gunwale strap on ranger tug when trailering?

[rrobson1977]

Quick Question to all you trailer fokes.
Do any of you use a gunwale strap draped aft of the cabin to help hold the boat in position on your trailers? I'm getting ready to start trailering my tug quite a bit and looking for the best way to rig the boat up.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

We use a gunwale strap when we trailer Kismet, an R27. I bought a 2" wide endless ratchet strap that has hooks on each strap end. I connect the hook to the inside of the trailer I-Beam, run the strap up and thru the gunwale transom cleats and connect with the shorter ratchet strap and snug down. I got an idea from Mike Rizzo to have a soft cover made to slip the strap thru to help prevent any abrasion to the gelcoat. After 4 years of towing, three with the strap it has worked flawlessly and the gelcoat is like new. Check out ratchetstracs.com for all sorts of ratchet straps.

Jim

 

[Scuffy]

We use a 4" wide ratchet strap towels on top of the gunnels under the strap and on the sides we use two use two car wash mitts per side with ends cut off and slide the wash mitts on two places on the sides one for the jel coat and the second protects the bottom paint. See in our photo album

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Now that Dave mentioned he uses a 4" wide strap I'm thinking mine is not 2" but a 3" variety....I'm not where the straps are to check the exact width. At any rate the strap should be as wide as you can fit thru the open space of your boats cleat. I use the cleat to help keep the strap from moving fore or aft on the gunwale and to always use the same position. I like Dave's wash mitt idea.

Jim

 

[SGIDAVE]

Quick Question to all you trailer fokes.
Do any of you use a gunwale strap draped aft of the cabin to help hold the boat in position on your trailers? I'm getting ready to start trailering my tug quite a bit and looking for the best way to rig the boat up.

Hello Rich and Laura,

The direct answer to your question is YES - A STRAP/S ARE MANDATORY for safe trailering.

As you can see there are several ways to strap the trailer to the boat. Most use a strap over the gunwales aft as well as something to hold the bow down. All of your trailer winches carry the warning that they are not meant to HOLD the bow of the boat in position (although they will do that...until they don't) hence the "safety chain". But you need something (strap or chain/turnbuckle) to secure the trailer to the bow.

In a catastrophic accident straps may not matter but in the more garden variety roadway mishaps keeping the trailer attached to the boat is a GOOD thing.

dave

 

[Crewdog]

Sorry, couldn't resist this one:

 

[ALICE J]

I place my straps just forward of the bimini pivot. I have noticed that then I really crank down, that the hull at the gunnel flexes. I do this to make it easier to attach the straps to the trailer and the boat will not be effected as much from the trailer flexing. Might have to relocate the straps, but thinking about a brace across the gunnels to eliminate the flex. I have rigged to straps from the bow eye back aft about eight feet back to a cross brace on the trailer. Snug them tight, thought being a triangle is formed from the bow stop (that I don't really trust if I had to really stop) This pyramid shape should also hold the bow down on the trailer.

 

[GA-Midnight Cruise]

A gentle twist the length of each run of the strap will prevent wind vibration and abrasion to the gelcoat.