Ratchet Straps

[two stroke mick]

I have two eyes at the transom of the rib. I pass the strap through these eyes to help anchor the rib to the trailer. No matter how often I try there always seems to me some slack in the ratchet straps after a few miles of travel. This will mean that the rib can bounce on the trailer not a good thing.

Is there some trick of the trade that I am missing or is this just a fact of life?

TSM

[willfinch36]

Is the boat moving backwards or forwards on the trailer?

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by two stroke mick

Is there some trick of the trade that I am missing or is this just a fact of life?

As the trailer moves along and bumps up and down it is probably inevitable that the boat does move a little bit which could possibly slacken or tighten the ratchets.

Of course the point of the ratchets is to stop this movement of course. Assuming the trailer is set up correctly and that there isn't a roller that sits in a funny position and moves easily even with the weight of the boat on it, and also that the ratchets work and are in good condition then I think it is something to be accepted as a fact of life.

Out of interest, over what sort of distances does it become slack?

[Nasher]

Assuming your not using cheap or otherwise inappropriate straps it sounds like the Bow is moving forward/up over the winch post.

Nasher.

[SDDiver5]

It also can depend on what type of ratchet. Whenever I use ratchet straps regardless of it its for the dirtbikes in the truck bed or a boat to a trailer they have always come loose. Do you tie off the excess strap somewhere or let it fly in the wind? I have found that if you tie the excess strap somewhere to make it tight, the strap doesnt come as loose as it normally would. I would look into something stronger or a different type of strap if it a big concern to you.

D

[two stroke mick]

I can say for sure that the bow is not moving over the winch post as I use a small ratchet strap to hold it down tight to the trailer. It tends to happen after 4-5 miles (bouncy roads in the west of ireland espically around Achill. I suspect that it is the rib settling down on to the trailer.
TSM

[jezza2011]

Make sure the ratchets have plenty of strap round the central hub. too little will let the straps slip out.

[BumbleAbout]

Is your ratchet strap heavy duty enough ? I think that ours is a 5 ton rated one and (touch wood) has not yet worked loose - but it is tensioned quite tight (and as Jezza says - at least a couple of turns round the centre spindle).

I also seem to remember a thread fairly recently about some rollers deforming under pressure which would loosen the straps nicely !

[PeterM]

Whenever I tow anything I always stop after a mile or two as things will always move about and need re-tightening.

It also means if anything is loose/broken or a wheel is about to come off etc you know about it before you have gone just that bit to far to go home and fix it .

I used to think it was me being obsessive, but it has saved me thousands £ in prevented damage to things from loose flapping straps going through aircraft wings etc .....

[Avocet]

Originally Posted by PeterM

.... it has prevented damage to things from loose flapping straps going through aircraft wings etc .....

Blimey! What altitude do you tow at? :

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by Avocet

Blimey! What altitude do you tow at? :

Planes flying to low...... Friday was low enough...

I hate to see the words 'tow' and 'Grimalkin' too close together at the moment..

[SPR]

I use a racket strap on each eye , then tie then off round the straps after tightening, rate 5 tonne on a 5.5 metre boat !

S.

[willk]

TSM - I found that this happened with my old rig - I used the same tie down technique as you. It happened because the boat was slipping forward a touch. Once I realised this, I used to do a quick brake before leaving the recovery location. I bet your trailer has a >< roller at the front, not a hard V stop?

[two stroke mick]

must attach photo of the bow arrangement on trailer

[jezza2011]

Piccy of bow fixing and you can just see my ratchet straps down the stern.
gowing through the tow eyes and onto the hooks that are on the swing roller arm.

[SPR]

I use a racket strap on the front eye too..keeps the front tight to trailer..

My rear straps are under trailer insteal at back of trailer, ie closer to the axle..

S.

[Razorbill]

I too use 2x 2" (5t rated) ratchet straps, one from the trailer, up across the transom through fixed eyes and back down to the trailer again, the other from the trailer, up through the bow eye and back down to the trailer, I make sure there's plenty of angle on them so the bow strap is pulling back and the transom one is pulling forward.
My Pacific doesn't move.

[Avocet]

Originally Posted by PeterM

Planes flying too low...... Friday was low enough...

I hate to see the words 'tow' and 'Grimalkin' too close together at the moment..

Sorry for the delayed reply: been away. Friday was very low - could read their altimeters! You're right that 'tow' + 'Grimalkin' have been synonymous recently but two weeks and a cross-channel return crossing as part of it are holding up! ..... and I'm touching wood continuously as I type that .....

[T 15]

I use 3 soft ropes,

[two stroke mick]

Photos of how I ratchet the boat to the trailer