Tie back of Nautique SV-211 to trailer?

[theskunk]

So - I can't seem to find a good way to strap the back of my boat to the trailer for longer stints - Should I just strap it down to the swim platform brackets? or somewhere else that I simply am not seeing?

[SkiTower]

brackets are your only option. I didn't for years but just don't like it loose back there so now I do. Don't ratchet down (just snug). If you remove the platform for storage you will see the difference, it will be more difficult to get off.

Even the G23 doesn't have tie downs. The ones you see are for lifting (above the platform)

2007 SV211 SE

[ski4evr]

I didn't like what it was doing to my platform, so I installed my own tie down eyes like you see on every other boat. I have experience with a friend who had a tragic loss when his fishing boat came off the trailer in a collision. He was actually my first boat dealer, and wouldn't let me leave the parking lot without a good set of tie downs properly installed. It wasn't very hard, just measuring, drilling, using 3m 5200, and tightening down.

[theskunk]

That might be what I do this winter. I think for now, so that I don't have trouble getting my platform off, I might just run a strap from the trailer eyes up to the lift ring, and loop it around the outside platform brackets so that it is spreading a bit of the pressure. I'm getting on the interstate with mine today and really do *not* want it to be loose in the back. In the neighborhood at 25mph I'm not terribly concerned, but anything over that... well, I don't see anybody saying "NAW YOU'RE FINE!!!"

Thanks, guys.

[SkiTower]

Short of a SERIOUS bump or an accident, you're fine. Straps just help reduce damage should the unusual happen


2007 SV211 SE

[Dandy21]

I didn't like what it was doing to my platform, so I installed my own tie down eyes like you see on every other boat. I have experience with a friend who had a tragic loss when his fishing boat came off the trailer in a collision. He was actually my first boat dealer, and wouldn't let me leave the parking lot without a good set of tie downs properly installed. It wasn't very hard, just measuring, drilling, using 3m 5200, and tightening down.

That is a great idea!

Not to hijack the thread, but is anyone adding an additional strap/chain from the trailer to the bow eye? If so, would you mind sharing some pictures?

[DLafont]

I also use the platform brackets and some roads heading to my cottage are a little rough. If just going from cottage to ramp, I don't tie it down, but anything longer I do. Just snug as SkiTower stated, not cranking down on the straps at all.

[SkiTower]

Not to hijack the thread, but is anyone adding an additional strap/chain from the trailer to the bow eye? If so, would you mind sharing some pictures?

I'm assuming you mean in addition to the winch...Yes, my trailer came with a strap similar to what's being used on the rear and I strap it down (snug, not tight).


2007 SV211 SE

[jonsquatch]

Mine has the useless center u bolt in the back that if used puts the trailer straps at a serious angle which I am sure has some impact on the ability of the boatbuckles that my trailer has. After using it several times the retracting mechanism gives out in the boatbuckle. Rather than continuing to replace them I just use the platform bracket like others do which does make me a bit nervous so on longer trips (300 miles or longer) I use the u bolt for those. Its kind of dark but you can just make out the bolt above the flapper and the strap to the platform in the picture its kind of dark but that's as much light as I could get.

For the bow eye I added my own "chain" with a re-used winch strap hook I saved when I replaced the strap and a stainless steel eye nut I replaced the nut on one of the winch mounts with. The weekest link in my system is the eye nut which has a working load limit of 1,160lbs, there are 2 3/8" quick links with a working load limit of 2100lbs. I don't intend for them to pull the weight of the boat just keep it from sliding off the trailer if the strap fails and provide a little more resistance to becoming a projectile in an emergency. It was the best compromise I could come up with based on the real estate I had to work with. The tubular arm starts bending right where I would have put a hole in it and if I went lower in the winch stand it would have been a pain to bolt in and the chain would rub the paint. Its just long enough to work well and short enough to stop any movement quickly.

Not sure why its insisting on rotating the pictures, the look fine on my computer.

[mr_454ss]

This is great info. Thanks all for sharing. I too was wondering about tie downs. All the other boats I have owned had the tie downs in the rear. We drove over 250 miles to pick up or boat this last weekend and we had no problems. But like previously mentioned in the terrible case of an accident it would limit the possibility of even more damage.

[Mikeski]

I have been strapping my 211 platform brackets to the trailer for 10 years. I tight them up pretty tight too. In my opinion the straps hold the trailer to the boat, not the boat to the trailer. The boat is much heavier than the trailer, if it bounces it's best for the trailer and boat to bounce together. I have seen a boat bounce up and land sideways on the trailer in extreme conditions, it happened when a trailer went over some railroad tracks.

[mr_454ss]

Mikeski What kind of straps do you use? Are they just a generic strap?

[nukemustang]

I strap down to the swim platform brackets because of 4 sets of railroad tracks between my house and the river.

I also have to remove the swim platform every time I put the boat in the garage and haven't noticed a difference. I have added a small amount of grease on the pins and cups that the swim platform aligns too, it seems to make it a little better, its just the fact it is a 100lb platform that makes it harder to get on and off.