Unhooking the Winch Strap

[TRD]

I take the rear transome straps off but not the front strap. My boat will slide right off the trailer if the front strap is off.

[KonaKing]

if it is a long steep ramp I drive down and turn at the bottom and my local ramp is only about 20 feet I unhook first

What we need is a buddy bumper with a solenoid to unhook and of course for all you safety minded ones a pin to guard against premature release

[zad0030]

With our tige, we could have left the strap off and drove down the highway with no problem. That thing wasnt going anywhere. No matter what ramp, what slope, the boat would not float of the trailer. It always needed power to back off.

Im sure this changes to boat model and trailer.

[Timmy!]

My boat doesn't want to seem to float off of the trailer ever either but I still don't unhook the winch until the engine is started.

[majestic]

My boat doesn't want to seem to float off of the trailer ever either but I still don't unhook the winch until the engine is started.

X2

[21TigeToGo]

Because of past experience I do not unhook winch strap until transom is in water and almost or floating.

Years ago after using bunk trailers for 15 years I got a 23' Searay on an EZ loader and unhooked winch strap when transom was even with waters edge.

As soon as I put in reverse to finsh backing in the boat started rolling backwards. Not a great feeling. Something told me to accelerate and push the boat closer into the water. End result boat was standing on end transom in water and nose 4 feet past waters edge. I slowly pulled trailer forward and got very f'ing lucky. Boat floated and no damage to I/O or fiberglass. It was mud bottom from all the power loads and unloads on a river ramp.

JUst Lucky that day. Was first day with that trailer.

Now winch strap is on until boat is in water. No exceptions.

[zad0030]

I bet there could also be a difference between V drive and DD. because the weight it more centered on the trailer.

[Domsz06]

it all depends on the ramp IMO

[dogbert]

Leave the strap on. It's not worth the risk.

[jwanck11]

I unhook right before the aqua. Ours is a long very shallow angle ramp... you actually have to take the trailer wheels off the end of the ramp to float the boat.

[Jason B]

I always disconnected the strap and chain then slammed on the brakes to float the boat off and back. I never imagined it would come off. I've changed my mind after reading this post I'll be leaving the strap on till the transom is floating now.

[rushin]

Un-hook transom straps in prep area but leave winch strap connected till boat is just touching water.

[balair]

I always disconnected the strap and chain then slammed on the brakes to float the boat off and back. I never imagined it would come off. I've changed my mind after reading this post I'll be leaving the strap on till the transom is floating now.

if you have a bunk trailer, unhooking the bow strap is no big deal. there is way too much friction for the boat to go anywhere. At the marina we would pull boats through town on work trailers that have no straps and never droped a boat once. If they can go on the highway without falling off, backing down a ramp should be no big deal. If you have a roller trailer, you deserve to have your boat fall off.

[Moki]

Short and mellow ramp - I unhook everything and hit the pedal to the metal at around 45 mph in reverse. I jam it into forward and hit the gas while in 4WD and literally launch the boat into the water. The kids love it. OK, I just unhook everthing and then back it in slowly.

Steep and/or long ramp. I unhook the transom at the top and unhook the bow at the water's edge.

[zad0030]

Short and mellow ramp - I unhook everything and hit the pedal to the metal at around 45 mph in reverse. I jam it into forward and hit the gas while in 4WD and literally launch the boat into the water. The kids love it. OK, I just unhook everthing and then back it in slowly.

Steep and/or long ramp. I unhook the transom at the top and unhook the bow at the water's edge.

I would like to see pics of this!