Do you tow with tie-downs?

[tmorefi]

RE: Re: RE: Tie Down

I honestly can't believe people tow without tie downs. A few times I forgot and the boat really bounces around a lot more without them on. I've always tied them, on all my boats. Better safe then sorry.

[SGY]

RE: Re: RE: Tie Down

I've never used a tie down--but would if I could find a place on the boat to secure the tie down to. The trailer bounce and then boat rebound bounce on top of the trailer (double bounce) makes me wince in pain. However, I don't like the idea of using the swim platform. Doesn't this place an irregular stress on these brackets? I would hate to find stress cracks on my transom after towing my customary 90 miles. I also don't like the strap that goes over the gunwales tying down the back end to the trailer. Seems as though I get rub marks on the gel.

Anyone have any ideas on where to locate the tie downs on a 206? If so, I'm all ears.

[skiswm]

RE: Re: RE: Tie Down

Wow....I can't even begin to imagine not having my boat tied down on the back. One Bump and it would be all over the place. I use the swim platrorm on the back to tie down, and I always crank it down real tight. It's just part of my routine, undo the plug, clean off the back, get the straps on, then hook up the lights. Granted I tow at min at least an hr each way usually with quite a few trips a year up I80 to Tahoe. I don't carry a 2x4 in the bed of my truck w/out tying it down let alone my$40k boat tied down. Just a thought.....but would your insurance cover you if the boat wasn't tied down and went off the trailer? I just went through a sea doo trailer breaking and that took 4 months for insurance to resolve. (axle came apart from the trialer no known cause)

[igkya]

RE: Re: RE: Tie Down

I never tied down before (14+ yrs.) but the trailer for my 206 did not have a turnbuckle to help keep it in place and I wasn't about to trust the winch strap. Maybe cause I'm tying down now or maybe because it's a better trailer, but it pulls better & much smoother and there is no bounce or movement. And yes, I tie to the swim brackets, they are strong enough to handle this.

[wake_fun]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Tie Down

Mine has everything you mentioned, but I have a bow support under the boat. It's carpeted like the two main bunks.

The wishbone trailer is the basic design that has been used by CC on almost all trailers they spec. It is two carpeted runners supporting the entire weight of the hull. No additional bow support, no additional bunks to support the hull, just two supports shaped like a wishbone.

The crash pads are the carpeted stops that the bow of the boat stops against. This would not be a bad design, if there was additional bow support, or if the transom was tied down. The boat will porpoise on the trailer wearing the rub rail on the bow as you are towing.

If your dealer puts your boat on trailers that dont use this design then you are fortunate. There is a reason that you do not see any other boat manufacturers using the outdated poorly designed wishbone trailer without proper bow support.

MC seems to have the best boat/towing designed trailer, back up lights, swing tounge, disc brakes, actual hull support come standard. I still prefer my ski nuatique to my last mc though. "rant off".

[wake_fun]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Tie Down

Check with West Marine or your local dealer.

Where can I get my hands on a pair of those? Those look too easy.

[Christopher-W.-Becker]

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

All,

When I bought my new 216 I asked the owner of the dealership. His company policy is that they never tow a Nautique w/o transome strap. They were moving a boat and had to stop hard on the highway, the boat slid forward and in doing so bent the keeper off the clip and the safety hook came of the eye. When they gave it gas to go (bunks still wet) the boat slid off the trailer and dumped on the road.

So, $10 transom strap for a $50k boat. NO BRAINER. I use the type that goes all the way across the boat. No ratched just pulled tight. When the boat slides back the strap does not slid and pinches the boat on the trailer. To keep from getting rub marks on the nice white hull...I use shoulder harness pads from Meijer/Pep Boys/Kmart/ etc. And yes, everything is color coordinated. Wife got blue and I had her take them back.

Make sure you put a 1/2 twist in the straps to keep them from buffeting in the wind (they act like a wing).

My 2 cents

[talbertini]

RE: Re: RE: Tie Down

My Ryan Trailer has loops for tie-downs. I attatch the other end to the mounting brackets for the swim platform. They work great!

[SkiMatt]

RE: Re: RE: Tie Down

Tyler-0......check Overtons. They have the easy on/off straps.

I have a DHM trailer and it has two specific locations at the rear of the trailer to secure the back of the boat. I think there are a lot of horror stories to justify a couple of straps. I'm going to keep on strapin.

And I like Mr Becker's idea of the shoulder harness pad to protect the boat. Maybe another item for PlanetNautique.

[sperbet]

I have never towed without them. I honestly cannot believe so many people on this thread have said that they do tow without the straps. Crazy if you ask me, I love my baby way too much.

[SGY]

I've had three Nautiques. Towed them thousands of miles and never tied a single one down in the back. Never had one problem. I guess I've been lucky. But I gotta say, this forum has been an eye opener for me as far a folks tying their boat down. Here in Colorado, I've never seen anyone with a tournament boat tie it down in the back. No promo guy I've ever spoken with ties their boat down. Heck the first promo guy I bought from didn't even use the turnbuckle--now that's crazy.

Mark S., do you tie your 206 down in the back?

With that said, maybe I'll start tying the boat down just to ease my mind. Better be safe than sorry. I'll get a strap with shoulder harness pads and get-er done.

[MARK-S]

I would do it on a long trek over paths I am not used to, but those platform holders are not made for that. The people that have had no problems using the platform mounts and have had no damage are as lucky as me not having any damage not using them at all. On long hauls I would use a belt that goes over the boat from side to side like fishing boats. I would use towels to prevent any rubbing on the rails.

[wake_fun]

I was following my brother who was towing his Ski Nautique on the freeway. He hit a bump in the freeway and the entire boat lifted totally off the bunks. I told him about it after we had stopped for gas and he didn't even know that it happened. Now he has straps on his boat!

[wake_fun]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Tie Down

I also have a DHM trailer with the two tie down hooks in the back. You should check out these rachet type tie downs, they're sweet.

Tyler-0......check Overtons. They have the easy on/off straps.

I have a DHM trailer and it has two specific locations at the rear of the trailer to secure the back of the boat. I think there are a lot of horror stories to justify a couple of straps. I'm going to keep on strapin.

And I like Mr Becker's idea of the shoulder harness pad to protect the boat. Maybe another item for PlanetNautique.

[MARK-S]

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

West marine has the rail straps. 12 bucks. An old towel on each rail and your all set. No worrys about your platform holders getting yanked out.