Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

[JBow]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

For you guys that think you dont need to secure your boats to their trailers all I have to say is you better rethink that! Last season I was towing my 17 ft Century down a two lane country road about 55 MPH. (The legal limit) I was approching a cross road and had a small SUV waiting to make a left turn in front of me. As I got about 100 feet or so from the intersection the other driver just started to roll over the center line and stopped again. Just to be safe I lifted off the gas and edged over to the right as far as possable just to have little more space between us. Now I am not sure what this young boy was thinking but by now we about 50 feet apart and I am still rolling at least 50 MPH. He now rolls about three more feet into my lane. I now have no choice but to dive off the road to keep from hitting him head on. I was very lucky there were no mail boxs, power poles or culverts at that excate spot but I did drop into to a ditch about a foot and a half deep that I rode out on two wheels for a bit before launching over a driveway and getting back up on the pavement. This was with a Ford 3/4 ton cargo van by the way. I did not expect the trailer to still be there let alone the boat but it all hung in there and survived damage free. Had that boat not been properly secured to the trailer it most likely would have ended up in someones front yard or worse. Its not all about keeping it secured just during a stop or a rear end collision you just never know what you might get into. You can not over secure your boat to the trailer ! STRAP IT DOWN !!

 

[zopperman]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

I'm sure BIRCH didn't mean to incite a riot... The moral of the story is your boat should be secure on your trailer... For everyone else's safety, take 10 seconds and strap it down...

I'm sure i'll still get bashed for this, but I see nothing wrong with adding two ratchet straps, one midship and maybe one towards the stern. You could also use a ratchet strap and go through the transom eyes and hook it on either end of the trailer. Ifd you tighten those straps down, they aren't going to loosen up.

 

[Cincyrunner]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

Yes, absolutely necessary for the transom straps. Also need a safety chain on the bow eye.

 

[gtochris]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

I'd feak out if I were passed by an 18 wheeler W/O it's load strapped down. It's the same thing. In many ways, your holding the "trailer to the boat" so neither shift positions.

How about Using your dock lines from the lifting eyes or cleats down, around a trailer cross member/ frame rail and back to the boat? If you dont have loops on the trailer you can always have your straps go around and hook to themselves.

In addition to the winch strap/ standard chain, I always tie down the bow either with either a strap or line to keep it from making our SUV into a pickup!

 

[glrichards]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

Yes

 

[Maclin]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

From the physics angle, think of this as more keeping the trailer with the boat than keeping the boat on the trailer. The transom straps need only be strong enough to hold the weight of the trailer. Any sudden stop will overtax any type of tiedown that is only for, well, tying it down back there. A bow chain is ok, but in a collision there is so much momentum that all bets are off on what holds what from going where.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

In your case I think the strap from one frame rail across the rear of the boat to the other frame rail would work well in this situation.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

In your case I think the strap from one frame rail across the rear of the boat to the other frame rail would work well in this situation.

Finally, someone agrees with me

 

[wellcraft19]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

Apart from agreeing with most that "strap downs" of "some" type is absolutely necessary, you could possibly put a "u-channel" running under the 3x12 to strengthen it and allow for an anchor point far enough to the rear that stern tie-downs actually will work. Or, you can put mount some type of reinforcement along the side of the 3x12 (like a large flat-iron).

An obvious drawback of mounting a "u-channel" under the wooden bunks is that it can trap moisture/water, unless you turn it upside down, reducing it's "utility".

What I would do first though, is to call Rocket Trailers and ask for their recommendations. They must have had something in mind when they designed what otherwise looks like a really nice trailer.

 

[U.S.S. Too Tall]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

I was thinking this same question when I first bought my boat. Now when I brought it home I did not have any straps, and it was a 300mile trip. The first time that I moved her away from home. I had her strapped down. I really dont like the way that I had to route the strap, 16' ratchet strap from trailer through both transom ties back to trailer. But, I noticed a HUGE difference just pulling out of my driveway. The problem that I see with my setup is that the boat is a little past the end of the trailer, making a straight line strap impossible. I did the best that I could, and will do it everytime!!!

 

[U.S.S. Too Tall]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

I think that a cheap option for you would be to buy two ratchet straps. Just hook on to the transom, wrap around the trailer bunk, and back up to the same transom hook. Same for the other side. So you would need two 12' or longer straps.

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

I have two Rocket trailers, a 2006 15' and a 2009 19'. The tie down attachment points are on the top of the frame rails right near the end. Instead of tying from the transom to these points, tie up and across the top of the boat, from one side to the other. This will secure the trailer to the boat.

-E

 

[pooh_b_21632]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

I dont use transom straps as my trailer has no where to hook it either without going way under and it didnt make much sense to do it like that. I have a heavy duty ratchet strap (like the ones used on rollbacks to hold cars down) across the whole stern of my boat and strapped down to both sides of the trailer. I also have a chain hook in the front and leave the winch hooked and pulled tight. I do the wiggle test before leaving with it, I go to the back side of the boat and push it side to side and see if the trailer moves then go to the front and push up and see if its tight or loose. If it moves I strap tighter. I have seen several boats laying in the road where I live beside a smashed up truck. Its not worth it, buy a strap and strap it down.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

What is the best way to keep the nylon straps from wearing on the fiberglass of the boat?

 

[zopperman]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

My straps never did... You could put some felt or something between them or a moving blanket or a towel ETC...

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

Another vote for straps. I once lost the axle on my trailer, apparently due to a snapped leaf spring shackle; boy am I glad the boat was fully strapped down.

What is the best way to keep the nylon straps from wearing on the fiberglass of the boat?

I would not recommend nylon straps for this application. Nylon stretches too much, gets weaker when wet, has poor UV resistance and only fair chemical resistance, and breaks easily when frayed. Polypropylene is even worse on most of these counts.

You want polyester strapping (like seatbelts and most winch straps are made of).

 

[zopperman]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

Another vote for straps. I once lost the axle on my trailer, apparently due to a snapped leaf spring shackle; boy am I glad the boat was fully strapped down.



I would not recommend nylon straps for this application. Nylon stretches too much, gets weaker when wet, has poor UV resistance and only fair chemical resistance, and breaks easily when frayed. Polypropylene is even worse on most of these counts.

You want polyester strapping (like seatbelts and most winch straps are made of).

X2. You don't wnat nylon. Polyester straps are just a little more expensive, i think, but totally worth it. Those are all I use.

http://www.strapworks.com/

 

[JimS123]

Re: Transom Tiedown Straps Needed?

At least as far as I know, it is NOT law in most states. Granted, its up to the officers discretion to issue an 'unsecured load' ticket. I'm sure there are some specific states that have laws for transom straps, just none that I know of.

The latest Trailer Towing Guide I read had all 50 states listed, along with requirements like max width, max weight for brakes, etc. As I recall, at least half of the states required a "transom tie down". I remembered that because it amazed me that so many states did not require it, and also because my state did, and I showed it to my buddy who doesn't bother with them.