Trailer, Strap, and Cabin Access
- kurz
- Admiral
- Posts: 1312
- Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:07 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Zürich, Switzerland, Europe
Re: Trailer, Strap, and Cabin Access
Interesting. In EU you MUST use tie downs.
But... Can you imagin a Situationen, where the exits the Trailer backwarts?
But... Can you imagin a Situationen, where the exits the Trailer backwarts?
- Russ
- Admiral
- Posts: 8343
- Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:01 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Bozeman, Montana "Luna Azul" 2008 M 70hp Suzi
Re: Trailer, Strap, and Cabin Access
Guy sure has a potty mouth.
Boat owner made a tragic mistake.
Boat owner made a tragic mistake.
--Russ
- NiceAft
- Admiral
- Posts: 6756
- Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:28 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Upper Dublin,PA, USA: 2005M 50hp.Honda4strk.,1979 Phantom Sport Sailboat, 9'Achilles 6HP Merc 4strk
Re: Trailer, Strap, and Cabin Access
Ray ~~_/)~~
- kurz
- Admiral
- Posts: 1312
- Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:07 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Zürich, Switzerland, Europe
Re: Trailer, Strap, and Cabin Access
I cannot immagine that I can start so fast that the
- Piddle and Futz
- Engineer
- Posts: 151
- Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2021 7:18 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Corpus Christi, Texas, 2005 26M, 50HP E-Tec
Re: Trailer, Strap, and Cabin Access
Your solutions for securing the bow are simpler and probably stronger than mine.
The only reason I didn't connect to the bow ring is that if it somehow broke it would represent a single point of failure. Both the cable and the winch would break free.
The only reason I didn't connect to the bow ring is that if it somehow broke it would represent a single point of failure. Both the cable and the winch would break free.
- Be Free
- Admiral
- Posts: 1920
- Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 6:08 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Steinhatchee, FL
Re: Trailer, Strap, and Cabin Access
The only way you will lose the boat off the back of the trailer is if you accelerate hard enough to pull the trailer out from under the boat (like in the video). That boat was not attached to the trailer at all; not at the winch or with a tie-down strap over the gunwales. It also looked like it was on rollers. That was not an equipment failure. That was an operator failure.
A very quick, very rough calculation of the force needed to slide a dry 3000 pound boat off of the trailer (no rollers) suggests that the trailer would have to be accelerating at the rate of 5G (likely more). If any of you have a tow beast that can turn in a sub-3 second quarter mile with the boat attached you should be very careful how you pull away from the traffic lights.
A very quick, very rough calculation of the force needed to slide a dry 3000 pound boat off of the trailer (no rollers) suggests that the trailer would have to be accelerating at the rate of 5G (likely more). If any of you have a tow beast that can turn in a sub-3 second quarter mile with the boat attached you should be very careful how you pull away from the traffic lights.
Bill
2001 26X Simple Interest
Honda BF40D
"If I were in a hurry I would not have bought a sailboat." Me
2001 26X Simple Interest
Honda BF40D
"If I were in a hurry I would not have bought a sailboat." Me
- Piddle and Futz
- Engineer
- Posts: 151
- Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2021 7:18 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Corpus Christi, Texas, 2005 26M, 50HP E-Tec
Re: Trailer, Strap, and Cabin Access
Oddly enough, we do tow with a bit of a beast: 835hp. 0-60 <3s... but I drive like the old guy I am. No chance of leaving the Mac behind. Probably should keep an eye on the admiral though.
- Be Free
- Admiral
- Posts: 1920
- Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 6:08 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Steinhatchee, FL
Re: Trailer, Strap, and Cabin Access
Yes. It is snowing in Steinhatchee today.
Bill
2001 26X Simple Interest
Honda BF40D
"If I were in a hurry I would not have bought a sailboat." Me
2001 26X Simple Interest
Honda BF40D
"If I were in a hurry I would not have bought a sailboat." Me
-
OverEasy
- Admiral
- Posts: 2945
- Joined: Mon Sep 28, 2020 11:16 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: NH & SC
Re: Trailer, Strap, and Cabin Access
Getting back to the topic of tie downs…..
I should have taken photos of a set up I saw a couple of years back where a guy made a pair of padded 3/8” thick sheet metal/plate J-hooks that he placed over the gunwales which were attached to HD ratchet straps to the boat trailer frame.
With one per side it left the midsection cockpit open and unobstructed.
He said he did it that way as the boat didn’t have any stern eyes to hook into and his trailer didn’t really extend aft far enough either.
To be honest it looked like something that would work out for our own Mac26X usage, especially when in ‘camper mode’! We have been using the big strap over the cockpit near the pedestal for years because it’s just the way our PO had it set up (which has worked but has become more awkward as the years go by..
). As the strap we’ve been using has gotten some age on it I’ve been considering replacing it… which might be a good time to try this new approach this new year…
Best Regards,
Over Easy

I should have taken photos of a set up I saw a couple of years back where a guy made a pair of padded 3/8” thick sheet metal/plate J-hooks that he placed over the gunwales which were attached to HD ratchet straps to the boat trailer frame.
With one per side it left the midsection cockpit open and unobstructed.
He said he did it that way as the boat didn’t have any stern eyes to hook into and his trailer didn’t really extend aft far enough either.
To be honest it looked like something that would work out for our own Mac26X usage, especially when in ‘camper mode’! We have been using the big strap over the cockpit near the pedestal for years because it’s just the way our PO had it set up (which has worked but has become more awkward as the years go by..
Best Regards,
Over Easy


