Do you tow with tie-downs?

[Christopher-W.-Becker]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Tie Down

In some states it is the law. Maybe we should come up with the list. Just how do we?

[AirJeff]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Tie Down

I'm just thinking...what about using seatbelt pads on the strap for protection? Seems easier than a towel, but I've never really looked at one so I don't know if it would work.

P.S. The guys at my local dealer looked at me like I was CRAZY when I asked about options for strapping the boat down. :???:

[SGY]

Tie Downs

AirJeff, I got the same reaction at Tommy's Slalom shop. The guy there said he's never had a boat move on him, ever. Kind of hinting that I'm a dork if I put straps on the back of the boat.

I'm going to get that strap and start tying down my boat. I don't like the idea of my boat bouncing around on top of the trailer. That can't be good for it.

[mrese]

RE: Tie Downs

He may hint you're a dork for tying it down, but it's hard to look cool standing along side the road looking at your boat in the ditch while everyone else drives by. I think the flashing hazard lights screaming "I'm a dork", "I'm a dork."

[SGY]

RE: Tie Downs

LOL

[Dean]

RE: Tie Downs

Yeah, I've seen my boat (on the rare occasion that I have'nt tied it down) jump completely up and off the bunks when hitting an unusual bump on the freeway. After that I've always tied it down. It really got my heart goin' though. Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

[TwinTip]

I like Becker's idea regarding the shoulder pads on the gunwale tie down. West Marine sells tie down pads for $5.49 p/pair. They are orange though which may not be a bad idea for visibility.

PepBoys sells pads at different prices. The black ones attached here are $16.50. I also found some Momo pads (yellow, red, blue, and black) on eBay for $25.00.

I was not able to find any pads that were all black.

[TwinTip]

Overton's sells Kwik-Lok Gunwale tie-downs at 10', 13', and 16' in length and 2" wide. The price ranges from $12.99 to $19.99 depending on length and the option for stainless steel hooks.

The tie-downs that I have found all have the ratchet on one side and very close to hook. Has anyone seen any tie-downs that have the ratchet placed at the center as opposed to the side? Having it on the side and considering that the bottom of the tie-down wraps around the hull might damage the bottom edges of the hull.

[Christopher-W.-Becker]

I will take pictures and post this weekend. They were $5 at Meijers. In the automotive section...near the steering wheel covers and the mud flaps. Also go one set at Meijers. Gray matches the boat pretty good. The warp around the strap and have a velcro closure running the lenght. When we wash the boat towels (they match also) we wash the protectors to keep the sand and dirt from sracthing the boat.

When I tow with the cover on, I put them around the buckles in the draw strap at each tower arm to protect the boat if the buckles buffet the hull when going down the highway. There is a picture of this in a previous thread on towing with covers.

[Christopher-W.-Becker]

Found this pic on the web. It gives the construction of the pad, you can go hog wild and get Ford, Chevy etc ones (no Correct Craft...yet) to really dress out the boat.......google shoulder belt pad.....

[peteSki]

Needed a trailer mod to tie down

I've got a 97 Ski here in Australia. The boats can be imported but trailers cannot as they don't fit in the shipping containers, so as a result a local company does trailers to fit Nautiques... or at least close enough. The trailer that came with my boat is a bit too long, so the tie down points on the trailer are about even with the centre line of the swim deck. On a long trip I remove the platform and tie down from the stern lifting ring to these standard eye loops on the trailer. If I leave the platform on, the tie down straps rub the platform pretty bad. For normal use I trailer the boat about 25 minutes to the nearest boat ramp and I have not been using tie downs so that I don't have to remove the platform. Although I have not noticed the boat shifting position on the trailer during these runs, I tend to agree with the "better safe than sorry" attitude. I've purchased some new eye hooks from a local hardware store that I will install on the trailer so that I can use tie downs from the stern lifting ring to the trailer so that it does not interfere with the platform. A simple few seconds is all it will take to tie down the boat for the short trip... but it will definitely put me more at ease knowing that the the boat 'ain't going nowhere' on the trailer!

Pete

[ag4ever]

I always put my straps on when towing, and run them from the platform brackets to the trailer.

For those that think the platform brackets are not a good place to fatsen to, then look closly at the lifting rings and the platform brackets. You will notice they are both thru bolted. The lifting rings are a "u-bolt" with only two holes in the hull for support. The brackets on the other hand have four bolts attaching them to the hull, spreading the load over a larger area. Either way, the strength of the hull is the same at both locations, so if it is bad fastening to the platform bracket, it is bad for the lifting rings also. In addition, the lifting rings were designed for lifting, not straping down, so I guess using them would be wrong too. At least the platform brackets see a downward load while being used in their "original" duty.

Also, I asked my dealer about strapping the boat, and was told that they rarly strap them, but if I want to, to use the platform brackets as they are just as strong as the lifting rings.

[pj]

What kind of crazy driving are all you guys doing that you need tie-downs? Keep it between the lines yo. Alright seriously, I've never tied mine down and it does move around a bit on me when you hit any bumps. I can just imagine a real disaster if you accidentally hit a curb at any speed or were in an accident.

[skiswm]

I still am amazed so many people tow w/out straps. When I bought my boat theyhad the straps on, told me where i should strap too etc. I have seen boats come off the trailer, and been behind boats/pwc trailers where the boat does lift 2-5 inches. What's 20 bucks for straps and 2 mins of your time to protect your investment in your boat.......not to mention your life or someone elses if your boat comes off the trailer? I don't do crazy driving by any means, speed limit in CA w/a trailer is 55. But, you make a sudden stop, someone turns out in front of you, or get on a narrow road I want to know my boat is tied tightly down.

[bkhallpass]

Under the forumn column "Stereo and Accessories" and
a post called "SV211 rear radio remote location", Mikeski has
posted a photo of the rear end of his boat.

This photo depicts the tow straps run from the swim platform to
the trailer. This is how nearly all ski/wakeboard boats are tied
down in California.

For what it'worth.

BKH