Trailer Question

[brucehawsker]

I am sort of confused (don't all groan at once!).

When I take Farfetched any distance, I have a ratchet strap at the back, and the bow is attached by the ratchet strap from the trailer, and by the painter. There is a safety chain over the ball on the car as well.

When I drive the 500 yards from Berton to the Lymington slip, I am not using the rear ratchet strap, just have the bow attached to the ratchet strap from the trailer, and by the painter. I do use the safety chain over the ball. In this latter case, my speed does not exceed 20mph.

Am I taking any inappropriate risks?

Thanks

Bruce

[tcwozere]

One consideration is, how would your insurance company react if you had an accident resulting in your boat falling of the trailer?

I would of thought that the weight of the boat would be enough for 500 yrds tho.. Last time I trailered mine, I went round round checking everything, prop bag, engine secure, hitch secure etc.. It wasn't till I got to Haslar slip and opened up the boot of the car that I noticed the ratchet strap still coiled up in the back of the car..

[Louise]

We make a similar length journey to the petrol station once in a while and we do bother to do the ratchet straps. For the sake of spending an extra minute or so securing the load... As Tony says, how would your insurance company view a claim if you had not used all possible means to secure the boat to the trailer?

[Rogue Wave]

Bruce for that short a distance there is an alternative solution which has the added advantage of providing an excellent security feature.

leave a bike type chain and padlock attached from your rear eye bolt in the transom to the trailer leave it on all the time and just unlock it at launch It will only take a few seconds to undo and your chain can be used in the boatyard to secure the trailer to an heavy article.

It is also a very good tip to have a chain n the Winch post to secure to the front D ring when the boat is on the trailer in case the winch strap/wire snaps

Obviuosly longer journey would require the ratchet strap to be deployed. The rear chains wouldn't provide enough tension. But from Berthon to the slipway it's a no brainer to my way of thinking

[Paul F]

Its not so much the distance or speed, its more of the idiots, grannys and grandads that are the problem.A couple of ratchet strips cris crossed at the back and the one on the front should do. Looks more pro as well as when you get to the slip other people dont know how far you have travelled.Saves the comments of "look at that plonker hes only got a bit of rope holding that lot on"
Paul