Boat buckles...anyone use them?

[veedubtek]

I believe that was @AZDANSX230HO

 

[swatski]

I believe that was @AZDANSX230HO

Close but no cigar, lol.
https://jetboaters.net/threads/need-advice-securing-g2-boat-buckles.11319/#post-196138

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[veedubtek]

Well, I had the state right @swatski !

 

[GoVols01]

I came to the realization I need to get these buckles over the weekend. My standard straps don't ratchet tight enough to hold the boat snug on the trailer.

How are you guys mounting these things on your trailer? I'd see they make some brackets that bolt through the normal strap holes, but that doesn't look very sturdy. Are you guys drilling holes in your trailer frame and sending a bolt all the way through the frame?

 

[Av8tor07]

I came to the realization I need to get these buckles over the weekend. My standard straps don't ratchet tight enough to hold the boat snug on the trailer.

How are you guys mounting these things on your trailer? I'd see they make some brackets that bolt through the normal strap holes, but that doesn't look very sturdy. Are you guys drilling holes in your trailer frame and sending a bolt all the way through the frame?

Drill onto the trailer. It's not that hard to do.

 

[GoVols01]

Drill onto the trailer. It's not that hard to do.

Does the bolt go all the way through the frame so I can put a nut on the other end? is the bolt that comes with it long enough to go through the frame or must I buy one from the store?

 

[Av8tor07]

Does the bolt go all the way through the frame so I can put a nut on the other end? is the bolt that comes with it long enough to go through the frame or must I buy one from the store?

It does go all the way through. The bolt it's about 8 inches long or so. I can take a picture of how I did mine if you want.

 

[RightStuff]

I'll just leave this for you... Good install pictures/comments/etc.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/boat-buckle-installation.888/

 

[Av8tor07]

My trailer doesn't look like the one above.

 

[waternutt]

I am trying to figure out how to install some as well. I have the aluminum trailer from Chaparral and it is a aluminum I-beam. Makes it a little difficult to mount the Boat Buckles.

 

[Wayloncle]

Does the bolt go all the way through the frame so I can put a nut on the other end? is the bolt that comes with it long enough to go through the frame or must I buy one from the store?

I only drilled through one side for mine, I didn't want the bolt going all the way through.

 

[Earfixr]

Looks like this will be my next trailer mod. If your FSH Sheorlander is anything like mine, the tail light housing serves as the base point for the factory tie down. The only problem is there is a little tab angled in on a 30 degree angle of the inboard side of the 8" tail light. Give it one good snug and watch it bend. Then over time watch your taillights start to bend outward. Horrible design. Who thought it was a good idea to anchor a boat under tension and that much load over an 8" bending moment to a little galvanized tail light? Boat Buckles thru-bolted to the frame are next. Salt water life span is my only concern.

 

[GoVols01]

I only drilled through one side for mine, I didn't want the bolt going all the way through.

If the bolt doesn't go all the way through the frame with a nut on the other end, how is your bolt holding your buckle? Did you thread the hole you drilled or something?

 

[txav8r]

I bought boat buckles and installed them on my 2008 SX230 and broke one of them and replaced over time. Still the best to have the ratchet vs a standard transom tie down. My 2012 SX240 had the ratchet setup which to me, looked and acted identical to the boat buckles. If they were another brand, they were just as good as boat buckles, but I actually thought they were. I wouldn't have replaced them unless they broke. They actually had more torque and hold than the boat buckles on the 2008 had.

 

[Wayloncle]

If the bolt doesn't go all the way through the frame with a nut on the other end, how is your bolt holding your buckle? Did you thread the hole you drilled or something?

I took the plastic covers off the end of my trailer rails, drilled through one side and put the Nut inside the rail.
Your trailer frame may be different, mine is rectangle tubing.

 

[Kahuna Khris]

I took the plastic covers off the end of my trailer rails, drilled through one side and put the Nut inside the rail.
Your trailer frame may be different, mine is rectangle tubing.

Swatski mentioned this earlier but it is such an easy, cheap and effective solution it bears repeating. A sharp hard brake while moving forward and before you cinch the straps will properly seat the bow eye into the roller where subsequent braking wont result in loose straps at the stern. Tighten up the trailer winch those last two clicks and good to go. You will get good at this while hauling the boat from the ramp to the securing area so you only need to secure the stern straps once. Easy peasy.

 

[Jgorm]

What's the advantage over the standard flip lever style straps? I've never had an issue with those and the get super tight.

 

[Ronnie]

It's imposaible to lose or misplace boat buckles since they are bolted to the trailer. Also with boat buckles you don't spend anytime getting the strap length right. A lot of people still use conventional transom straps and break hard to get the boat tight against the bow stop but with boat buckles there is no need to do that, just tighten them down once and hit the road.

I purchased boat buckles for my 230 and my 242 came with Reese branded boat Buckles. The Reese brand were crap by comparison in that they would loosen up on the road. I ended up switching them out when I sold the 230.

Now my boat and pwc trailer have them and I had a bead welded to the ends of the bolts to prevent theft. Install on the boat trailer was easy, just used the mounting points already there. The pwc trailer install required welding of the trailer to the offset mounting tabs that came with the boat buckles (I could have bolted the tabs in place but welding was easier at the time).

 

[maboat]

A sharp hard brake while moving forward and before you cinch the straps will properly seat the bow eye ...

That's also effective at accelerating the process of separating the bunk boards from their lag bolts

 

[swatski]

That's also effective at accelerating the process of separating the bunk boards from their lag bolts

I'm confused. How would that be different from a boat moving on a trailer - out at speed, on a highway...? Boat will move and straps will loosen up no matter where you do your breaking...
Tuck it up to start with, then tighten all the tie downs and they will not loosen up, no matter what the tow.
Am I missing something? Wouldn't be the first time..., lol.

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