Safety Chain

[Compromise]

Maybe, as some feel, it does give a sense a security. Notice I did not quote and say 'false sense of security'
Some examples I can think of: coming up the ramp too quickly, winch strap snaps no chain.
Driving over some of those steep angled over the water bridges, winch strap snaps, no chain.
Driving over steep angled railway tracks, winch strap snaps, no chain.
Obviously one could go on......
My point is, sometimes going over 'what if' scenarios and coming up with solutions gives you that 'sense of security' if nothing else. I have driven round a bend behind a trailered boat to see the boat off the trailer and on the road.
I do have steep bridges to drive over, sometimes with bumper to bumper traffice, I do have steep angled railway tracks to drive over, I don't (usually) drive up the ramp too fast. Some choose not to put on a back-up chain and some choose to have that sense of security, (me included).
That is, individually, our own prerogative.
I just wondered if this is how Mac delivered the trailers initially because I did not buy new.
Thanks for all the opinions........luv this forum

[Harry van der Meer]

When I take my Mac on the road, I use a heavy duty tie down strap to secure the bow to the trailer (strap goes over the anchor locker, behind the forward pulpit supports and under the trailer tongue). On the rear I use heavy duty straps from the cleats to the trailer frame just forward of the guide posts. This prevents the boat from becoming airborne if I hit a bump at high speed.

I don't use anything other than the winch strap when launching or moving the boat to the storage facility which is some 300 yds from the ramp. I see no need for using a chain to the bow eye.

[Terry]

Ditto for Harry,
I also use ratchet straps from the bow cleats to the trailer and stern cleats to the aft bunk frame on the trailer. Helps keep the boat from pitching around on the highways and biways.

[Catigale]

I used to use the ratcheting straps to hold the back and front, but , learning from Chip, I now use the dock lines for this.

LIkewise, I fabbed a 'mast extension' to hold up the CDI furler when I trailered, but then swapped it out for a boat hook for this purpose.

The more stuff that can serve double or triple duty, the less you have to carry...

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

If only for the reason that people forget the little rachet frequently ... causing boats to fall off when being pulled out, I think the redundancy is a good idea. Then there is also the possibility that the strap/rope could break when pulling it out, having a chain as backup makes sense. Cheap insurance for both human error and U/V damage.

[Chip Hindes]

If I spent a dollar or followed the advice every time I heard or read the terms "cheap insurance" and "backup," I'd be dead broke, and it would take me close to an hour to rig or derig. I don't and it doesn't

Insurance against stupidity and lack of maintenance is time and money poorly spent. When I forgot to switch on the winch ratchet, I didn't say to myself, "Damn, I need a backup to that perfectly operable system which I forgot to use." I said to myself, "Damn, I need to pull my head out from where the sun don't shine and do it right next time."

By the same token, if my winch strap breaks, I'm going to say to myself, "Should have spent some time and money on inspection and repair."

Etcetera.

[Jack O'Brien]

Compromise wrote: "I just wondered if this is how Mac delivered the trailers initially because I did not buy new."

The trailers came with a short fat rope on the winch. Straps can be longer and stronger. They did not come with any chain.

[craiglaforce]

For any significant tow distance I do the following:

I simply use the dock lines to secure the boat to the trailer both on the stern cleats down to the trailer rail by the goal posts, and at the bow down around the tow bar, just in front of the ladder.

I also use a 2nd chain on the hitch, crossed under the tow bar.

I bought a 3 red light tailer bar, screwed it to a piece of wood, and attached a 20 foot wire with cig lighter plug. I strap this to the outboard lower unit to make sure the tail end of the boat is very clear to the following drivers, that do not seem to respect following distances otherwise behind the boat. (sorry to hear about your boat getting rear ended Chip). I simply plug the light bar in to the boat batts when I hit the road. Also gives a redundant light in case the trailer lights lose the ground connection.

And make sure to check that nut under the trailer hitch ball.
Mine came off on my long tow from NJ to OK last feb. Scary stuff. Just got lucky that it stayed on. I would consider getting that nut welded on for a long tow in the future. .

[Chip Hindes]

I would consider getting that nut welded on for a long tow in the future.

Using that kind of logic, you should weld your lug nuts as well.

The ball nut should be torqued to what one of my Marines in the motor pool once called "blue torque," which means you get a big wrench, put a "breaker bar" on it, and then crank on it until your face turns blue. If you do that, there's no way it's going to loosen up in use. In fact, with a little rust added, it's going to take blue torque plus to break it loose.

Inspecting the ball and nut is part of my routine, hourly walk around on long trips. There's a lock washer on it, and if it loosens you can see it immediately; I also give the tongue of the trailer a hard push with my foot to make sure nothing else in the ball mount or brake actuator is rattling around. I carry a wrench that fits the nut in my truck just in case. In 12,000 miles plus of towing the Mac on the trailer, including three trips to FL and back, 1500 miles each way, the only time I've had to use it is at home, to change out the ball for towing a different trailer.

Welding is another solution, it will certainly work, and you should never have to check the ball nut again. It's totally not necessary and it will prevent you from changing out the ball.

BTW, one of the reasons my walk around is hourly is that there are very few things that can be OK, then deteriorate to total disaster in only an hour of travel. I'm wondering about the hitch ball nut...

[Compromise]

The trailers came with a short fat rope on the winch. Straps can be longer and stronger. They did not come with any chain.

Thanks Jack,
I'm sure you've been watching Wilma, are you going to ride it out or head out of there?

[craiglaforce]

My trailer hitch ball was brand new, so that made it more prone to lose the nut I guess. I thought I had it pretty tight, but did not use a cheater bar or turn blue, so maybe that was the problem. If, I knew how to weld, or had a torch I would weld it in a second though after my experience. I was in the process of moving to another state, changing jobs, buying a new house, driving through and around snow storms, so had lots on my mind, and checked everything routinely except the hitch nut. Heck, I even adjusted the latch that grabs the ball, enroute, in the dark, in the snow on the side of the hiway, cause it felt like the trailer was moving around back there. (It sure was!) No wonder that car load of hippies were honking and pointing at the hitch when they went by. I guess I will pay more attention to hippies in the future.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Compromise, you and Jack don't have much to worry about with Wilma, you are on the leeward shore this time. Now, those of us from Cape Sable to Tampa may have a bit more to worry about.

Guess the keys could be in trouble too, but they're used to it...

[Compromise]

Dimitri,
I agree, we should be O.K. up where I am, Jack, however, is further south. I'm sure he's watching it closely. Hope you're O.K. on the west coast. Would'nt wish this one on anybody, hopefully it will take a further track to the south like the models are predicting.
Weather underground is so top heavy this morning you can't log on!
Good luck!

[Jack O'Brien]

I'm not as worried about Wilma as I would be if it were not supposed to cross land before it gets to West Palm Beach.

Gostosa III is on her new 6,000 pound capacity trailer which allows me to fill the ballast tank without having to block the trailer frame. The mast is still down since we hauled it home from Tampa August 31st. The sail club has screwed-in dirt anchors for tie-downs and I've got it rachet strapped to two of those bow and stern. I won't bring it home to the driveway this time. And I won't need to power the house with the boat's batteries and inverter as we now own half a generator with our neighbor and I found the camp stove and bar-b-q gas tanks after last year's hurricanes.

Dimitri should be OK, I think, in his protected canal if it is still in the water. I think he hauled it recently. Good Luck, buddy.

[Frank C]

The purpose of a safety chain as backup for the winch hook ... relates to trailers with roller bunks.

Some years ago my son was working for our power utility (Pacific Gas & Electric) on fisheries studies, as they needed to assure no adverse impacts from Bayside generating stations. One afternoon he was driving a 3/4-ton diesel van with their heavy research vessel under tow through downtown San Francisco. Upon accelerating from a stop light he heard a racket behind him. The rearview mirror revealed his empty, roller-bunked trailer, and showed that very costly twin-outboard workboat resting on her hull in the center of the intersection, due to a failed winch strap. The utility thereafter added a safety "winch chain" to their mandatory checklist for that vessel.

My son presented me with a gift safety chain just after my first weekend with the new 26X. However, I agree w/opinions above, if the Mac separates from her trailer it will be due to events that far exceed the safety margin of a chain to her winch post.