Is it pretty common to have boat slip back a few inches on the trailer as you 're coming back up the ramp after loading? This is a new boat/trailer for me; first time I got the boat on, winched it up and connected a safety line to the bow eye - I told wife to pull up the ramp "easy"....safety line snapped and boat slipped back on the trailer about 4".

Couldn't re-load...got it home, got it back in the lake two weeks later with a new (heavy duty, 3800lb.) ratchet safety strap...got it on the trailer, winched it up, ratcheted up the strap tight to the roller stop and had the wife pull the trailer out (slowly) again. Up in the lot - damn if it hadn't slipped back again, about 4-5" short of the roller stop. Safety strap and winch strap were OK.

The first time I saw the boat slip and heard the safety strap break. Second time I thought everything was OK until I got up to where she stopped in the lot and looked at it.

What -Do I need to use a chain on the bow eye instead of a ratchet strap? Boat is just an '87 Formula 242 LS. I don't like towing it 4" short on the trailer...it's not going anywhere, but I can tell the difference when towing - and with the tongue weight.

Is a safety chain a special item?

Hi,move the boatstop on the trailer 3" forward.
Do not strap the boat down real hard on the ramp, do that after it has settled in the trailer correctly on the parkinglot.
And i quess you solved the problem.
all boats have a angle on the ramp ferses the trailer,so no matter what kind of strap u gonna use it will not hold the boat up there. Because the boat is not sliding back it is just laying down on to the trailer,when pulling of the ramp.

thats my quess.

A new winch strap can stretch AND needs to be wound tight. You need to keep winching that thing TIGHT. You will be able to watch the spindle and the inner folds spin for several rotations without the boat moving, while just sitting there on the trailer.

You might also opt for a stronger winch strap. You would be better off with 5K lbs. rating. Try a truck stop.

Most of us have a safety chain that gets hooked before the boat comes up the ramp when pulling out.

I also run a 10K lb. ratchet strap between the bow eye and the trailer before hitting the road.

Are you sure it's slipping or are you just on a steep ramp and the angle changes once you pull forward? I try to look when launching at the spot just before the boat comes off- that way I can load in that same spot. The bunks will rub the chines and center the boat and you can winch that last couple inches.

Is it a really steep ramp?

Hey BIG Daddy use a 10K lb. ratchet strap between the bow eye and the trailer ,never had one snap or come loose yet ...

I'll be sure to check for that spot next time out - I suppose it could just be an angle problem...the ramp doesn't seem all that steep, however. When I idle the boat up and back onto the trailer, it doesn't seem like the trailer is at a very steep angle, and I've got it pretty far in the water. I will just have to watch it more carefully next time to see what's going on, I guess...

Thanks, Guys!

It happens on mine as well. As you pull boat out, but some is still in water, winch it forward more. It is difficult to get a tight fit on longer boats becasue too much weight comes out of the water before it settles, then you cannot winch it

This may not be the best advice, but once you are out of the water, crank down on that bi%^#, travel about 2 miles or so and do it again, repeat until boat is snug on stopper. The vibration on the road will allow the boat to move forward until it hits the stopper as long as allot of tension is on it.

We have had to do this sometimes due to the ramp angle. As for safety YES use a strap and chain and anything else you have. Seriously I had a dock line save one of our boats before.

WILL

Post a picture of your winch / front end of trailer while launcing / retrieving. Sounds like you have an angle issue that if corrected could save your trailer as well your boat. I had this same problem but did a few mods to the trailer and it is now a non issue.

Do you have bunks or rollers?

If bunks than you probably have an angle problem. I have to get my cafe further than I THINK it should be so that when I pull it out of the water it sits properly - otherwise it is 6 inches shy of the bumpstop - and no amount of winching is goign to move that thing.

If rollers - than yeah you probably are rolling back down...