How do I know when my tramp is tight enough.

I installed my new tramp and lacing this weekend and am having trouble deciding if it's tight enough. It's far tighter than the old vinyl tramp that it replaced. I preloaded the rails with a ratchet strap and laced it up tight. When I released the strap it pulled tighter......I now have a slight bow in the rails, but am worried that I might have preloaded them a little too much and possibly bent them?

It's tight, but I'm not entirely sure if it's tight enough?

Is there a general rule of thumb?

Don't worry about bending them.

Rule of Thumb, when it's "right" the side rail deflection will be 1" to 1.5". Tighten up the rear as well with about a 2.5" to 3" gap between the main and rear lacing strip.

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Make sure to do the back first.

I ratcheted them down reaaaaaalllly tight.......I'd say that I have about 2.5" all around. It just feels very squishy when I walk on it.....almost like trying to walk on a real trampoline.....


I guess that's why it's called a trampoline.

I don't have any facts to really back this up, its just a theory. Even if you prebend the rails the lacing still has to be tight before you let it loose. I used the Murray's tool with the T-handle fork looking thing, and the two taperd plug things for putting in the grommets to hold the lacing. On my 06' 16 I had the rear strip pulled tight enough that there was a slight bow to the rear bar. The lacing up the middle was at the closest probably only an 1 1/2" apart. It was very firm. It may have been too tight, but the boat was also very rigid. My theory is that prebend only really puts any addition pressure in the middle of the center lacing strip, and it isn't equal front to back. Being that there is so much friction from the tight angles of the line being pulled through the grommet the line develops a memory instead of evening out the load on its own. Towards the front and rear beam, prebending the rails isn't doing a thing. You still have to get that tight in some other way. Which that tool from Murray's works awesome for.

I don't think my H16 did it with the mesh tramp, but my H14 had a new vinyl tramp and that was literally like a drum. It would resonate when you tapped against it.

I never remember to do it when I tighten my tramp, but I have read elsewhere on the forum that if you soak your line in water first before you tighten the tramp it will draw up a little when it dries. Can't speak from experience because I never remember to do it.

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909