---

Hoping that someone can provide a few suggesstions. I have a 1974 Montauk that I trailer every weekend approx. 75 miles each way. When I hook the trailer strap to the bow eye the hook does not fit that well. It is hard to get it on the eye and there is not enough room to add the additional safety chain hook. I end up hooking the safety chain hook first and then hooking the tow strap hook to the safety chain. I have never felt real comfortable with this setup but it's the best I've come up with.

How does everyone else hook this up? Is there another hook with the appropriate strength and size to fit this bow eye?

Thanks for any input provided.

I will try and post a picture of the set up I'm currently using.

---

We had the same problem with our Montauk. What can be done is to remove the existing strap and cast hook on the winch and replace it with some thing like this tie down from NorthernTool.com. The hook on this strap is much smaller than the cast one on most boat winches and allows for the other hook to get in there.

[img]http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/152694_lg.gif[/img]
Strap

---

What is important about Jeff's suggestion is that you ALWAYS use the safety chain/hook and put that hook through from the opposite side of the eye.

I agree that the "conventional" hook is difficult to attach to the "D" shaped towing eye on Whalers....but the clipping mechanism of this conventional hook is important when towing. The hooks that are pictured above do not have this safety latch, and therefore open the possibility of the hook slipping off during towing. Using the safety chain will help offset this potential problem.

Personally, I've kept the original spring-loaded clasping hook on my tow strap and have a smaller hook for the safety chain.

Finally, I recommend transom-tie-down's for the trailer. This will limit the motion of the boat on the trailer, and also serve to minimize the "need" for the safety chain. (It is still needed, but the transom tie-down's will help shoulder the load of a loose boat in an emergency braking or swerving maneuver on the highway.

Over-the-gunwale tie-downs work in this situation as well.

Good luck!

Dave

---

I had something really interesting happen today in regards to the bow eye that really pissed me off.

I was pulling the boat out today, and drove the boat most of the way onto the trailer. Then winched it in the rest of the way. I guess I didn't put the winch hook in the right away, and when I started cranking it in, the winch twisted the bow eye about a quarter turn, tearing off all the sealant that was surrounding the eye. I haven't even looked at it closely yet, but should I just twist it back and reseal around the eye?

---

Thanks for all the feedback. I do Always use the safety chain, but unfortanetly I typically have to just clip the winch hook to the other end of the safety chain. I am also using transom tie downs which does help a lot. I am going to try the hook that Jeff suggested since it is smaller and I should be able to put both the safety chain hook and the winch hook in together.

As for the twisting bow eye, I have had that happen as well. I blame it on the winch hook not fitting properly. My hope is that the new hook set up will elimate this potential.

My dilemna now is how to attach the hook that Jeff suggested to the existing winch strap. Could you just attach it to the exisiting strap hook or would it make sense to try and sew the strap around that hook.

Any suggestions there?

Thanks

---

Just use the strap that is attached to the hook in the picture. Remove your strap and hook on the the winch and find a tie down strap with a better hook and spin that new strap and hook one on your winch.

---

Thanks Jeff. Guess I didn't think that far ahead.