Using Ratcheting straps for trailering

I am using some orange ratcheting moving straps to hold the boat in place while on the trailer. Is this a good idea. If i put them on too tight could i cause soft spots on the hulls? I put it on pretty tight. I dont want the boat to come off the trailer while doing 65 on the freeway.

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1971 H16 (sail #1768)

To all of you on the Hobie Forum... I love you guys!!!
thanks for all the help!

I would think it's definitely possible to over-do it if you really crank down on the straps. And it's really un-necessary. The straps need to be snug, but they don't need to be 'cranked down'. They also need to be strong enough for the job (which most webbing straps would be). After strapping down and before driving, grab the boat and try to move it around on the trailer- it should stay put. Cranking down on the straps really hard is just going to damage something.

sm

I used to strap my 16 down across the hulls. I didn't like the idea of the straps putting pressure on the decks so I made a loop around the sidebar on the front and back by the corner castings. There's a spot where the tramp can be flipped up enough to get a strap through.

The Best method i have found is to run a strap around each tramp stanchion to the center line of the trailor, so you have 4, one holding each corner, this is alot more secure and will stop forward or back movement too, Have a great season

I am going to change the way I trailer the boat so that I strap the boat at the pylons. I had been throwing a ratcheting strap over the tops of the hulls and what I have noticed is that where the straps go over the hulls is causing the lip of the deck to have some spider cracking. I don't think that I have been over-tightening the straps at all, but the cracks are still there. From what I've noticed it's just cosmetic issues, but that is enough for me to switch it out.

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

I have been using 4 nylon straps, one on each pylon to the trailer and tighten it just so when lift on the hull it doesn't come off the trailer, thats been good for the last two seasons eather behind my truck or motor home and both have been known to hit 75 MPH

I would get rid of the racheting style straps. You will always tend to crank down on them too much. They are handy for lacing the center of your tramp however. I have used the cam type straps for years. One for every corner of the boat going from the pylon area to the trailer rail. The forward ones should angle towards the back and the back towards the front to control for and aft motion better. Not too much angle though or you will lose control of the vertical motion. I think I have some pictures around somewhere as this was talked about some time back. Oh, another thing. With the cam style, you set them once and leave them. You just have to be sure and get the straps in the same location every time. Easy, as you can leave them attached at the trailer end. Try to take all the thinking out of every thing. Saves your brain cells for more important things.

Most people use straps that are to narrow
and way way to tight
and then leave them on when they get home
The straps only need to keep the boat from jumping off the trailer

Before rachet straps in the old school straps were hand tightened and never a problem because they were impossible to overtighten

Fyi
I always tie a rope from the dolphin striker to the trailer as a great fail safe

I use 2 cam straps, one front one back. They have the hooks on each end which I attach to the roller axels on the outside. I go over the tops of the hulls, but not so tight that they do any damage. As a bit of insurance to prevent forward/rearward movement, I attach the trailer winch line to the dolphin striker with just enough tension to keep the boat from moving. Been doing it this way for 9 years with no signs of wear or damage. Boat stays put at 70+.