Strap or chain?

[skydvrz]

Hmm, my subject line sounds a bit kinky...

I am a newbie to boat trailering so bear with me.

Should I use the bow chain that comes with my boat trailer to hold the boat bow in place and relieve the tension on the strap/winch, or should I tow the boat with the strap doing the hold-down and use the (slightly) slack chain as an emergency device in case the strap breaks?

I have a 1998 Glastron GS209 20' I/O and an 1999 EZ-17-20/3700lb EZ Loader trailer. I pull it with a Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 with a Cumins Diesel.

 

[Hondanut]

Re: Strap or chain?

Just use the chain for an emergency measure, the strap (or cable)should hold it fine.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Strap or chain?

should I tow the boat with the strap doing the hold-down and use the (slightly) slack chain as an emergency device in case the strap breaks?

^^^^^^^^^^Yes^^^^^^^^^^^

Also be sure to use transom straps.

 

[skydvrz]

Re: Strap or chain?

Thanks guys. Yes, I do attach the transom straps too.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Strap or chain?

Go with the straps, which will have a bit of stretch in them for when you go over bumps, chains are pretty darn rigid, might jerk a bow eye out?

 

[Piece715]

Re: Strap or chain?

The back of my boat has little eye rings mounted on transom straps but heck Ive seen people take a ratchet strap and place over stern and connect it to trailer. As long as it doesn't fall off and keeps the rear in place

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Strap or chain?

Hmm, my subject line sounds a bit kinky...

I am a newbie to boat trailering so bear with me.

Should I use the bow chain that comes with my boat trailer to hold the boat bow in place and relieve the tension on the strap/winch, or should I tow the boat with the strap doing the hold-down and use the (slightly) slack chain as an emergency device in case the strap breaks?

I have a 1998 Glastron GS209 20' I/O and an 1999 EZ-17-20/3700lb EZ Loader trailer. I pull it with a Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 with a Cumins Diesel.

Ok, here is what we teach our students in Power Squadron: Use high rated transom straps designed for that purpopse on the back of the boat and a chain with a heavy duty turn buckle on the front, connecting the bow eye to the trailer frame (not the winch post). The idea is to secure the boat to the trailer so that they work together when being bounce around, not against each other.

With the boat secured to the trailer, tightly, if something happens there is less likely-hood that the boat will become a projectile and be ejected from the trailer. If the boat bounces independently of the trailer, damage can occur to the boat, and the equipment being used to hold the boat must then contend with the physics of a "moving object attempting to continue to move", when the tow vehicle and trailer come to a sudden stop.