Do your straps have enough strength to hold the boat on the trailer if it has a role over, those little 1 inch straps are nice for a lite boat, but if you have a larger vessel shoot for the larger transport style straps.
I adjust mine just to where they latch with enough tension to where they won't release, I've seen guys using all their might to lock the staps too, somehere in between I guess would be just right.
I adjust mine just to where they latch with enough tension to where they won't release, I've seen guys using all their might to lock the staps too, somehere in between I guess would be just right.
You want to keep the stern from bouncing on the trailer. No need to wrench down as tight as you can. It just puts extra and unecessary stress on the transom eyes. I think snug is good.
Depends on the situation. For long journeys I tension up an over the transom single strap enough to stop the strap vibrating against the hull when towing at highway speeds. But it is a very strongly built alloy boat on a beefy trailer so it can take the tension. If you have a lightly built boat it won't need that much. For short trips to the local ramp at urban area speeds (under 30mph) I use eye strap (one each side) and I don't apply as much tension - Bondo's "snug" to hold the stern of the boat in place in case I hit a bump is the order of the day.
Snug always has worked for me. In addition, I always release the tension when the trailer is parked. Nothing like trying to get a strap loose that was drawn down tight when wet and has since dried out.
Gary
Thanks for the tip Bondo, goes to show there's plenty to learn in this world so, OK, I'll give this a try... it may be a problem though, because the clearance between the strap and the hull is less than an inch and the strap is two inches wide...
Another point..... When I tie down any load I imagine the truck going through a median at 70 plus mph and maybe going airbourne comming out.... That doesn't mean super tight but rather tight enough and ample strap to hold the load.
We all hope to never have to experience that senario but in the case that we do a little pre planning could save property lives and law suits.
Well actually you are NOT holding the boat on the trailer since the boat weighs several times what the trailer does. You are holding the trailer under to boat.
On my trailer the transom straps actually pull the boat forward and tight to the bow stop.... so i keep the fairly tight.. but i also have a roller trailer.
