airshot Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 My last two boats have come with the quick latch boat buckle transom strap tie downs. I have had no sucess in keeping them tight. The boat is not moving forward, it cant, bow eye is locked into bow stop, tight safety chain etc. Having done some research on these types of hold downs, they seem to be the most popular. Been around boats for 60 years, these last two boats are the only ones that have used these quick release straps, so I am not sure what to do. The current ones are fairly new, no signs of wear or damage....so....how do you keep them tight, or...are you having the same issues??? Thanks in advance... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MN Fisher Posted March 1, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 1, 2023 I gave up on the boat-buckle style. I just use ratcheting cargo straps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User J Francho Posted March 1, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 1, 2023 I have always used retractable style. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Jig Man Posted March 1, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 1, 2023 Just now, J Francho said: I have always used retractable style. X2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfantryMP Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 I have never had an issue with mine. I wonder if maybe you just have a faulty ratcheting device. You could probably test it with a ratchet strap that works and see if it comes loose. If it does not, then you could narrow it down probably to the ratcheting buckles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted March 1, 2023 Global Moderator Share Posted March 1, 2023 I’ve never used retractable but I have had the loosening issue. My boat sits a little too far back on the trailer for them to work normally. I found a spot to hook them on the side near the back and they stay tight every single time now. I could probably move the post the winch is on slightly forward to “fix” the issue. But it ain’t broke so I ain’t fixing it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User WRB Posted March 1, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 1, 2023 Retractable ratchet style transom tie downs hold down snug not tight under tension unless you manually ratchet them down tighter. Tie downs prevent the boat from sliding or bouncing on the trailer bunks. The key is snugging the bow tight to the roller before hooking up the tie downs. You can always go to the buckle double hook style tie downs. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted March 1, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 1, 2023 These ones came with my boat when I bought it in 2015. I have not encountered an issue with them. The ratchet style boat buckles that are bolted to the trailer seem to be pretty popular. Maybe a bumpy road could jar them loose though. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Phil Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 32 minutes ago, WRB said: Tie downs prevent the boat from sliding or bouncing on the trailer bunks. The key is snugging the bow tight to the roller before hooking up the tie downs. You are most likely not bringing the boat all the way forward before you cinch the hold downs. As you trailer the boat, it slides forward and the tie downs loosen. This can also happen if the boat is not on the trailer straight. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User A-Jay Posted March 1, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 1, 2023 Been running BOATBUCKLE MARINE STAINLESS STEEL RETRACTABLE BOAT BUCKLE BKL F14256 on the Shoreland'r trailer coming up on 7 years. Solid so far. A-Jay 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User GreenPig Posted March 1, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 1, 2023 Satisfied Boat Buckle user for many years here. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MickD Posted March 1, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 1, 2023 1 hour ago, gimruis said: These ones came with my boat when I bought it in 2015. I have not encountered an issue with them. If you go to the retractable straps they will stay tight and turn a multi- minute PIA job into a 10 second piece of cake. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User WIGuide Posted March 1, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 1, 2023 I've had a few different kinds on my last 3 boats and haven't had an issue with any of them staying tight. Is the issue that you're having that they don't get tight when you put them on (like you can pull slack into the strap after you tighten them up), or are they disengaging while you're driving? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User GaryH Posted March 1, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 1, 2023 Retractable's on the last 3 boats and haven’t had any issues. I also installed them on the utv trailer. No more storing ratchet straps when not in use. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Bird Posted March 1, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 1, 2023 Boat buckle on every boat I've owned and never an issue. Hope you get this resolved. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
volzfan59 Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 6 hours ago, Jig Man said: X2 X3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User slonezp Posted March 2, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 2, 2023 Boat buckle and juice them up a couple times a year with Tri Flow lubricant 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airshot Posted March 2, 2023 Author Share Posted March 2, 2023 9 hours ago, InfantryMP said: I have never had an issue with mine. I wonder if maybe you just have a faulty ratcheting device. You could probably test it with a ratchet strap that works and see if it comes loose. If it does not, then you could narrow it down probably to the ratcheting buckles. I have the over center quick attach and release that wont stay tight !! Thunking of moving to a rachette type 9 hours ago, gimruis said: These ones came with my boat when I bought it in 2015. I have not encountered an issue with them. The ratchet style boat buckles that are bolted to the trailer seem to be pretty popular. Maybe a bumpy road could jar them loose though. This is the type I have that wont stay tite.....wanted to go with the retractable ratchet type but lots of issues with them after a short while. 3 hours ago, Bird said: Boat buckle on every boat I've owned and never an issue. Hope you get this resolved. Boat buckle is what I now have but they keep comming loose. I see they make a ratchet type so I might give those a try. Just thought there might be a secret to keeping the others tight !! Thanks for the replys!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MickD Posted March 2, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 2, 2023 I wonder if we all are thinking the same stuff when we say "boat buckle." I have never found any user of the retractable "boat buckles" ever comment on loosening. They are easily tightened very tight and they stay tight. Every time . I tried to think of how they could possibly come loose and I think the only way is if the boat is located forward of the retractors and then moves back on trailering. If the retractors are located properly and the boat is snugged up tightly into the bow stop, I just don't see how they can come loose. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody B Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 My boat came with the straps that @gimruis posted. The "axle" broke in one of them. I've got the stainless steel retractable boat buckles now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted March 2, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 2, 2023 17 hours ago, MickD said: If you go to the retractable straps they will stay tight and turn a multi- minute PIA job into a 10 second piece of cake. That's about how long it takes me to tighten each one, 10 seconds (or less). Really no reason to discard a perfectly fine set of tie downs at this point. The issue I could see with the bolted on boat buckles is that you dunk them in the water every time you launch or load your trailer. The removable ones I have never get wet. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MN Fisher Posted March 2, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 2, 2023 Just now, gimruis said: That's about how long it takes me to tighten each one, 10 seconds (or less). Really no reason to discard a perfectly fine set of tie downs at this point. The issue I could see with the bolted on boat buckles is that you dunk them in the water every time you launch or load your trailer. The removable ones I have never get wet. Ya, I use standard ratchet straps with hooked ends...I cut the excess strap off so there's not a lot 'dangling'. Takes about 1/2 a minute to snug down the boat - less to take them off. Never get wet as they get tossed in the back of the truck when they're not holding the boat down. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Bird Posted March 2, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 2, 2023 8 hours ago, MickD said: I wonder if we all are thinking the same stuff when we say "boat buckle." I have never found any user of the retractable "boat buckles" ever comment on loosening. They are easily tightened very tight and they stay tight. Every time . I tried to think of how they could possibly come loose and I think the only way is if the boat is located forward of the retractors and then moves back on trailering. If the retractors are located properly and the boat is snugged up tightly into the bow stop, I just don't see how they can come loose. I'm thinking along the same line. On all my boats including current, the eye on the trailer is slightly forward of the eye mounted on the boat. When force is applied to the buckle, the only possible way it could loosen is if the boat moved forward during transit...... this would be virtually impossible 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted March 2, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 2, 2023 4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said: I cut the excess strap off so there's not a lot 'dangling'. Mine have a velcro wrap to tie up the excess "dangling" strap. They're only used for my boat (obviously) so they're pretty much already at the correct tightening when I hook them up. Mine go in the back of the truck too when not in use. As others have stated, I also fail to see how they could come loose if they are "installed" and "used" properly, regardless of what type is being used. My hunch is that the bow is not all the way forward to the bow roller or V at the front of the trailer. Or the OP is driving on a really really bad road lol 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MickD Posted March 2, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 2, 2023 1 hour ago, gimruis said: bolted on boat buckles is that you dunk them in the water every time you launch or load your trailer. Doesn't matter. They just keep on working. My son used the removable ratchet type for many years, then I installed boat buckles on his trailer. He thought he had died and gone to heaven. I respectfully do not think anyone can install, properly tighten, and velcro down the loose strap on the removable ones in 30 seconds. I certainly never could. It was always a PIA and I never could get them as tight as I easily can with boat buckles. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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