Any need for tiedowns / strapdown on the boat

[Divecoz]

(2) Big yellow strap from Home Depot around the back of the boat, near the captain's wheel. Probably not necessary, but California law requires it.
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On a boat the size of a Mac 26 this is just a little better than nothing and according to some can even do more harm than good . . .

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I have one of those big yellow strap thingies, but it tends to come loose while trailering. Now I just use a dock line around the boat which doesn't come loose.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Zuma,

The chain at the bow is not under tension. The boat is held at the bow eye by the winch line. The chain has about 1-1/2" extra length to make it easy to clip in the bow eye. It is simply a backup. If the rope snaps or the cheap winch fails the boat can't go far with the chain attached.

[Nickyd]

As a newbie, not having towed any boat the size of a mac before I allowed
my friend with lots of boat towing experience to winch stap down the rear of the mac from one side of the trailer to the other for the trip down to Louisiana from Boats4sale in Wisconsin. Now the pattern of the weave of the strap can be seen and felt in the hull. I wish I had a picture to post. I don't know how to get it out. It will need some sanding and refinishing. If anybody can tell me with what or how I would like to know. Anyhow be careful with those rathchting straps.

Nick

[Tom Root]

As a newbie, not having towed any boat the size of a mac before I allowed
my friend with lots of boat towing experience to winch stap down the rear of the mac from one side of the trailer to the other for the trip down to Louisiana from Boats4sale in Wisconsin. Now the pattern of the weave of the strap can be seen and felt in the hull. I wish I had a picture to post. I don't know how to get it out. It will need some sanding and refinishing. If anybody can tell me with what or how I would like to know. Anyhow be careful with those rathchting straps.

Nick

Very good point on why I wouldn't use a strap across the gunnels, and jockey them tight myself! But to NOT have the rear tied down at all is asking for a disaster situation to turn deadly IMHO!

I actually saw a Mac in the middle of the freeway out here, and it wasn't a pretty sight. It wasn't lashed down either! Even though the boat was in one piece, it had the worst road rash I ever saw!

I will again post what I do, and if even one of you out there has done this trick other than me, please say so, because it really works!

I have a continuous Dock Line that is 40' long on each side.

Not only does it have the advantage of being on the boat and rigged all the time, as the excess is always cleated off and just tucked under the cushion. It allows one to singlehandely tie off the boat, all the while controlling the Bow AND Stern easily. This continuous dock line is the best! Just knot each bitter end in the center portion of the cleat.

It can be slacked to allow a place to snap shackle the Dinghy or Kayaks abeam while at anchor, or even in a man overboard situation. As they can loop their arm over the line and hold on, if you are the only one recovering. It keeps them away from the prop. Turn the motor off, and guide them around to the stern, and recover them on the ladder!

Or another thought is too remove a stern, Port or Starboard line and attach a spare flotation device and use reverse and create an arc (Opposite say of the way you retrieve a water skier, and safer too!) until you have the victim catch the line, turn the motor off, go forward grab the line, and pull him to the bck of the boat to board the ladder, gotta remember and practice that one myself!

Now to tie my stern down while trailering, I take the loop down to the bottom of the goal post area, put a few knots to lash it down, and I'm done! No rusty fittings/hardware to deal with, or break, and easily taken off when needed to launder.

If it makes you feel better, tie it to the frame. Either way, it really doesn't have to be super tight, just snug. It won't mar the gel, and will keep the boat on it's trailer!

Works for me anyway.....like a champ too!

Edit~ To fix the gel, it could be as easy as 1000+ grit sandpaper followed by rubbing compound and feather it out! If they are gouged ~ fill with gel, and again sand and rub it out, and then polish. Done it way to many times myself with the boo boo's, but always had good results so far! Gel is way better to work with than paint! just tedious, and time consumimg!

[Captain Steve]

My first attempt at snugging down the stern resulted in a gouge from the rachet handle of the strap. I now hook the strap hook through a loop of nylon webbing tied around the rear stanchion. This gives the necessary clearance fro the hook and the rachet handle.

[Andy26M]

I use a strap over the back from one side up over and down to the other - it is a legal requirement here.

Lease wrote:

make sure that where the trailer goes, the boat goes

But I think it is more a case of making sure that where the boat goes, the trailer follows!

- Andy26M

[Lease]

You're not allowing for coriolis.