I've been looking for where I hid this photo and recently came across it. This illustrates how to fasten your boat on a trailer. Last year, an accident in Ohio claimed the life of an individual when a rig couldn't stop. After the initial impact, the boat continued its forward motion, over top of the rig that was pulling it. Part of the blame was laid on the fact that the trailer's bunks were wet. if you're relying on carpet friction to secure your boat.... Not even close to the first time this has happened.

Four up front, two more in the back. They're 2" wide commercial ratchet straps rated at 10K# each. If you lose your boat with this setup, you had no chance to begin with.

If you frequent the Apache forum, you'll recognize those knees.

I just bought a plastic case containing 4 sets of the above style straps at Walmart for $24.

Is there no bow stop & winch on that trailer?

I use the same thing even with the winch and bow stop. Two on the bow, one down and backwards through the eye and one down and forwards through the eye. Two straps on the stern, both down and back. I would prefer to cross the two on the back, but I can't do it with this boat.

I'm not against the straps...I just would question not having a bow stop & winch? I'm not sure I would want to tow this way.

So basically the boat will go flying over the truck bed, but the bow u-bolt will stay with the trailer.

That is the same thing I was thinking

Same here,,, lot of good 100,000 lbs of holding power with those straps will do you with some 1/2" stainless holding back 10,000 lbs....

Surely you guys have seen pics of boats tearing through winch stands too right?
The key is the transom straps, together with everything else. But nothing is gonna stop 10k pounds moving at highway speed when everything else comes to a sudden stop.

That 1st pic is the way the trailer used to be. A couple years back, Roger 1 here on the board, fabricated a bow stop and winch for el indio's trailer. This is the way it is now.