Bow chain

[nitsuj]

I didn't know if this went in the Boat section or the trailer section since it concerns both. I picked here. My apologies if I picked wrong. Anyhow...

We all know that it's a good idea to have a chain on your bow to back up the winch when trailering. On my boat, the eye on the bow is too small to accept both the winch hook and the safety hook. What arrangement are others using to get both hooked at once?

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Bow chain

mine both fit, but i have to hook them both to the boat while they are loose. then tighten the strap after they are both hooked. have you tried it like that? then, i have a seperate strap that hooks onto the bow chain hook, just for good measure

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: Bow chain

What Red said... try some fiddling to see if you can both on. The chain does not have to be tight, its for back-up in case the winch/strap/cable fails.

You may need to get another hook for either the strap/cable or the chain. Can you tell us more about your boat and include pictures (with near naked bikini.. oh, sorry).

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bow chain

my hook has an eye in which the cable is attached; I drop the safety chain hook in there.
Keep in mind that bow eyes will pull loose so having both hooked to the eye is somewhat risky. Also if you have a power winch you don't want to rely on its clutch.

 

[Al Bee]

Re: Bow chain

Same here... the safety chain doesn't fit unless loose.

mine both fit, but i have to hook them both to the boat while they are loose. then tighten the strap after they are both hooked. have you tried it like that? then, i have a seperate strap that hooks onto the bow chain hook, just for good measure

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Bow chain

Can be fiddly as said but find a way to do it. Change the safety chain hook size to something that will fit. Just make sure it is rated strong enough.

 

[LIQUID PROZAC]

Re: Bow chain

both fit on mine bur barely keep trying

 

[shorts&chanclas]

Re: Bow chain

Keep in mind that bow eyes will pull loose so having both hooked to the eye is somewhat risky.

Seems Like a far fetched contingency. I thought the other end of the bow eye is the anchor eye. Possibe but not probable on a non damaged modern hull imo.


My buddy's bayliner has this prob. He has to slack the tension to the the chain on.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Bow chain

One boat had this problem, I got the biggest hook that would fit the bow eye and then hooked the safety chain to the eye on the hook.

Yes, I've seen several bow eyes break off or pull through the glass.
REMEMBER, we're not all talking about modern hulls here.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Bow chain

The boat is a 1967 Johnson Surfer 19', so we're not talking about a modern hull. But it is a well built hull is good condition. The bow eye seems solid. I've been looking for a smaller hook for the safety chain, but the problem is, I can't seen to find any that are smaller and still rated for the weight of the boat. I have found some shackles that are rated high enough. I was thinking of adding a shackle large enough to put both hooks in.

RJ, I have pics of my boat, but no pics that show the bow eye clearly and it's on the trailer now, so it would be hard to take a pic of the bow eye. I also don't have any pics of me in a bikini. But if it's real important to you I can try to fit into one of my wifes. I must warn you though, I'm Italian. So there will be hair. Oh yes, there will be hair...

 

[rbh]

Re: Bow chain

you can find hooks smaller but stronger than the bigger ones, they are rated by tensile strength much like a bolt is.
rob

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Bow chain

Seems Like a far fetched contingency. I thought the other end of the bow eye is the anchor eye. Possibe but not probable on a non damaged modern hull imo.

yes entirely possible. every once and a while someone will post question on how to repair broken ones.

not a bad idea to check and make sure how stable and bedded bow eye is before towing far.
more important if you don't use tie downs.(i have see boat every once in awhile with only the bow eye hold the boat on the trailer)

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Bow chain

you can find hooks smaller but stronger than the bigger ones, they are rated by tensile strength much like a bolt is.
rob

So far I haven't found one any smaller than the one that's on there. Except for light duty stuff rated for 1000 pounds or less. But I'll keep looking.

 

[Auger01]

Re: Bow chain

If you are concerned about the bow eye pulling out, put some 1/2" SS fender washers under the bow eye nuts like I did. If my bow eye pulls through now, its goin to have to take about 15 square inches of glass with it.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Bow chain

I'm not concerned about the bow eye pulling out, at least not yet. Right now, I'm more worried about being unable to get my chain and cable both hooked up at the same time.

 

[captharv]

Re: Bow chain

Can you hook the chain into the winch hook eye? Better than nothing.
The failure mode is usually the winch rope/wire/strap, not the hook.
My boat is 6500# on the trailer. Below is my set up for safety. The extra chain is to relieve some of the stress to the winch stand.

I am old enough to remember that boat sitting in the showroom of the dealer who sold me my first boat in 1969. A shiny red one. The boat I bought was a 14' very experienced t-bird runabout with a 35 Evenrude. (All I could afford back then.)