OR your transom tie-downs . . .

OK - they were stacked up at the Ramp like airliners over O'Hare in a snowstorm.
There was a diesel spill in Huntington Harbour.
I need to quick fetch my boat to top it up with street gas. . . seeing the traffic at the Ramp, I want to execute the perfect "dip and go" retrieval. I get the trailer in quick, and the boat on the trailer. PERFECT. As I'm headin up the Ramp, the tongue pops off the ball and the trailer rolls ( STEEP RAMP ) back down toward the water. The trailer safety chains catch, but the bunks are slippery from the diesel spill and the boat slips backwards on the bunks.
The winch-strap SNAPPED at the hook.

The only thing saved me from the resounding crunch of fiberglass on concrete was the safety chain from the bow eye to the trailer. I did not have transom tie-downs.

LESSON: Don't let the traffic at the Ramp influence your safety check. Take EVERY precaution before starting up the ramp. Because I was in a hurry, I almost waited to connect the safety chain until I was clear of the ramp. Figuring the strap was enough.

IT WASN"T . . .

I make quality winch straps and transome tie downs if you are interested. Sorry to hear of your troubles.

Stain your undies, or what?

It could have been SO bad . . . don't forget your walkaround. No matter how many people are waiting . . . it doesn't take that long.

For some reason, I have this fear of the boat slipping off the trailer on the ramp and the winch strap breaks. I put a new strap on just because, and I also use another strap as the safty chain, until I can find a good set up for a chain. I don't care how much of a hurry I'm in, that 2nd strap goes on so I don't have any "oop's" storys to tell.

Hearing your story reinforces my idea that I need to tie that baby down!!!! Thank you!

I would FREAK OUT if this happened. Thank you for sharing your close call/story. This is the last straw I needed to go and add a safefy chain. Hell, I might add two, (one anchored forward, one anchored backward). I rely on my winch strap when coming up the ramp, and I have a step bottom boat which would have difficulty sliding off the trailer; but its still needed.

I did lose my Polaris PWC off my trailer once, in my driveway. We were working on several PWC, moving them from trailer to trailer, in & out of the garage. I picked up the tongue of the single place trailer, high enough to swing a 180* turn over another ski and sure enough, bloop... whomp... right onto the pavement. Ride plate took most of the blow, and was not damaged, and I was able to ease the bow down gently. This was only a 550lb PWC, so we loaded it by hand, but it still was an eye openner.

I can say that I always snap the bow safety chain on before the boat starts up the ramp. I have this horrific fear of the boat slipping backwards off the trailer.

Thanks for sharing the story. It just reinforces it for ALL of us.

Saving just ONE hull, one outdrive . . . my work here is done.

DON'T . . . I repeat, DON'T rely on your winch-strap.

safety first always

By the way - if you have a winch-strap with a few years on it, inspect the threads that secure the loop where the strap meets the hook.
That ( pretty much obviously ) is where my strap failed.

My safety chain right now is so tight, I will not be able to remove the pin from the shackle until I float the boat somewhat. . . . IT SAVED MY ASS.
I have already purchased the new winch-strap and tie-downs.

Sharp lesson, well learned.