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Old 06-12-10, 12:26 PM   #1
MississippiBoy
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Default Boat straps

I've seen some boats, not necessarily bass boats, that have a strap or chain running straight down from the bow eye to the main center beam of the trailer, like this. Does anybody here do that, or no? I never have, just curious about other people's thoughts. I'm sure it'll help keeping the bow snugged down to the front roller, but I'm thinking it's kinda overkill. Might be a good idea on a long trip, but for towing just a few minutes to the lake, I don't see the need...
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Old 06-12-10, 01:31 PM   #2
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It's a safety chain/strap, should the winch or strap fail. I wouldn't tow without one.
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Old 06-12-10, 01:33 PM   #3
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I think it's probably overkill on some boats, but depending on how far forward your bow eye is, it could help. I dont think my boat could possibly bounce out of the roller, as their is very little room for movement on my bow strap. However, it looks like boats with the tilting, double bow roller setup like the one in the picture could benefit from it.

Plus, it's only 20 bucks...a bargain for peace of mind.
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Old 06-12-10, 02:00 PM   #4
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We don't use one, but have thought about it for awhile. Maybe about time we did.
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Old 06-12-10, 02:06 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bassboogieman View Post
It's a safety chain/strap, should the winch or strap fail.
Yeah, I know what it is, I was just asking who all uses one.

Quote:
Originally Posted by nofearengineer View Post
Plus, it's only 20 bucks...a bargain for peace of mind.
That's about my frame of mind, too. Why not, right?
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Old 06-12-10, 02:52 PM   #6
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I use one, but it isn't especially made for that purpose - just a regular, 6' nylan strap with a cam where I tied one end around the trailer and then hook on to the bow eye.

I think it would take a lot to just lose a boat like mine while driving down the street, but I once did jackknife on the interstate going 70, and in that case maybe the extra tiedown would keep the boat and trailer attached to each other. I have heard of boats sliding a ways down interstates after accidents...not good.

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Old 06-12-10, 02:58 PM   #7
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It's like safety chains... With an older boat I wonder about the winch strap not so much on the road but when I pull up the ramp outta the water. I sure wouldn't want my boat sliding off the bunks if the strap snapped and plopping on the concrete as I pull her outta the water. when you think of it, once the rear straps are on, she's prolly not gonna jump off.
My trailer has a steel cable for this purpose although it seems just a bit longer than it really should be. I use it all the time.
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Old 06-12-10, 03:01 PM   #8
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In Ct it is illegal to tow a boat without one attached so we make sure to have it on at all times


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Old 06-12-10, 03:15 PM   #9
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Quote:
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In Ct it is illegal to tow a boat without one attached so we make sure to have it on at all times


jim

Haha....for some reason it doesn't surprise me that it isn't optional in the Great Communist State of Connecticut.
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Old 06-12-10, 03:20 PM   #10
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and new york.nofear..

if i am haulin mine on the interstate i'll hook up my nose chain/strap.. these lil short hops to the lake really don't require it....

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Old 06-12-10, 03:21 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nofearengineer View Post
Haha....for some reason it doesn't surprise me that it isn't optional in the Great Communist State of Connecticut.

Yeah if you can think of it , it is regulated or illegal in ct most of it is really a joke but we deal with it


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Old 06-12-10, 04:27 PM   #12
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waste of 20 buck if you ask me
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Old 06-12-10, 05:35 PM   #13
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My brother won’t even tow with the trailer chains to the rear dumper. He says if he is in an accident, he doesn’t want the boat anywhere near him, so he tows without them. I have the strap on the Avalanche, but I don’t use it. I think it’s overkill. (we just bought a new wench strap, so it should be good for a long time)
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Old 06-12-10, 05:49 PM   #14
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up here it's mandatory and we would rather not pay the ticket to say the least


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Old 06-12-10, 07:18 PM   #15
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tow it properly or you'll regret it. i strap my boat down after every time out..i use safty cables too. i have good reason to have a class IV REESE hitch under the truck. i have wrecked while towing a boat...

i wish i had the pictures.. but an offshore 35 foot boat with tripple moters. got unhitched here last week.. the reason the idiot had a tri axel trailer on a ball hitch that was on THE BUMPER.not the reese hitch the bumper!!! he did not hook up the safty chains/cables either.. the trailer with bumper still attached sat in the ditch. the boat sat 200 yards away in the middle of a horse pasture...they had to call in a crane to hoist the boat and put it on a flat bed semi...

some chorline is needed in that gene pool if ya would..

zooker

i seen it and i wish i had my camera..

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Old 06-12-10, 07:42 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zooker View Post
tow it properly or you'll regret it. i strap my boat down after every time out..i use safty cables too. i have good reason to have a class IV REESE hitch under the truck. i have wrecked while towing a boat...

i wish i had the pictures.. but an offshore 35 foot boat with tripple moters. got unhitched here last week.. the reason the idiot had a tri axel trailer on a ball hitch that was on THE BUMPER.not the reese hitch the bumper!!! he did not hook up the safty chains/cables either.. the trailer with bumper still attached sat in the ditch. the boat sat 200 yards away in the middle of a horse pasture...they had to call in a crane to hoist the boat and put it on a flat bed semi...

some chorline is needed in that gene pool if ya would..

zooker

i seen it and i wish i had my camera..

zooker



Seriously, Im surprised he was able to pull away with a load like that.
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Old 06-12-10, 10:11 PM   #17
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You guys that don't use safety chains or bow safety cable/strap - do you pin the hitch ball release or use rear straps either?
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Old 06-13-10, 07:15 AM   #18
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My trailer didn't come with one but I added a piece of chain there with an S hook just for extra safety. I hook it up as soon as I winch the boat up to the roller and before I pull out of the water, takes about 1 second.

I have also seen a boat buckle for that application which I might get someday. I have them in the rear and they are so much better than straps.
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Old 06-13-10, 11:19 AM   #19
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i have the rachet straps on the back my boat trailler.. you need to replace them every couple years as they will rust like mad..

i have had trouble un strapping the boat in the past. buckles frozen shut...

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Old 06-13-10, 11:29 AM   #20
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Quote:
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i have had trouble un strapping the boat in the past. buckles frozen shut...zooker
A little shot of WD40 every now and again keeps 'em good I think.
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Old 06-13-10, 04:18 PM   #21
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Quote:
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i have had trouble un strapping the boat in the past. buckles frozen shut...
zooker
Just when the heck did you not use your boat for long enough for them to rust??? (other than sick time)
Mine are on their third or fourth year, I forget, but no problems yet. If I got a new boat that didn't have them they would be one of the first things I added. I can have the boat unstrapped and ready to launch by myself in no time flat. It really helps if you are waiting in a line to launch and have to keep the truck moving while getting ready.
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Old 06-13-10, 06:14 PM   #22
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umm bender they have been on there 4 years now old friend..


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Old 06-13-10, 06:50 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Abbeysdad View Post
You guys that don't use safety chains or bow safety cable/strap - do you pin the hitch ball release or use rear straps either?

I use everything, but the extra bow strap to trailer. I even lock the trailer to the ball of the receiver.

I fuss at my brother for not useing his safty chains to truck bumper.
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Old 06-13-10, 07:28 PM   #24
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Quote:
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I use everything, but the extra bow strap to trailer. I even lock the trailer to the ball of the receiver.

I fuss at my brother for not useing his safty chains to truck bumper.
Hmm...my chains hook to the Reese hitch.
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Old 06-13-10, 08:35 PM   #25
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same here abby...

bumpers on a truck are about like a chunk of tin foil any more...

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