Trailer straps for CP 19?

[brackish]

Just having some fun Ron, no offense taken.  Your comments and concerns are why it was a "live" load analysis.  Without really seeing it on the trailer, I would imagine that your Telstar would have a center of gravity, centroid, or rotational axis well ABOVE all supports including those supporting it laterally.  Tie downs certainly appropriate. Don't know about the Horizon Cat.

The loadout described above took place when I was 29.  It took 72 hours and I was up the entire time exuding confidence that my method for moving a load that was 2.5 times the cranes capacities would work just fine.  Truth is, despite knowing the engineering was sound, I was petrified.

[CaptRon28]

I don't think I'd venture far with any un-strapped boat, but I suppose there are some that need it more. The Telstar is a good candidate for straps and a wing keel Catalina 250 I had 3 years ago would be a disaster waiting to happen. Pictures below, including one of the Telstar's trailer. Considering the 3 hulls spread out over 8 1/2 feet, it's a very good trailer arrangement. But it obviously needs straps. The Catalina would be on top of the Avalanche at the first traffic light. It was over 14 feet high.

[Bob23]

   I've been following this thread with interest and I guess when it comes to strapping my 23 for transport, my response is: why not? All the physics have been interesting and informative but when it's all said and done, I'm just a "tie it down with rope" freak. No, not the cp23- she get's a rachet strap but anything on my truck gets tied down with rope (read: no bungess) but that's a whole other subject. I think I remember a picture of Bill' cp27 "Pooka" with 3 straps but that is a real high rig.
   bob23

[Osprey]

Capt Ron,

That pic of the Telstar sure brings back good memories. I had one for about 3 years. At the time I also had a Seapearl Tri. Now I've slowed down a bit. I guess you could say a "good bit". I've changed to a SunCat. Just got tired of rigging. Now I mostly Sail!

Terry Poling

[skip1930]

Those are cool yellow straps. I wonder if they'll hold the boat on the trailer as the trailer flops over?

I was just funnin with you guys, how about that tiny little ring welded to the trailer channel, will that weld hold?
Of course the ring can be ignored and hooks snatched onto the trailer channel. That won't bend. Too much.

skip.

[brackish]

Those are cool yellow straps. I wonder if they'll hold the boat on the trailer as the trailer flops over?

...... how about that tiny little ring welded to the trailer channel, will that weld hold?


skip.

Providing the fillet size is at least 75% of the thickness of the thinnest joined material, and it was welded without undercutting or cold lapping either of the joined materials; with filler metal that is chemically and mechanically compatible with both of the joined materials, it will have the same tensile and yield strenght that thinnest of the joined materials has.  but is that enough?

[CaptRon28]

Skip -

The double hooks on the big yellow ratchet straps are hooked on the trailer frame. The single front strap was used for local trailering. On the road, there would be another big yellow strap across the bow, and hooked to one of the cross frame braces.

Out of curiosity, would you be comfortable towing that Catalina with the keel without straps? The center of gravity must be 7 feet off of the ground, and higher than the 6 tripods.

[Billy]

I had an old Bayliner back in the day. Probably about 2500lbs. One time on the way to the lake I decided to let my friend tow the boat w/ his truck. Pulling off for gas he cut the corner too short and hopped the trailer over the curb at about 10-15 mph. The tie down staps that came from the dealer that connected to the stern of the boat (through two pad eyes) snapped like a piece of yarn! When it comes to forces from an accident, I don't think those straps will do any good.

Years later I bought a Mastercraft (about 3000 lbs). It had no straps and the previous owner never used them. I've strapped my current boat down for long hauls (over 50 miles) but don't for local stuff. Seems the rag always blows off and then I have to worry about the strap rubbing. Turns out I just got back from Cayo COsta (150 miles) and realized I had my 1-7/8" ball on the hitch not the 2". Now THAT could have been really bad. I can't believe I did that. Once I realized (one week later) I hooked up the trailer and used the tounge jack to see if I could "pop" the trailer off the hitch. it wouldn't do it! almost had the rear tires of my truck off the ground.

If the straps make you feel better than use them but I agree it is a false sense of security, and I heard that in the Keys a boat does have to be strapped down. But no proof.

[skip1930]

Like I said just funning with you guys.

You all know Mr. Hake, who use to work for Rich Hutchin producing the Com-Pac boats we enjoy. When Mr. Hake struck out on his own to produce the 26 foot Seaward Yachts just a few blocks from Hutchins, he decided to show one of his Seaward 26 footer's at Navy Pier in Chicago. It was the first year I attended that show.

On display was the very boat that had become dislodged [meaning no amount of straps would hold this tub] from the semi-flatbed that crashed in Indiana just short of entering Illinois and the boat rolled down an embankment...oh the usual pictures and arrows and verbiage was shown on matte boards and easels at the foot of the stairs leading to the deck of this unfortunate creature on display at the show.

Mr. Hake himself was perched in the cockpit above it all and proudly directing visitors to his boat to notice the slight scar on the starboard side of the bow. No other damage was visible, nor was there any additional damage when the Indiana State Patrol brought in a state wrecker to winch the poor thing back up to the highway where a crane lifted it back on to another flatbed heading for Chicago's Navy Pier All Sail Boat Show.

Just telling a story, not making a point. skip. Oh by the way here we towed this Coronado, like this.

My buddy bought this tub, we built a cradle and we towed it back from several states away like this behind my Ford Expedition. I think the boat is 28 foot. No trailer brakes. The boat looks better in blue.

Here is my trailer we used to haul Steve's Coronado. Home built years ago....no extra charge for the two bent axles...I over loaded it once with compost for the gardens. And I dropped a 60 hp Baldor Motor from 15 foot onto the bed.

Another tow job for another buddy.

[rwdsr]

Taking my Catalina 22 (the one in the picture) out Saturday for the first sail of the season, we were crossing the SR 79 bridge just about to the marina, when we hit a heavy bump and the pin flipped out of the latch and the tongue jumped off the truck!  I run ratchet straps fore and aft, and thank God for safety chains.  I didn't trust them much before, but I do now.  Fortuantly, the only harm done was I almost ground through the safety chains.  I jacked the trailer back up and got it on the truck ball, and was on my way again.  Just need to change shorts and buy a new set of safety chains.  Story of the sail will be posted later.

[Tim Gardner]

And a locking pin for that latch!

TG

[skip1930]

Insert that pin with the horse shoe keeper on it into the lever and locking mechanism. I even take PVC electric tape and go around the whole ball hitch/lever/and under the extension holding the ball out from the receiver a couple of times. Tape is cheap compared to dropping the hitch off the ball.

Hint: Fit the latch...When the trailer is down on the ball, slide under there and tighten up that lock nut that forces the locking fork up under the ball. Make it tight then back it off until you can almost force the locking lever down and into the locking notch using a little effort. Some times stand on it helps.

The only reason the trailer came off the ball is during a bump that fork under the ball popped up with the trailer tongue and was larger then the dia of the ball, allowing the hitch to leave the ball. Providing the locking latch did not pop out of the notch.

The test is to hitch up, and jack up the trailer tongue. You should see the tow come up with the jack. I can jack mine until the hitch and ball bind up and the rear wheels almost come off the ground. Nothing pops out.

I dropped a double axle race car trailer on a two lane once. The trailer tongue went clean through my left rear American Mag Wheel shattering it. Then those darn safety chains kept the trailer wiggling back and forth behind my Chevy Step side and ever time I applied the breaks the tongue would batter my rear bumper and valance area. I was sorry the chains did not break, but on the other hand the road was busy and may take out some other car. The hitch was toast, I had to leave the trailer on the side of the road until after putting the spare on and coming back after work. So I learned to tighten up that 'ADJUSTABLE' nut under the hitch to grab the ball.

skip.