Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Watching Paul's post on getting the bow chock on his winch stand to mate properly with the bow on his Devlin Bluebill, I thought of this approach that I have used for a long time with a variety of gunning boats - and just used to haul the Horal Scooter 250miles down to Long Island.
The basic idea is to use a short "keeper" to prevent the boat from moving too far forward on the trailer - and then putting tension on it with the winch strap. So, the boat never touches the chock - saving those 3 nice coats of paint until I deliver it to its owner - and, more important, saving me from having to move the winch stand - happily painted in place with Pettit Trailer Coat for many years now. For yesterday's ride, I put 2 ratchet straps over the belly of the Scooter so it could not wiggle (yaw?) side-to-side. The boat did not budge over the whole trip.
I started using this approach when I would commonly switch boats - the Scooter might be on the trailer one day and the Sneakox the next, for example. And, my Sneakbox has its bow eye beneath the boat, about 2 feet back from the bow itself - so it's easy to attach both lines.
The keeper is permanently spliced to the trailer - and is not in the way when not in use.
I always snug the bows of larger boats into the bow chock - but this has always worked for my smaller craft.
All the best,
SJS
The basic idea is to use a short "keeper" to prevent the boat from moving too far forward on the trailer - and then putting tension on it with the winch strap. So, the boat never touches the chock - saving those 3 nice coats of paint until I deliver it to its owner - and, more important, saving me from having to move the winch stand - happily painted in place with Pettit Trailer Coat for many years now. For yesterday's ride, I put 2 ratchet straps over the belly of the Scooter so it could not wiggle (yaw?) side-to-side. The boat did not budge over the whole trip.
I started using this approach when I would commonly switch boats - the Scooter might be on the trailer one day and the Sneakox the next, for example. And, my Sneakbox has its bow eye beneath the boat, about 2 feet back from the bow itself - so it's easy to attach both lines.
The keeper is permanently spliced to the trailer - and is not in the way when not in use.
I always snug the bows of larger boats into the bow chock - but this has always worked for my smaller craft.
All the best,
SJS
