Towing RS200

Not had the boat long so only towed it twice and it seems to be a right pain.

The problem is: the ratchet strap goes across the part of the boat which tapers toward the bow. Tighten the strap up and the boat tries to slide back like a squeezed orange pip...of course I've tied the boweye to the front of the trailer but the pressure on that piece of rope is now extreme and the boweye is not designed to be pulled that hard in that direction. Once the boat stops sliding back the strap slides forward.

....I've towed a few boats and they all have a tendency to move slightly, nothing a stop and check won't solve though. This 200 is the worst I've seen to date.

Any tips out there?

Edited by transient - 19 Jul 13 at 12:19pm

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transient Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 21 Aug 12 Online Status: Offline Posts: 715	Post Options Post Reply Quote transient Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Towing RS200 Posted: 19 Jul 13 at 12:18pm
	Not had the boat long so only towed it twice and it seems to be a right pain. The problem is: the ratchet strap goes across the part of the boat which tapers toward the bow. Tighten the strap up and the boat tries to slide back like a squeezed orange pip...of course I've tied the boweye to the front of the trailer but the pressure on that piece of rope is now extreme and the boweye is not designed to be pulled that hard in that direction. Once the boat stops sliding back the strap slides forward. ....I've towed a few boats and they all have a tendency to move slightly, nothing a stop and check won't solve though. This 200 is the worst I've seen to date. Any tips out there? Edited by transient - 19 Jul 13 at 12:19pm

RichTea Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 22 Jan 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Post Options Post Reply Quote RichTea Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Jul 13 at 12:33pm
	I dont tow it often but when I do, I have a strap from the bottom of the launching trolley, over the top (we have an old style launching trolley) Another at the tiedown point on the road trailer and another towards the bow. The one at the bow I then use another rope to pull it back to the mainsheet block to stop it falling forward. Ok its pulling at the wrong angle but its not that bigger load on it.
	RS200

Neptune Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jun 09 Location: Berkshire United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1314	Post Options Post Reply Quote Neptune Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Jul 13 at 1:42pm
	i have seen quite a few 200's use a wooden spreader bar across the top so that strap is pulling that down rather than trying to squeeze the boat out
	Musto Skiff and Solo sailor

tmoore Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 01 Nov 07 Location: Wales Online Status: Offline Posts: 880	Post Options Post Reply Quote tmoore Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Jul 13 at 2:54pm
	The RS300 does something very similar on both the front and rear straps. For the front I would put a pipe into the mast slot and ratchet the boat forwards and down to the trailer (you could use any other handy fittings such as the chute mouth, blocks, shroud plates etc). For the rear strap I solved the problem by moving the tie down points back slightly. If you use a west mersea trailer then you can get rope loop around the rear metal support for the mudguards. From memory this is about 30cm back from the standard tie off point and solved the problem on the 300. Failing that a wooden board with rubber glued to the bottom (stops scratching and movement) should do the trick. Also remember to make sure there is a twist in the ratchet strap (between the tie down and boat). This helps to reduce the vibration due to wind and so should slow down any movement.
	Landlocked in Africa RS300 - 410 Firefly F517 - Nutshell Micro Magic RC yacht - Eclipse

transient Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 21 Aug 12 Online Status: Offline Posts: 715	Post Options Post Reply Quote transient Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Jul 13 at 6:54pm
	Thanks for the replies, I shall experiment with those ideas.

patj Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 16 Jul 04 Location: Wiltshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 643	Post Options Post Reply Quote patj Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jul 13 at 8:39am
	We tow various boats regularly but not RS200. However we use a plank of about 4x2 across the boat (or if you're rich, one of those strongbacks the Merlin sailors use) which is just wider than the boat (to clear the gunwhales) with a wide ratchet strap and rounded notches cut in the plank to sit the ratchet strap in and stop it moving. Put some foam or carpet underlay layers between the plank and the deck and put strap under both trolley and trailer. Then add another ratchet strap at the prow to keep the nose fixed down, don't just use the painter and thread this through the bow fitting and round the trailer somewhere forward of the handles and mast support to pull the boat forward as well as down. When you tie on the lighting board or put it on the pintles, add a couple of bungees from the ends to the trolley cradle to keep it pulled down and run the cable under the thwart to keep it controlled. It's amazing how many boats we see badly tied down and thumping around on the trailer as they arrive and depart from meetings. Tension the ratchet straps to get a nice deep note when strummed - that's boat tuning Edited by patj - 20 Jul 13 at 8:40am

transient Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 21 Aug 12 Online Status: Offline Posts: 715	Post Options Post Reply Quote transient Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jul 13 at 12:17pm
	Thanks for that Patj, seems Neptune and yourself are in accord on this one, a plank needed. tmoore and RichTea a combo of more straps and shifting the anchor point back.......Application of all ideas seems the way to go. I am surprised that a boat and trailer as supplied from the factory needs all this extra stuff in order to make it safe/usable. It seems downright dangerous as is. Clearly much thought has gone into designing the boat and B*gger all gone into designing the trailer/trolley combo. Thanks Folks