Transom tiedowns trailer end location

[dmoriarty51]

Wondering where i should really be hooking my transom straps, last year was my first season as a boater and i hooked them in a hole on the light bracket/step area. this location is forward of the transom several inches so they pull the boat ahead and would allow it to lurch forward in the event of bow stand failure in a collision.

thinking of making holes in the end of the rear roller bracket rails as then the straps would be straight down the transom and angled slightly towards the keel.

also last rollers directly under the transom correct? sorry pics are a bit dark

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Transom tiedowns trailer end location

Can't really tell much from the photos, and my old eyes aren't helping either. You are probably hooking where you're supposed to, corner of trailer on bracket near tail light.
Those straps are to help the boat stay on the trailer going over bumps, and such. In a crash, all bets are off, and the boat's going to do what physics dictate. Any crash severe enought to destroy your bow stand will make the straps a moot point.

 

[Perlmudder]

Re: Transom tiedowns trailer end location

I would also suggest having a tie down going from the bow eye back to somewhere on the trailer. In the event of a crash, the better your boat is secured to the trailer, the better chance it has for surviving. Having your transom tie downs pushing the boat fwd and your bow tie down pushing it back is usually your best bet.

 

[Outsider]

Re: Transom tiedowns trailer end location

Trailer tie downs are primarily to keep the trailer against the boat, and not going in another direction if there's a problem. Think about it ...

 

[garzilla]

Re: Transom tiedowns trailer end location

I go across port, to starboard with a big 2" ratchet strap.....plus the transom straps..nice n sturdy.

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Transom tiedowns trailer end location

Trailer tie downs are primarily to keep the trailer against the boat, and not going in another direction if there's a problem. Think about it ...

This is the the thought process most overlook. I used to as well. If the boat goes up, you want the trailer to go with it.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Transom tiedowns trailer end location

Your tail lights have a shield to protect them from damage. The big hole in the top on the inboard side is where the straps hook to.

BTW, my one and only car accident involved a rear end collision with my boat attached. The coupler never left the trailer hitch ball, the tongue was split in half, the winch stand broke free, the bow eye pulled out from the boat's stem, and the boat/trailer was shoved over 3 lanes of highway. However,......the transom/back of the boat never left the frame of the trailer. The transom tiedowns kept the boat from moving even 1 lousy inch!

Bow safety chains are a silly excuse for "safety". The bow should be held down with a tie down, just like the transom.

 

[Corec]

Re: Transom tiedowns trailer end location

I use a set of quick lock style transom straps (http://www.basspro.com/BoatBuckle-Pro-Series-Transom-Tie-Downs/product/10211385/-1337997?cmCat=CROSSSELL_THUMBNAIL).

This might be a more appropriate comment for the safety section, but I would recommend against getting this kind of quick lock, lever action strap. Without much of effort, you can get these tighter than a bowstring. Then when they're being taken off, all that pent up energy can make them spring open fast enough to break fingers (especially on small hands). A ratchet style strap avoids this potential danger.

I also use a non-ratcheting gunwale strap (http://www.iboats.com/Seasense-Tie-Downs/dm/*******.709680425--**********.971331644--view_id.56296).

I can get this tight enough by repeated lifting and cinching it, but my wife isn't tall enough to reach it comfortably when standing on the side of the trailer. A ratchet strap would be much easier for her.