so the boat don't end up on my roof.
I guess those EZ loader roller bunks are the ones that can dump the boat off the trailer inadvertently,? mine sure won't slide off until she's almost floating.

For the extra seconds it takes to leave the chain hooked up, is it worth testing fate? I've seen pics of boats that slid of off carpeted bunks.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Safety Bow Chain

My trailer has two chains one angles forward and one angles back, I've done brakes jambing trick and even with the boat partially in the water it still doesn't slide off, i would have really get honkin in reverse and litterly jamb the brakes, I guess it all depends on how steep the ramp was.
I'm by no means condoning not using the safety chain, I just know my set up and what it takes to offload at my peticular ramp.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v338/a70eliminator/?action=view&current=chaparral004.jpg

 

[jrp210]

Re: Safety Bow Chain

I have an easy loader and the other end of the safety chain you put down inside the winch stand, "locking" it with a slot on one edge of the winch stand, which catches a link.

Thanks, that is it. I guess I was expecting something more to it than having the link catch the winch stand to lock it in place.

 

[skargo]

Re: Safety Bow Chain

Thanks, that is it. I guess I was expecting something more to it than having the link catch the winch stand to lock it in place.

It will hold though, I went through the same thing when I bought my trailer. I didn't even know where it was, it was stuffed down inside the winch post.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Safety Bow Chain

My trailer has two chains one angles forward and one angles back, I've done brakes jambing trick and even with the boat partially in the water it still doesn't slide off, i would have really get honkin in reverse and litterly jamb the brakes, I guess it all depends on how steep the ramp was.
I'm by no means condoning not using the safety chain, I just know my set up and what it takes to offload at my peticular ramp.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v338/a70eliminator/?action=view&current=chaparral004.jpg

I still think this is potentially tempting fate !!! for the sake of a few seconds.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Safety Bow Chain

The end of the safety chain is generally bolted to either the winch post or the trailer frame. Stop at your local hardware or home improvement store and by a grade 8 5/16 or 1/2 inch bolt, nut, and a couple of flat washers and bolt it to the hole it was probably bolted to originally.