[Rhodes22-list] Dynamic Equilibrium's Trailering Tiedown System (Was Trailer Launching & Retrieving)

[Roger Pihlaja]

Hi Bryan,

The below enclosed post regarding the trailering tie down procedure we use on Dynamic Equilibrium was originally written about 1-1/2 years ago.  There are also a couple of attached .jpg photo files.  On the bow photo, note the use of the extra tiedown strap backing up the trailer's winch.  Once the bow of the boat is solidly winched up against the trailer's V-shaped rubber bow stop and that backup strap is attached, there is no way the boat can move backwards on the trailer.  There will be a little "adjusting" or shifting around as the boat & trailer come up the launch ramp out of the water.  This will happen automatically as the boat's weight goes from being supported by the buoyancy of the hull in the water and changes to fully be supported on the trailer's bunks.  However, since both the hull and the trailer's bunks are wet and slippery, this shifting around does not hurt anything.  The bow of my boat ends up solidly against the V-shaped bow stop on the trailer recovery after recovery.  It's foolproof.

Note, Dynamic Equilibrium's trailer is a Lil Dude tandem axle model.  But, there is no reason why this technique will not work just fine with your single axle trailer as well.

Try it, you'll like it!

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium        

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Roger Pihlaja 
To: The Rhodes 22 mail list 
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2003 9:30 PM
Subject: Dynamic Equilibrium's Trailering Tiedown System


Hi Everybody,

A couple of days ago, somebody asked how to safely tiedown their R-22 to their trailer.  The two attached photos show how we do it on Dynamic Equilibrium.

Up on the bow, we use two extra tiedown straps.  One tiedown strap backs up the trailer's winch.  This tiedown strap gets attached to the bow eye as soon as the bow is winched up against the trailer's V-shaped bow stop while the boat is still in the water.  That way, the bow is held solidly against the V-shaped bow stop and there is no possibility of the trailer's winch coming unlatched & allowing the boat to slide backwards off the trailer while it is being pulled up the launch ramp.  The second tiedown strap prevents the bow from rising up or sliding forward under heavy braking.  This second tiedown strap is not attached until the boat & trailer are ready to hit the road.

At the stern, we also use two extra tiedown straps.  Note how these tiedown straps attach onto the transom lifting eyes and crisscross under the hull before attaching to a pair of stainless steel padeyes bolted to the trailer's frame.  This crisscross diagonal tiedown arrangement note only secures the stern from rising up or sliding backwards, it also prevents the hull from shifting side-to-side.  Note the use of four IMCO F13180 plastic anti-chafe pads at strategic points to protect the hull.  These two tiedown straps on the stern are normally the last things to be secured before the boat & trailer are ready to hit the road.

All of these pieces/parts are available from West Marine.  Note: You might need slightly different length tiedown straps &/or padeyes to fit your trailer because my trailer is a Lil Dude tandem axle model, not the OEM Triad model.  But, the basic strategy should work as well on the OEM Triad trailers as it does on mine.

It's a pretty quick & effective tiedown system.  We have a lot of launches/retrevals and thousands of trailering miles on ours.

Hopefully this answers your trailering tiedown question.  Enjoy!

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
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