Do you use stern tie downs for trailering ?

[dburne]

Check this rear trailer light out:

Now I am assuming that should be mounted to those two screws sticking out in the middle of the trailer back end...

 

[230weekenderUSC]

I think the key to the setup is to have the rear bunks of the trailer set parallel to run along the desired chine on either side, but give yourself about 6-7" of wiggle room. I do this:

One secret to getting a boat to load on a bunk trailer is to back the trailer far enough down into the water that the boat can idle forward almost to the bow stop/winch stand.

I used to load my 20'er that way. I'd idle forward until the boat started to hit the bunks. At that point the bow eye was about a foot from the bow stop. I'd leave it in gear and go forward to attach the winch cable. Then I'd go back to the helm to give it just a touch on the throttle until the boat went forward to the bow stop.

As for straps, crank em down always! Just make sure they are designed well enough (or put something) under the clamp on the strap. When you flip that clamp....SNAP!.... those things can crack a gelcoat GOOD!

 

[jeffw]

Between the straps and this I would be having a friendly little chat with the sales manager on how my boat was delivered.

 

[jitts3]

You must be kidding me. I k ow you are in Tennessee, but please... Did you buy that boat off of two hillbillies with a jug of shine to share between them? Wow, that's bad.
Does the boat have a bilge pump or did they just give you an old soup can and say "Use this if she spring a leak".

 

[Last Dollar]

Many years ago we were coming back from the river pulling an 18' outboard and the spare tire on my truck fell out onto the road and I ran over it!!! The bolt holding the bracket had snapped into and so the tire just came out. I ran over it with the left tire on the trailer. I suddenly felt and heard a loud thump and immediately stopped. Luckily I was on a country road and we were only traveling about 25 mph. I had no idea what had happened but I was sure things needed to be checked out. The fellow who was following us had seen everything and said that we had ran over our spare tire and the boat actually came up off the trailer by two feet and then settled back down on the bunks. I checked my tie down and the one on the left side had straightened the S hook and pulled out. My tire was laying in the middle of the road about two hundred feet back.

Had it not been for my tie down the boat would have bounced even higher and possibly not settled back down on top of the trailer. Although the tie down failed on one side I'm sure it had enough effect to prevent a really high bounce. The witness said the boat almost rolled off sideways. After this experience I have used significantly heavier tiedowns on every boat I have owned. I also use a heavy chain and turn buckle on the bow eye straight down to the trailer. To pull any boat no matter what size without tiedowns is simply wrong.

 

[dburne]

Your dealer didn't let you take it with the light like that did they? If so, and if they are a Sea Ray Dealer, you need to make a complaint to Sea Ray Corporate (HQ), as they are in serious neglect. There are two potential lawsuits that you would win if there was to be an accident. The tie down straps are bad enough, but if they let you leave without the trailer lights set up properly.......seriously?

Now they are into you for not just a safety kit, but an anchor and dock lines too. I'm serious about this part.

Yeah - I did not notice the rear trailer light was like that until after I got home, snapped that pick and emailed it to the dealer.
re the Dealer: - The owner is the one I dealt with throughout the whole boat deal.

I sent him an email yesterday evening on the stuff I am missing and need.
I am also concerned we never did a delivery inspection signed by both he and I, the warranty brochure states that was to be done for the warranty to be effective.

 

[skylark]

 

[dburne]

Your dealer didn't let you take it with the light like that did they? If so, and if they are a Sea Ray Dealer, you need to make a complaint to Sea Ray Corporate (HQ), as they are in serious neglect. There are two potential lawsuits that you would win if there was to be an accident. The tie down straps are bad enough, but if they let you leave without the trailer lights set up properly.......seriously?

Now they are into you for not just a safety kit, but an anchor and dock lines too. I'm serious about this part.

Yeah, and what is wild is I asked them to do a light check for me before I left while I was in the truck, to make sure turn signal and brake lights were working properly - guess they did not see that.....

I have emailed the owner ( which is the guy I dealt with ), with the list of things I feel they need to address for me, and have advise I would prefer to bring the boat back up there, when they have my spare tire w/ trailer mount, and tie downs, and let them go ahead and mount the spare, as originally was planned, and let them attach that rear trailer light as it should be - save my old fat butt from crawling on my belly...

I am not going to complain to Sea Ray Corporate just yet - ( and I know several there as they are a good customer of ours ), will give the dealer the opportunity to make me happy first... I will let you guys know how I make out.

RE:Skylark - wow, that would sure ruin a day!


Thanks,

 

[Chris Nowell]

Hey gang,
So I picked up my new 190 Sport on Saturday.
When I got home with it I noticed there were no
tie down straps attached to the rear. I called
the dealer and he said no one really uses those
any longer.
I would have thought that would be a requirement for
trailering? I certainly have some I can use just curious
do you folks use them or do folks really not
use them much any more?

Use 'em all the time if I'm going more than a couple of blocks at more than 30 MPH. They'll be the only things holding the back of the boat down if ya go over a bump at any speed. I learned that pretty quick many years ago while towing our ski boat over the old bridge at 40 MPH.

 

[Wired2Cruze]

While we're at it- I know you didn't mention a safety chain on your boweye to the trailer, so yours may already have one; but I would never leave home without that secured either.

 

[dburne]

While we're at it- I know you didn't mention a safety chain on your boweye to the trailer, so yours may already have one; but I would never leave home without that secured either.

Had to go out to check and be sure, yes thankfully safety chain in place and hooked to bow eye...

 

[Dave 205]

Mine also came with Sea Ray logoed tie down straps. Still have them.

Assuming they are still delivering these boats with Sea Ray logoed ShoreLandr trailers, the straps may very well come to Sea Ray / the dealer as part of a kit with the trailer.

Your dealer prep was awful. On my trailer, those lights when mounted hang just a bit below the frame, so they are probably vulnerable to damage during shipping, and at some point someone is responsible for completing assembly for the buyer.

I bought my boat brokered / used from a Sea Ray dealer, and they gave me a complete run down on the boat, and even took me out on the water to show me how to use it.

I'll add to the comments that you'll like the bunks. Even with some years of regular use, my bunks are still in very good shape - a safe, easy to use maintenance free (so far) experience. You just have to be sure the boat is all the way up before you leave the water. It isn't moving on those bunks without water. Add a set of trailer guides for a slam dunk experience - anyone on the boat can handle getting the boat on the trailer.

I had some paperwork problems, in my case they didn't handle the title transfer signatures from the former owner correctly and I was rejected at the DMV window 2 or 3 times. The dealer gave me a generous discount on some accessories - on top of the 15% 1 year standing discount I had from buying a boat with them.

In some states car dealers are required to get title paperwork to you in a limited time, probably 30 days. I don't know what applies to boats.

 

[dburne]

Thanks for the info Dave,

Yes now I realize I did not get much of anything in the way of delivery of the boat, heck did not even get copies of any of the documents I signed... hopefully here in the next few days things will be made right...

Thanks,

 

[dburne]

Hey gang,
Just wanted to report back, got a call from the dealer yesterday and he has my Sea Ray rear tie downs in for me, the spare tire and mount are due in today, so should be taking the boat back up there probably next weekend, to get it on, the rear trailer light mounted properly, and my tie downs.

Also I stated I did not get copies of Bill of Sale, I was incorrect, found them in my desk drawer - getting old bites!

Have an apt at U-Haul tomorrow afternoon to get the 4 pin wire harness replaced with a 5 pin for this trailer.