Hi Guys,

My trailer does not have a winch it does however have one of the floater bar setups. I was wondering what you guys use to hold the boat to the floater bar? Im using a typical hitch pin like this:


And they keep bending on long trips. What do you guys recommend to replace it with?

thanks
steve

Try a master lock
A boat that size should have a winch/v-block setup.
Some of these trailers flex pretty crazy with a floater bar.

Dan'l

Try a master lock
A boat that size should have a winch/v-block setup.
Some of these trailers flex pretty crazy with a floater bar.

Dan'l

Thats a good idea i will give that a shot. That will probably work a lot easier too. (unless i forget the key haha)

I really want to convert over to a winch/roller setup however i really dont want to weld on this trailer since it is really nice and in great shape. And im 99% sure it is powdercoated.

My thoughts- safety VS. pretty- Its your boat, do you want it to pass you going down the highway? smaller bubble deck type Comp. trailers flex quite a bit @ 70mph, Enough for me to switch to a winch, No more flex or worries.  Heres my set-up, on a Competitive trailer, ( 21' Eliminator, fifth one down, 37 years old  ) The river is 18 miles away, so I don't have any straps on the rear, If I travel like to Parker or Powell, I use transom tiedowns.

http://www.socaljetboats.com/trailers/switching-to-winchlt-lets-see-your-trailers/msg106079/#msg106079

Its pretty damn easy to launch/load about 30 seconds total but are there any laws/regulations requiring the winch setup?

Yeah, 30 seconds on a nice flat/smooth launch ramp. Try it at the Avi in the current, and you wont feel the same way, or on a shallow ramp like Temple Bar, Lake Mead

A last question, my boat/trailer does not have the tie downs for the back of the boat either. The only thing holding it on the trailer is literally the floater bar. I usually run a tie strap across the back and over the drive when i go long distance. But is this even legal?

thanks

I don't now the law EXACTLY, However the CHP requires a load over 8' long to have two straps, and every 8' thereafter. on a 21' boat, LEAGLY you should have 3 straps/tiedowns (think like a load of drywall or lumber)

They make bolt on wench set ups if you don't want to weld on the trailer

Corey's got it  But I'd rather have a weld on one. My bubble deck was a bolt on deal.

That's all I got

Dan'l

Dan'l
Thanks for the information i will be switching over to the winch style more than likely. where did you get yours at? I like the way yours is setup and i have since saved the pictures for ideas when it comes down to changing mine.

thanks!

It looks like Competitive trailers did it back in the day (1976 or so) Trailer is original for the boat, as far as I know...
A trip to the steel yard would do it.

Dan'l

Use an bolt and nut with some washers works pretty good just make sure to carry a couple of small crescent wrenches

Yeah, 30 seconds on a nice flat/smooth launch ramp. Try it at the Avi in the current, and you wont feel the same way, or on a shallow ramp like Temple Bar, Lake Mead

Has Temple Bar changed the ramp any? the last time I was there was in the 90's and everyone was launching off the left side of the ramp (facing the water) at a screwed up angle because it was deeper.

Has Temple Bar changed the ramp any? the last tome I was there was in the 90's and everyone was launching off the left side of the ramp (facing the water) at a screwed up angle because it was deeper.

Sounds like its the same, but with the water level down that 'left side' flattens out. My crew cab's front wheels were touching the water just to get the boat to float, May '11.

Dan'l

I'd rather not make my boat a structural member of the trailer, so no winch black.  I also don't like floater bars because I've had one flip on me on a steep ramp.  I just use tie downs.  One forward from the bow eye and one backwards from the bow eye, then strap the stern down.  It's worked flawlessly for 5 years.

That's a really interesting idea, using nylon straps instead of the floater bar...I might actually become a convert to that because on steeper ramps my hull bumps the dang floater bar bracket.

I think you could also use the types of straps that have a rachet and help pull the boat that way

Here on the east coast they do not know what floater bars are. I used both winch and floater bar. Here is the link.





http://www.socaljetboats.com/trailers/how-its-made-floater-bar-the-t-j-way/msg135729/#msg135729