Transom Straps or Stern Strap?

[gradywhite248]

Guys,
Going to move my Grady 248 Voyager home for the winter for some TLC. I have a new trailer that has been set up by a dealer. My question is do I use a stern strap or transom straps? If I use Transom straps do the Trim Tabs get in the way? Thanks for the help.

 

[DennisG01]

Transom tie downs. Much better. You're using the transom eyes for exactly what they were designed for. OK, it's really for lifting, but same idea. Plus, you're not putting undue stress on the gunnels. 2 short straps are more secure than one long one. Whether or not you'll clear the tabs... you won't know till you try. But, there's usually multiple locations on a trailer that the strap can be either fastened to, or the eylet on the trailer can be moved to a different location, or a new eyelet can be added.

 

[Angler Management]

Both? Straps are cheap.

 

[gw204]

My vote is for a stern strap. I have a 10,000 ratchet strap that I put around mind.

 

[family affair]

Hey 248,
Looks like we bought very similar trailers. Mine is LoadRite but has different bunks. My bunks have steel tubes under the wood with eyelets for tie downs. The eyelets are intended to secure straps to the transom rings. I have plenty of clearance from the tabs to the straps. Looks like you might need to secure one end of the strap to the frame.

 

[jbrinch88]

I would use the transom eyes 100%. I tend to go overboard when trailering. I use two heavy ratchet straps for the transom eyes to trailer, one strap over the whole bow/trailer that is usually near the front cleats, at least one strap from a forward/bow cleat to the rear of the trailer, and sometimes a smaller strap from the bow eye around the winch post.

Most likely overkill but it only takes a few minutes to setup and I've never had any issues so I guess I'm doing something right. Always check your wheel bearings and lugs!!!

 

[ROBERTH]

I get some really heavy trucker type straps from Northern Tool as this has been the only place I could find these that are short enough. These work very well. Have to spray some lube on them once in a while and replace them every couple of years. I leave a short section of extra bright yellow strap swinging in the wind so it will help catch attention.

 

[gradywhite248]

Thanks for all the info. Actuality went with the over the top stern strap. Looked for transom straps but in Southport NC not many options. Towed back 160 miles to GSO with out any issues. Highway 40 most of the way at 70 miles an hour. Rented a new Chevy 2500HD Diesel with the Allison transmission. Boy that truck was a dream. It did not even care the boat was there. even pulled the boat out of the water in idle..........

 

[DennisG01]

Good deal - glad you got it back safe.

For what it's worth, what I was trying to get at above about the over the transom strap, was that it can cause damage to the gunnels and the rubrail. Especially with those HD ratcheting straps. What ends up happening is you actually pull the two gunnels in towards each other. I know some will say that they've been using it for years, and that's fine. But I've worked in the marine industry for over 25 years and have seen a lot more boats than most. While I certainly don't see damage on every single boat (which, of course, this is where you get that typical saying of "I've been doing it like that for years and it's been fine"), I've seen it on enough to warrant not using this method as a first option. The damage I've seen, while not structural to the fiberglass, does exhibit as a mass of stress cracks in the gelcoat, in a half moon shape, emanating from a central location (the strap point) on the top of the gunnel. Sometimes a "squashed" rubrail, too. That "it's fine" motto is the kind of thing that gets someone in trouble.

And, yeah... once you go diesel, you never go back! Real trucks don't have spark plugs!

 

[Curmudgeon]

:uhm No reason to cinch down either style strap to the point of stressing anything, and there are chafe pads out there. The strap secures the trailer to the boat so it goes where the boat goes.

Gradywhite, where did you rent your truck?

 

[gradywhite248]

Enterprise Commercial Truck rentals. In Kernersville NC. $65 a day. Beats tearing up my Suburban.....

 

[Curmudgeon]

That's good to know. My Tahoe was totaled in a 5-car fatal in Albemarle (not my fault, but I probably came closest to death after the liable driver who did die), and I had to scramble to get the scow home from Southport ... :wink:

 

[Meanwhile]

Just another place to find ratchet straps. They state that you can order stainless ratchets so I may try those. They are expensive but they have to stop a big boat if I hit something.

http://customtiedowns.com/tie-downs/rat ... tie-downs/

 

[ROBERTH]

Agree on not using the over gunnel type straps. I did this for a while on my older boat and it was a pain to get the strap over without damage when trying to throw it across, but mostly did some gelcoat damage with scratches, etc.

It is pretty quick to just use the straps on the transom eye's to trailer. Most trailers have the eye for this strap hook.

Not sure one would need to spend for the stainless unless you plan on dunking them in the saltwater!

For less than $20....10K straps, this is a good place to go: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/ ... _200344936

Just spray some lube on them as maintenance if they get a bit stiff, but have been using them for several years with no issue. Good leverage on the handles to pull them tight. Takes less than 30 seconds to put on and remove.

 

[Angler Management]

Love my Chevy 2500HD. Hauling my 30 Marlin all over. Excellent performance. But still need room to stop!