Will transom straps rip off the tabs
 

Im looking at getting transom straps. I went and measured and its about 2.5ft. Now The question being is it seems that that the strap would rest on the trim tab and really dont want the strap to ruin or rip the strap off. Any thoughts on this. Havent ran straps yet, figured the boat was heavy enough and and if something serious happened, theres nothing straps are going to do, but for insurance purposes and I might be going cross country I wanted the extra comfort of having them.

What are you all doing.

My straps are tensioned to the outside of the trim tab. I towed over 800 miles like this and didn't have an issue (no fraying / cutting of the straps). No damaget to tabs either. If you have heavy enough straps, shouldn't be a problem. If you're truely worried, take a chunk of innertube and wrap around the strap, or even use a rag.

Im not so conserned about the strap breaking but more or less doing something to the trim tab. But what from what it sounds like you dont have any issues.

No worries on a Fountain.
My straps rest on the side of the tabs and there has never been a problem.
To give you another perspective, the Fountain dealer used to sling some of the boats out of the water by the tabs!
They would run the strap under the tabs, lower them and "up goes the boat out of the water onto the trailer."
Not saying I recommend this added strain, however it is an example how strong those tabs are mounted to the transom...
They said they could do this with Fountains but not with some of the other brands they had....

thanks I will do them up Then. I measured about 2.5ft so will probably buy 3fters. Thanks

I run straps on the inside of my tabs of my 38 express cruiser (15K+ lbs) on an aluminum trailer. I also have straps from the nose back to the trailer. The idea is you are making sure the trailer does not separate from the boat and that they are "one unit". This keeps the trailer from flexing and breaking the welds. I also find that the boat tows a lot smoother on bumpy roads as I used to get my 419 Formula oscilating up and down on the trailer as I didn't strap it. I have not even wore the paint off the tabs, so I don't think there is very much strain.

mine are not very for out on the tab,it chaffs the paint alittleon the transom at the bottom edge,ive never had any problems with this set up 8 years

thanks that helps. Got some straps in the mail

I do the same thing w/ straps on the bow eye to the trailer. Made a huge difference & also stopped cracking some of the welds on the bow stop! Buddy had a 38 express like you & had the same issue, corrected w/ doing the same thing!

I run mine on the inside of the tabs. No issues yet.