Opinions are definitely welcome! One of the best ways to learn is through discussion.
A google image search for 'boat trailer accidents' will show that catastrophic failure AT the winch stand is not at all uncommon, and neither is owner error.
There's a flaw in your line of thinking/searching.... if you intentionally search for "accidents", what will the search results show? They surely won't show successful trailering trips. Accidents like we are talking about, while they do happen, are nowhere near the 'norm'.
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We all agree that prevention is the key. And it doesn't have to be a failure of the winch stand, all that has to fail is one spring, or almost any other part of the winch itself.
Agree, certainly. But to the point of the straps help to keep to the bow snugged to the winch stand. Just because you haven't heard of that before, doesn't mean it isn't true. If the winch pawl fails, what is the first line of defense to keep the bow snugged? The straps.
QUOTE="glacierbaze, post: 169047, member: 16064"]Do you really put a 34 footer on a trailer with only a bow strap, and 2 transom tiedowns, and tow it 700 miles? Or are there safety chains, and other measures used?[/QUOTE]
Of course there are extra measures - but that wasn't the point of this thread (and I never said I
didn't use extra measures) - it's about what the OP can do for his boat. It also depends on the particular trailer I am using.
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In regards to the boat moving left and right, that is also false. The straps are at opposite angles to each other... just like they would be if mounted to the center of the frame."
That would be somewhat factual, if the angles were opposing each other parallel to the transom, and more accurate the closer the angles got to a linear 180 degrees. My comments were in regard to the typical photo that I posted, where the attachment point is well forward of the transom, after the OP stated that the angle in question was the one created by his boat overhanging the trailer by a foot. Which makes your response, "
The angle that you are referring to is nothing to worry about - it does not decrease the effectiveness of keeping the stern planted in any way - basic geometry confirms that 
", factually and mathematically incorrect. The further forward the attachment point is on the trailer, the easier it is to both lift the stern of the boat, and move it side-to-side. . Think 10 feet forward, and
basic geometry becomes more obvious.
Length does not matter, though. The bow eye to stern eye to trailer attachment point (of the straps) is, in essence, a triangle. Let's make an assumption that the bow stays stationary (if it doesn't there are other variables and things happening, and that puts us down a totally different path), attached to the winch. We're simply talking about keeping the stern planted while the trailer bounces around during trailering. In order for the stern of the boat to lift/pivot upwards, the strap length (one side of the triangle) would have to increase. Another way for the stern to be able to lift is for the boat to move forward as that would cause slack in the straps. But then, we're back to a catastrophic failure of the winch stand for that to happen.
Besides, a gunwale strap wouldn't prevent the boat from moving forward, either - unless it is hooked under the cleats, for example, assuming the cleats wouldn't get ripped out. A gunwale strap won't 'tighten' - the boat could slide underneath the strap - although there would be some friction help to keep that from happening.
I certainly don't want to derail this thread too far. But I will stick with my initial/main response that the 2 straps work very well and do not pose any inherent risks. If you don't agree... Hey, that's OK!
