BoatBuckle GS Stainless Steel ratcheting Tie Downs

[Nehalennia]

Today I bought some new tie downs. The Previous ones I bought were the standard nylon straps with the cantilevered handle with two hooks, I think they’re Epco or something. Anyway they’re awful. I bent them trying to secure the boat.
http://images.outdoorinteractive.net/mgen/832466_d.jpg?is=300,300,0xffffff&cvt=jpg

So, Today I bought what looks like a nice sturdy and handy product.
They’re BoatBuckle’s G2 Stainless steel ratcheting Transom Tie Downs.
http://www.immioutdoors.com/boatbuckle/images/products/g2_large.gif
I trailer in Saltwater most of the time and the base is suppose to be permanently mounted to the trailer so I’m slightly leary but may see if I can devise a “quick-release” so I can remove them completely before dunking.

Anyone else use them? I’ll install them this Saturday and post some pics.

[Go Aweigh2452]

Todd, let me know how you like them. I need to replace mine. They are galvanized and leaving the usual rust trail on the transom. Besides, I think the webbing is original (2001) and I feel better having a newer set on the boat. Especially SS... :argh2

[Nehalennia]

Todd, let me know how you like them. I need to replace mine. They are galvanized and leaving the usual rust trail on the transom. Besides, I think the webbing is original (2001) and I feel better having a newer set on the boat. Especially SS... :argh2

you got it.

[pacopico]

I had those on my previous boat trailer...and miss them already after only three trailering events on the new boat.

I had them bolted to the trailer and used them four years in the sound with no problems. All I did was flood them with fresh water when rinsing everything out. In the winter I would just disconnect them let them retract fully...in the spring they worked flawlessly.

I'll be after another pair next year for sure.

[Syzygyone]

I trailer in Saltwater most of the time and the base is suppose to be permanently mounted to the trailer so I’m slightly leary but may see if I can devise a “quick-release” so I can remove them completely before dunking.

Anyone else use them? I’ll install them this Saturday and post some pics.

I was going to buy a set because I had the same disatisfaction with the lever type but we sold the boat before they went on sale this spring.

I'd be a bit careful with how obvious the quick release is for two reasons. 1) One more thing to check to make sure isn't released when towing, and 2) quick release might mean quickly stolen. Those things aren't cheap and if folks steal toungue jacks and spare tires, well......

[Nehalennia]

I was going to buy a set because I had the same disatisfaction with the lever type but we sold the boat before they went on sale this spring.

I'd be a bit careful with how obvious the quick release is for two reasons. 1) One more thing to check to make sure isn't released when towing, and 2) quick release might mean quickly stolen. Those things aren't cheap and if folks steal toungue jacks and spare tires, well......

I love them. I altered mine and attached a hook on them so they come off the trailer when the boat isn't on it and I store them in the truck.

[oh_wells]

Thanks for the great review. We need to get some tie downs since what we are using is just that...heavy duty tie downs. I think we may do the hook addition that you used, Todd.

Hmmm, just checked them out and they are only rated to 5k per pair...are there any that anybody knows of that are rated for more or do we need to just use a second set? I think our weight is 8.5k plus. Yikes.

[Fred P]

Does you trailer weigh 8500 or is your boat 8500#. The straps are just holding the trailer to the boat. Not the other way around. If a 8500# boat wants to lift off of a 1500# trailer two 2500# straps should hold the trailer to the boat with no problem.

Fred P................

[SomeSailor]

It would be nice if it worked like that... but an 8,500 lb boat has the ability to impart that full 8,500lbs statically on any one point (before it lifts).

If you were only talking about lifting straight up... then the weight of the trailer would be a problem.

You also aren't taking dynamic loads into affect. You want straps that are rated at the weight of the load... not the trailer.

[Fred P]

Bigger is always better and if you want bigger go for it, but still all you are doing is holding the back of the trailer up to the boat. Not the boat to the trailer. There is the dynamic, impact or snap loading to think about. You see 80,000 pound + heave equipment loads on lowboys with four 5/8 inch chains with about 10,000# working load each. You just do not want the load to ever move on the trailer. If it moves the dynamic loads go out of sight.

Fred P..........

[SomeSailor]

If the boat twists on the trailer, the 8,500 pounds will still hold down one side, and try to lift the other. The analogy of only lifting the trailer's weight only works for a dead lift straight up. Go around a corner too fast... or hit the brakes and suddenly you're looking at holding 8,500 from rolling forward to meet you. :)

A 1,500 pound strap would likely snap in a 10 MPH stop. :)

[mowhawky]

SS, I don't think the straps are to keep the boat from going forward or back on the trailer. No straps made currently on the market for boats can hold an instantaneous shock load from a collision. Even two 10000 pound straps on a boat and trailer doing 30-40 mph would break if the whole shooting match came to a stop. I'm am in no way a physics guy but the straps don't hold the boat "on" the trailer. They hold the two together which shouldn't take much force to achieve. Right?

[Tedster]

Those are the type that are on our Crownline and Four Winns trailers, they work great and they are always there when you need them.
I heard a long time ago the tie downs are not to hold the boat to the trailer but rather the trailer to the boat. :)

[SomeSailor]

I'm am in no way a physics guy but the straps don't hold the boat "on" the trailer. They hold the two together which shouldn't take much force to achieve. Right?

Think of it this way:

Two objects moving in one direction together being pulled by another object.

(your boat, trailer and truck)

One of them comes to an abrupt stop (the truck)

Suddenly, the kinetic energy of each is starting to decay. Each object decelerates equally as long they stay together. The truck has brakes (it's bleeding kinetic energy as friction)... the trailer has brakes too and is attempting to bleed inertia and shed kinetic energy as well, but it has a 5,000 boat strapped to it. Part of it moves forward, up and through the tongue. This eventually overruns the truck and jackknifes or lifts.

Now you have a balled up mess of boat and trailer trying to go in the same direction... even if it means parting ways. Hopefully by then, you've managed to dissipate some of the energy, but if that's not the case at some point something has to give. That coupler will hold... and if it doesn't the safety chains will catch it. Once you've traded ends, or smacked the vehicle ahead of you... that 5,000 pound dead load is now gonna try very hard to do it's own thing. :)

Kinetic energy is the square of the speed of an object. If you can keep it together through half of the speed the kinetic energy is reduced by a factor of four. So... unless you hit a brick wall... safety straps do exactly what I'm telling you. The pillar post, bow eye and safety straps all serve to hold that mess together in the event of a crash or rollover.

It's not rocket science, but the direction they're used (angle) IS important. As is the size and rating of the straps. They are securing a load, not just "holding it to a trailer"

[Nehalennia]

The tie downs simply prevent the boat from jumping up and askew in case you hit a curb, pothole, bump, etc.

BTW, they're on sale for around $60 at Inflatable boat works "Going out of Business" sale.

[mowhawky]

Think of it this way:

Two objects moving in one direction together being pulled by another object.

(your boat, trailer and truck)

One of them comes to an abrupt stop (the truck)

Suddenly, the kinetic energy of each is starting to decay. Each object decelerates equally as long they stay together. The truck has brakes (it's bleeding kinetic energy as friction)... the trailer has brakes too and is attempting to bleed inertia and shed kinetic energy as well, but it has a 5,000 boat strapped to it. Part of it moves forward, up and through the tongue. This eventually overruns the truck and jackknifes or lifts.

Now you have a balled up mess of boat and trailer trying to go in the same direction... even if it means parting ways. Hopefully by then, you've managed to dissipate some of the energy, but if that's not the case at some point something has to give. That coupler will hold... and if it doesn't the safety chains will catch it. Once you've traded ends, or smacked the vehicle ahead of you... that 5,000 pound dead load is now gonna try very hard to do it's own thing. :)

Kinetic energy is the square of the speed of an object. If you can keep it together through half of the speed the kinetic energy is reduced by a factor of four. So... unless you hit a brick wall... safety straps do exactly what I'm telling you. The pillar post, bow eye and safety straps all serve to hold that mess together in the event of a crash or rollover.

It's not rocket science, but the direction they're used (angle) IS important. As is the size and rating of the straps. They are securing a load, not just "holding it to a trailer"

Ok. I got you.
I think that is the same way I think of it, just that the previous posts make it sound to me that the straps would hold the boat to the trailer under any circumstance and should be rated as such. I can't really buy straps rated to keep my boat from moving on the trailer should I have a major accident at least that what I think. All straps on the market only advertise to prevent vertical movement and to keep the boat and trailer from getting air between them over bumps which, of course would be damaging to the hull. Anyway, my trailer straps pull tension in the forward and down direction. Should I have an accident, the straps would only help to force the boat into the cab of my truck and leave the trailer behind after it flattens the winch post.

[Tedster]

Oh gawd where is Doug from BOC when we need him! He and I got totally into this many many years ago. I don't think anyone won the arguement, but simply agreed to disagree. But that being said like Todd said, they simply help in most cases, not in all Mr Scientific!
But get in an accident without them and you are toast for sure. Good grief!

[SomeSailor]

As pretty as they are... they're rated at 5,000 pounds yes? (no)

That would be talking about 5,000 pounds of "working load" not "lift my trailer load". (or capacity)

They are designed to hold a boat DOWN... not a trailer up.

They ARE NOT designed to hold the weight of the trailer... they are designed to keep that 8,000 pound load from shifting.

Besides... look at the working load in the specs:


14" - 43"
Sold Each
Stainless Steel
Capacity: 2500 lbs.
Working Load: 500 lbs.

[Nehalennia]

As pretty as they are... they're rated at 5,000 pounds yes? (no)

That would be talking about 5,000 pounds of "working load" not "lift my trailer load". (or capacity)

They are designed to hold a boat DOWN... not a trailer up.

They ARE NOT designed to hold the weight of the trailer... they are designed to keep that 8,000 pound load from shifting.

Besides... look at the working load in the specs:

http://www.immioutdoors.com/boatbuckle/g2-transom.htm

I believe the stainless ones are only 3K

[mowhawky]

Oh gawd where is Doug from BOC when we need him! He and I got totally into this many many years ago. I don't think anyone won the arguement, but simply agreed to disagree. But that being said like Todd said, they simply help in most cases, not in all Mr Scientific!
But get in an accident without them and you are toast for sure. Good grief!

Nice. I wasn't trying to be "Mr Scientific". Congratulations on having the discussion "years ago". Just because you had this "arguement" ad nauseum does not mean that everyone else was privy to it. So think about it the next time you tell someone to "shut up" in other words. The questions and comments possed were never supposed to be taken as an "arguement". Good grief!

[SomeSailor]

http://www.immioutdoors.com/boatbuckle/g2-transom.htm

I believe the stainless ones are only 3K

That's not working load... that's capacity.

[Tedster]

Nice. I wasn't trying to be "Mr Scientific". Congratulations on having the discussion "years ago". Just because you had this "arguement" ad nauseum does not mean that everyone else was privy to it. So think about it the next time you tell someone to "shut up" in other words. The questions and comments possed were never supposed to be taken as an "arguement". Good grief!

Dude actually I was reffering to SS not you, and he remembers it well.

[SomeSailor]

Nice. I wasn't trying to be "Mr Scientific". Congratulations on having the discussion "years ago". Just because you had this "arguement" ad nauseum does not mean that everyone else was privy to it. So think about it the next time you tell someone to "shut up" in other words. The questions and comments possed were never supposed to be taken as an "arguement". Good grief!

Not taken as such Pat (from me). Just good conversation. I like understanding things. I learn along the way like that.

Much of this stuff is misunderstood. I work with stress engineering all day. It's interesting stuff and as long as you can keep the two things "together" you only have to deal with static loads. It's when they head in different directions that things get dicey.

"Capacity" and "Working Load" are two terms that are way different. "Capacity" is a failure point (either in the buckle or strap) and "Working Load" is what they're designed to hold in a normal condition.

Don't sweat the comments Ted is making.

[SomeSailor]

Dude actually I was reffering to SS not you, and he remembers it well.

Yep. And you guys were wrong then too. :)

They're called "Tie Down Straps" not "Trailer Suspenders" :D

[Nehalennia]

That's not working load... that's capacity.

Yeah I got it, I was just pointing out the capacity on the SS ones are less than the standard ones which are 5K.

[mowhawky]

Sorry guys. Just getting into my BOC defensive mode. That place can be kindof ruff. Tedster, I jumped the gun. Sorry.

[Tedster]

Sorry guys. Just getting into my BOC defensive mode. That place can be kindof ruff. Tedster, I jumped the gun. Sorry.

Well this place is a whole lot safer and friendlier unless one of us gets ruffled! HeHe He

[SomeSailor]

You guys are usually a bunch of toothless tigers over here too. :)

No strong-arm tough guys like Wayne here. :D

[Tedster]

.........and we all want to keep it that way.......so take heed!!!!

[mowhawky]

.........and we all want to keep it that way.......so take heed!!!!


oooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.......scary!:lol:

[SomeSailor]

See... I told ya...

Tigger

:D