Trailer hold down straps

P

pcator

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C Dory Year
2007
C Dory Model
25 Cruiser
Vessel Name
Donna Marie
What do you look for when inspecting trailer hold down straps? How often should you replace them? Would not like dropping the boat on the highway because one or more straps parted when they can be so easily replaced.

Patrick
 
Hi,
Drive like you don't have straps on the trailer to the boat. Look for frays or cuts, loose stitching, corrosion on hooks and clips. Buy something made in the U.S.A. if you can find it. One thing to think about is strapping the boat so if you ever hit anything that the boat won't come up to visit the tow vehicle. Extra straps are a good thing to have along just in case. I would try to have mirrors adjusted to be able to at least see that tension is on the straps you can see. Stop feel your wheel hubs for excess heat check straps every couple hours. Pray!
D.D.
 
Hi Patrick,
I use two straps, one over the boat by the rear cleats and one in front of the pilothouse. Northern Tool has a nice selection of heavy-duty ratchet straps that are fairly inexpensive. I'm thinking of adding a third behind the pilothouse. You never know when that big unexpected pothole is going to appear right in front of you! I think Dave is right, more is better! Checking them often is also good advice. They seem to loosen up in the rain.

Mike
 
I have and use the straps....but I sure don't depend on them for anything exciting.... I always use a chain and clevis to lock the front of the boat...against it from coming up after me in the event of a front end crash....that's what happens.... I once had a friend that was hauling a cat on a flatbed truck, all chained down...he slammed on the brakes to prevent hitting some fool that pulled out in front of him...the chains broke and the cat ran over the cab.... not good.

My chains keep the boat from sliding back and also go under the main beam of the trailer to prevent the boat from coming up.

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Just a reminder thaat any rope or canvas strap placed over the boat gunnels, trunk or cabin needs to be adequately padded with something to keep the tie-down from cutting into the gel coat.

We used carpet strips cut from scraps with slits cut into them to weave the canvas straps through to provide padding on sailboats.

Cut a suitable size rectangle of carpet out , cut two slits near each long end and pass the strap behind the carpet surface and around the back to keep the carpet surface between the strap and the gel coat.

HOPE THIS HELPS!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
We stop every two hours, (change drivers, stretch our legs, measure the temperature of hubs and tires, plus check all of the straps. We also go with the chains on the bow eye to the trailer frame. Lateral bunks is another safety item--or in the cats, center bunks .

The UV light will often weaken stitching, so inspect it regularly, and keep a good sailmaker's needle, palm and dacron thread so you can hand sew the strap is the stitching appears to be comming loose.
 
Thanks for all the good advise. When everything is new I feel very comfortable. As time passes and everything is not so new, I start to wonder if I am looking for the right stuff. I now know what to look for when trailering.

Thanks

Patrick
 
I use the same technique I used on my 31ft trailerable sailboat. I attached a galvanized D-ring on each side of the end of the trailer thru an existing welded eye. Then I use my heavy duty, 20ft mooring lines looped several times from each side-rear cleat thru the respective D-ring.

Holds the boat down securely, about 4 wraps each side, doesn't seem to damage the gel coat and doesn't require additional ropes/straps to take along. The straps even angle forward to hinder forward movement in the event of a front-end accident while towing. I'll take pictures next trip.
 
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