Trailer Tie Down Blocks - Manufacturer/Supplier?

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Author Topic:   Trailer Tie Down Blocks - Manufacturer/Supplier?

Buckda posted 01-13-2003 07:56 PM ET (US)
Does anyone know if there are pre-fabricated tie down blocks (as illustrated in the trailering article in the reference section) available for people to purchase? I checked West Marine's website but did not see any - I would think someone would have made plastic or wooden ones available.
Any sources would be welcome.
Thanks.

Dick posted 01-13-2003 08:20 PM ET (US)
Without going in and searching for the picture I believe you mean the blocks to protect the gunwales from an over the boat tie down.
In my allmost 40 years in the marine business I have never seen any.
Typically most boats have allways been tied down from the bow eye and from the stern eyes. The over the gunwale straps used mostly on lightweight aluminum fishing boats.
In my opinion the best combination is a pair of EPCO BTDT-4 tie downs for the stern and an EPCO QZ-3 for the bow.
Dick
Buckda posted 01-13-2003 08:24 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the reply Dick - I guess I'll have to make my own, but I was trying to save myself the time and trouble.
I agree - a transom tie-down would be the perfect solution, but is not feasible with my current trailer set-up (the cross beam is about 2 ft forard of the transom - the two bunks extend back to the end of the boat). So, I use the over-the-boat option - it seems to work great, but I want to be sure to protect both the rubrail and the chine near the stern.
Dick posted 01-13-2003 08:43 PM ET (US)
The transom tie downs will still work in that configuration.
I had a 13' on an E-Z Loader set up like that and used the transom tie downs with no problem.
When you cinch them down that boat isn't going to move.
Dick
Barry posted 01-13-2003 09:12 PM ET (US)
Several companies make tie down pads. I have sets from IMCO (Indiana Marine Company) and WPM (Wellington Puritan Marine?). Both sets are high-visibility flourescent orange PVC. They are designed to protect boat surfaces against scratching and chaffing caused by buckles or webbing. They are approx. 7" x 3" and fit 2" wide tiedowns. West Marine sells the IMCO pads for $2.99.
FLUKEDUKE posted 01-14-2003 12:18 PM ET (US)
Had the same problem once with a tin boat.
Some carpet remnants and duct tape solved the problem, if you consider the duct tape
tacky (no pun), sew the carpet to the strap.
Buckda posted 01-15-2003 07:02 PM ET (US)
Thanks Barry...picked up a pair last night...sure are ugly (orange), but better than a damaged gunwale / rubrail from the strap.

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Author	Topic: Trailer Tie Down Blocks - Manufacturer/Supplier?
Buckda	posted 01-13-2003 07:56 PM ET (US) Does anyone know if there are pre-fabricated tie down blocks (as illustrated in the trailering article in the reference section) available for people to purchase? I checked West Marine's website but did not see any - I would think someone would have made plastic or wooden ones available. Any sources would be welcome. Thanks.
Dick	posted 01-13-2003 08:20 PM ET (US) Without going in and searching for the picture I believe you mean the blocks to protect the gunwales from an over the boat tie down. In my allmost 40 years in the marine business I have never seen any. Typically most boats have allways been tied down from the bow eye and from the stern eyes. The over the gunwale straps used mostly on lightweight aluminum fishing boats. In my opinion the best combination is a pair of EPCO BTDT-4 tie downs for the stern and an EPCO QZ-3 for the bow. Dick
Buckda	posted 01-13-2003 08:24 PM ET (US) Thanks for the reply Dick - I guess I'll have to make my own, but I was trying to save myself the time and trouble. I agree - a transom tie-down would be the perfect solution, but is not feasible with my current trailer set-up (the cross beam is about 2 ft forard of the transom - the two bunks extend back to the end of the boat). So, I use the over-the-boat option - it seems to work great, but I want to be sure to protect both the rubrail and the chine near the stern.
Dick	posted 01-13-2003 08:43 PM ET (US) The transom tie downs will still work in that configuration. I had a 13' on an E-Z Loader set up like that and used the transom tie downs with no problem. When you cinch them down that boat isn't going to move. Dick
Barry	posted 01-13-2003 09:12 PM ET (US) Several companies make tie down pads. I have sets from IMCO (Indiana Marine Company) and WPM (Wellington Puritan Marine?). Both sets are high-visibility flourescent orange PVC. They are designed to protect boat surfaces against scratching and chaffing caused by buckles or webbing. They are approx. 7" x 3" and fit 2" wide tiedowns. West Marine sells the IMCO pads for $2.99.
FLUKEDUKE	posted 01-14-2003 12:18 PM ET (US) Had the same problem once with a tin boat. Some carpet remnants and duct tape solved the problem, if you consider the duct tape tacky (no pun), sew the carpet to the strap.
Buckda	posted 01-15-2003 07:02 PM ET (US) Thanks Barry...picked up a pair last night...sure are ugly (orange), but better than a damaged gunwale / rubrail from the strap.