Winch Strap stretching?
#1
Winch Strap stretching?
When loading the boat I snug up the winch strap as far as reasonably possible (if I crank it too hard I’m afraid something is going to snap). But then the boat seems to move back a couple inches as pull it up the launch ramp. Is it possible that the wind strap stretches due to the weight of the boat? If so, how do I prevent this from happening?
#2
Registered
it's the boat settling onto the trailer as you pull out - the transom settles down from a floating position and the bow comes back/up off the front winch pads
#3
When the bow comes up off the bow stop it then tends to bounce when trailering down the road. Does anyone have a good strategy to keep the bow tight up against the bow stop as the boat is pulled up the launch ramp?
#4
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: St-Hyacinthe, quebec, canada
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I would say crank a little bit more, more more importantly, when pulling out, go very very very slow, use low 4x4 if needed, it will make a difference i am sure ! Did for me at least...
#6
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I run a separate ratchet strap from the bow eyelet straight down and wrap it around the trailer. Took me a year or two to figure that one out, does wonders to stop any bouncing.
#7
Registered
It’s not the winch strap stretching...it’s the rolled up coil on the winch becoming tighter. You’ll never be able to winch it tight enough to avoid the boat backing off the winch stand.
#8
Registered
This. But I always used my non-cranking hand to put tension on the strap until it tightened up from the weight of the boat and it mitigated the problem.
#9
I put a paint mark on the winch strap and one the winch after I got the boat positioned on the trailer. After that the boat will be in the same place on the trailer from any boat ramp. It took me about three times down the ramp up the ramp to flat ground to get it in the right position on trailer.
#10
VIP Member
VIP Member
Try leaving the trailer more out of the water to put more boat weight on the strap as you crank, it's not going to take much to get it right. Once you find the sweet spot mark the strap with a bright color at a point where you'll see it (I used a silver sharpie on a black strap) and can line it up every time you load. No matter what ramp at any angle you use, once the sharpie mark is lined up to your stop point, in my case a manufacturing line on the crank housing, the boat will sit where it is suppose to be.