How to Secure a Boat to a Trailer
There is nothing so disheartening as seeing your boat bouncing down the highway without a trailer beneath it. Your boat represents a significant investment. That's why good tie-down straps, both to securely bind your boat to the trailer and to keep the boat from slipping backwards from the trailer, are also a good investment. The trailer winch only helps you recover the boat from the lake--strapping your boat to the trailer properly is a key to good trailering.
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Instructions
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Hook one of the hooks on the end of the long gunwale strap to the trailer frame, in the center of the back half of the boat. Pass the strap over the top of the boat, avoiding sharp edges and hook the remaining hook on the trailer frame. Lift and lower the tab on the strap's ratchet to crank the strap through the ratchet, tightening it until it is taut across the back half of the boat.
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Wrap the bow safety strap around the tongue of the trailer and push the hook on one end through the loop on the other end. Clip the hook to the winch ring under the bow of the boat.
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Hook one of the hooks on the end of the long gunwale strap to the trailer frame, in the center of the forward half of the boat. Pass the strap over the top of the boat and hook the remaining hook on the trailer frame. Use the tab to crank the strap through the ratchet, tightening it until it is taut across the front of the boat.
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Tips & Warnings
Use bungee cords to secure the gear that might "dance around" inside your boat, damaging decks or sensitive gear.
Buy tie-down straps that are at least as long as the width of your boat, plus the height of both of the boat's sides, measured from the point on the trailer to which you secure the tie-down straps.
