By McKenzieDriftBoat.com
Trailering and tie-down straps
Guys, I'm having a problem w/ tie-down straps (used when trailering the boat) rubbing the finish off of the gunwales of my 16' Tatman and was hoping someone has had similar experience and, more importantly, come up w/ a solution. I just use a couple wratchet straps - one over the front bench seat and one just behind the rear knee brace - and the vibration/rubbing of the straps while transporting the boat has proven to be very effective @ removing said finish @ the points where the straps contact the gunwale. I do use those little yellow rubber "pads" (purchased @ West Marine) at the contact points, but they're of very little help. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Craig
Thanks,
Craig
Views: 74
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Dearing on -
Craig,
Since you are using two straps I take it you are not hauling your boat on a trailer made for driftboats? If you had a driftboat trailer you would then only have to use one transom strap since the winch holds the boat on the bow eye. Willie boats makes a really nice transom strap that is way quicker to put on plus its wider then a standard ratchet strap making it less abrasive. Now having said that it still leaves black marks in my varnish, but with time I have just learned to accept it. I used to wrap cheap hand towels around the transom strap where it contacts the boat and this does work, but keeping the towels in place and and lining them up is a pain, especially at a busy ramp where people are waiting for you to take out fast.
Over time you learn to just live with the dents, dings and marks the boat acquires through use and they become less of an eyesore and more memories of some adventure/drama that happened in your boat out on a river.
Mike
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Permalink Reply by Jason Knight on -
Craig,
I use leather. Get a pair of nice soft leather gloves or appropriate size of leather scrap and put it between the strap and the gunwales... I just hauled mine 4+ hours each way north with this system with no visible abrasion to the rails. Not to mention - you can use the gloves when you get where you are going! ha. I will probably sew on some thick leather scraps on to the strap permanently at some point to prevent loosing the pads. But once you crank the ratchets down - those pads aren't going anywhere. I use two straps over the gunwales on my trailer - one strap at each bunk, and of course the bow crank keeps her happy up front. Good luck!
jason
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Permalink Reply by Mike Dearing on
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The leather is a good idea Jason. Just wondering though, why two straps, little more security? I just dont see the need for it. With the winch cranked down up front and the safety chain on I think one strap as plenty. The last guided trip I took the guide didn't have anything but the winch strap and safety chain on, not saying that's what I would do but it did work.
Mike
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Permalink Reply by Jason Knight on
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I suppose I just like the added security. It only takes me a few extra seconds to tighten and remove the extra strap... on longer rides 4+ hours it gives me peace of mind. Now when we are trailering the boat from our camp to the launch it only gets the one strap.
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Permalink Reply by Craig Simon on -
Thanks for the input guys. Jason, I do believe I'll try the leather idea. Mike, my trailer was built by an individual here in Michigan, and while I did give him dimensions of the the boat, etc... it's got a few "problems" that you wouldn't likely get w/ a standard DB trailer, if you follow. Guess it simply adds additional character, huh? I do use 2 straps more for peace of mind than anything, but they may be necessary in my situation. Could you possible post a pic of your trailer including the Willie strap?
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Permalink Reply by Jason Knight on
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Yeah man I built my own trailer from an existing regular boat trailer. I fabricated a roller for the back - and measured and installed bunks where I wanted them. The trailer has leaf springs, bearing buddies, 13" wheels, and is pretty darn heavy duty overall. Even after the modifications and a coat of industrial machine paint - the cost was 1/4 the price of a new DB trailer... I know I know - just get a real DB trailer...
Oh - be sure your tires are good. haha. I had this "incident" on I-75
Another reason the extra strap makes me feel all warm and fuzzy...
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Permalink Reply by Craig Simon on
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Good call on the paint, I'm having some pretty serious rust issues w/ my rig - not sure what paint my guy used. On a side note, I floated the Manistee up by M-72 last weekend. Lots of small fish on hoppers, nothing big. Good times had by all. I'm trying to put together a float on the Grand River w/ my kids this weekend for smallies. Not exactly the Au Sable but hey, any port in a storm. At least we're not part of our state's 16% unemployed, right?
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Permalink Reply by Jason Knight on
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Yeah luckily my girl's brother was able to spray a coat of industrial semigloss on the trailer to clean it up... he has a gun and spray area at his shop - so that was cool and more importantly... EASY. haha
I want to float the stretch between Hodenpyle and Red Bridge next... that looks cool.
And I am thankful everyday to have a job to go to! seriously scary economy in MI right now.
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Permalink Reply by Greg Hatten on -
Hi guys...
Here's my tie-down set up. One strap and I use a couple of scraps from the front seat cushion upholstery to prevent "chafing" on the rails....
Works great.
GH
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Permalink Reply by Mike Dearing on
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Craig,
Just saw that this thread was alive again, too dark now for some pics, but I will take some tomorrow that show the trailer, boat and strap. Try to ignore all the leaves, spiderwebs and dust on the boat when you see them. None of my boats have been getting used lately due to lack of work and me pounding the pavement trying to find it...
Jason, almost any trailer will work for hauling the boat for sure. For me though just "any" trailer wont work. I have beat the crap out of my trailer getting my Aluminum boat to places I shouldn't have even tried to put it, but it did pay off for some epic days fishing. I've used my trailer as a winch anchor to winch my boat up almost vertical banks where there was no takeout. It was interesting using a combination of the winch and ropes to get the boat up the bank. We would winch it up twenty feet, ty it off to the trailer, let the winch back out, re-ty,winch, etc., repeating till the boat was on the trailer. I never seem to get any pictures of these adventures, but I never forget them that's for sure. Not quite the same, but in the same vein of spirit and adventure, I do have some pictures of us roping our rafts down a near vertical bank to raft the North Umpqua river New years day last year.There was so much snow on the ground we didn't even think about trying to 4x4 into the real put in. As a side note to that trip,the water would freeze instantly on any part of the raft that was exposed out of the water until splashing through the next rapid. Oh, yeah, good times...;)
Greg, good idea with the carpet straps.
Mike -
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Permalink Reply by Jason Knight on
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Yeah I am really confident in the trailer I "created". It was built to handle a heavier load - and all the hardware / winch, etc. is really heavy duty. I was looking at a Hyde trailer at the launch and it was nice and all - but it doesn't have anything my rig doesn't. I will probably buy a regular drift trailer for my next boat basically because modifying this trailer wasn't all that fun of a project - but it worked out well and like I said it was real easy on the wallet.
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Permalink Reply by Craig Simon on
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Jason, I used your leather glove method this weekend and it worked perfectly - thanks for the idea. My son caught a very nice smallmouth on the Grand, to boot. Thanks again.
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