I have just modified my utility trailer to transport our new Elling KB350. Just wondering what people are using to tie their Sibs down to trailers. I'm not too keen to have the straps directly onto the tubes so I am considering making up some pads. I am also a bit wary of strapping the front eye too tightly so any tips and advice most welcome.
I will post some pictures of my multi purpose trailer later in the week. It didnt take much doing and gives a lot of options when transporting the Sib.
Have you not got any tow eyes on the Transom. If you have make short straps and strap to these at the back. Then one on the bow eye should do the trick.
Strapping over the tubes is not ideal and will as you seem to realize mark the tubes. Also as air temp changes the straps will be loose potentially
By all means use the transom davit eyes and bow eye, but I also use 50mm straps to spread the load and go over the top of both tubes, one side to the other. This is belt-and-braces holding our RIB down on it's trailer. No ill effects on the tubes after many years (previous owner did this before me using 25mm straps and pipe insulation).
Smallribber's fear that the straps loosen due to temperature change is unfounded. Pressure in the tubes ensures there's never any slack. The tubes may get dirty depending on the cleanliness of your strap so you keep strap and tube clean as you can. Never let the strap touch the floor.
If you have launching wheels you could potentially put eyes on the inside of the transom on the bolts that go through the launching wheel brackets but just be careful they don't foul the air floor.
I'm probably on the side that doesn't like strapping over the tubes.
I did finish them off with dome nuts but had to fit with plain nuts to start with so I got full compression and could measure the amount of thread to remove so as to not bottom out when tightening the bolts/dome nuts.
As an aside I removed both makers plates as they would have got drilled! But they were held on with self tappers with no sealant behind so a place for water to enter the plywood. I sealed the holes with marine sealant and put the plates safe indoors
Not only do you get rub and wear on the tubes from straps when the tubes go down due to temperature they are loose and vibrate causing more damage and an insecure load.
Straps through the eye bolts on the transom bow eye on to winch with a strap holding down to the trailer from the bow eye.
I wouldnt get to stressed by the anti tube strap brigade i have a 20 year old rib I've owned from new and its had straps over its tubes its entire life and it doesnt have a strap related mark anywhere . If tubes are inflated to 3psi or so you could probably have several hundred kg of downforce over the area of the tube so the boats going nowhere
Not sure if it’s a zapcat thing but apparently when you strap them side on it can pull the tubes off the transom/nose cone. Not something I imagine is overly relevant as zapcats aren’t exactly built well to last.
Tickler
spy-sea-one
