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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Bow Eye Recommendations?

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Michael Meyering
1st Mate

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USA
52 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/19/2010 : 07:37:12

Cat 25 FK SR

Currently no bow eye.
Boat location: moored 1/4 from shore on Santa Rosa Sound, FL

May have to weather a hurricane some day, depending on when I get a trailer.

Any recommendations for location, size, configutation, backing, etc?

thanks,

Mike

Jesus is the Lifeguard of the world

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2010 : 18:45:24

The easiest approach is to just buy the kit from CD. Santa Rosa Sound can get pretty ugly without a hurricane. I'll have to check in on you. I went to Destin last year, but I usually winter in Pensacola Beach.

Edited by - Dave5041 on 09/19/2010 18:48:05

Michael Meyering
1st Mate

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USA
52 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2010 : 19:19:50

Caution: Never moor your boat from the trailer bow eye. It is intended to take a load from the trailer winch, directly forward of the boat. A boat "sailing on its anchor" will exert a substantial side load on the bow eye. That side load will bend the eye and probably damage the fiberglass and gel coat.

http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=1882

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2010 : 19:41:21

Are you going to cut a hole in the liner - so the backing block rests directly against the inside of the hull?

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MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2010 : 21:54:11

I don't have a bow eye on my boat. We trailer it all over the place from the central California valley to the Moss Landing, to SF, to the delta, and to Huntignton Lake (this place is right across the road from a ski lodge, about 8000 foot elivation, up a very steep grade). To load the boat I winch it on with a rope from a stern cleat around the front of the trailer post, back to a jib winch. Pulling from the back like this the boat always ends up flat and straight on the trailer, then I strap it down after lowering the mast. The triler has 3 pads per side, no rollers. If you have rollers, it might be a different story.

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Michael Meyering
1st Mate

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USA
52 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2010 : 02:12:16

my main motive for considering installing a bow eye is not for towing, but for mooring- especially during a tropical storm. But I will use your advice when trailering- thanks!

OJ- I did not think of that- I definitely will install with the backing directly against the hull

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9075 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2010 : 06:10:57

Catalina Direct has a great deal of collective experience and knowledge, particularly about their own products for our boats. If they say don't do it, I would not do it. If you do, I'd only use the bow eye for a secondary (looser) pennant as backup in case the ones to the cleats fail.

A better idea might be to upgrade your bow cleats--the stock cleats on mine were a little small for many mooring pennants. Having them on the rail is a good thing--no chafe from chocks or other hardware.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 09/20/2010 06:12:04

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2010 : 06:32:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by MattL
 I don't have a bow eye on my boat. We trailer it all over . . .
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> That could get interesting if there was an accident where the boat broke lose from the trailer - especially if it contributed to additional damage and/or injury.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2010 : 08:01:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Michael Meyering
 my main motive for considering installing a bow eye is not for towing, but for mooring- especially during a tropical storm. But I will use your advice when trailering- thanks!

OJ- I did not think of that- I definitely will install with the backing directly against the hull
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

For mooring during tropical storms, I would rig the mooring ball with two pendants. Then, I'd attach one pendant to the port cleat, and attach the other to the starboard cleat. That way, you'd have two lines to take the load, and, if one should chafe or fail, or if the cleat should pull out, you'll still have one left to hold the boat.

A bow eye is a convenience when trailering, but they're a frequent source of leaks into the v berth, which run under the cushions. It's very difficult to keep them from leaking, because the strain on them when you trailer the boat is likely to break the seal of any caulk that you use to seal them.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 09/20/2010 08:06:30

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2010 : 08:32:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
. . . they're a frequent source of leaks into the v berth, which run under the cushions. It's very difficult to keep them from leaking, because the strain on them when you trailer the boat is likely to break the seal of any caulk that you use to seal them.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I think the cause of the seal being compromised is when the backing block is placed against the interior liner. The liner flexes when you pull on the bow-eye, allowing it to move and break the seal. I placed mine against the hull and there is no movement.

Edited by - OJ on 09/20/2010 12:19:23

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2010 : 19:14:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OJ<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">[I don't have a bow eye on my boat. We trailer it all over...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">That could get interesting if there was an accident where the boat broke lose from the trailer...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I understand the concern about a C-25 (or any boat) getting loose in a highway emergency. However, I doubt a bow eye would make much difference unless it were used to keep the hull from moving forward.

We've had discussions here praising powerful trailer brakes. And I can attest 4-wheel disks and a surge coupler can haul a trailer down almost as hard as the unladen tow vehicle. But what about stopping the boat? (Sitting on 64 rollers in my case.)

After loading and positioning my C-25 on the trailer and winching up tight against the bow stop, I chain the 1/2" bow eye to the winch pedestal. Then I run a 3/8" line on each side from the bow cleats, aft along side, under the (nicely radiused) rear trailer frame cross member, up, and tighten with the primary sheet winches.

The intent is to prevent the boat from moving forward under heavy braking. I don't trust a typical trailer winch pedestal to stop that much weight with a wedge leading edge from climbing into the truck with me at close to 1.G deceleration.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2010 : 08:04:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Leon Sisson
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OJ<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">[I don't have a bow eye on my boat. We trailer it all over...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">That could get interesting if there was an accident where the boat broke lose from the trailer...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I understand the concern about a C-25 (or any boat) getting loose in a highway emergency. However, I doubt a bow eye would make much difference unless it were used to keep the hull from moving forward.
Leon Sisson

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Leon, from a mechanical standpoint I might agree. From a legal point, there's a bulldog of an injury attorney in SW PA that plays every angle . . . and would jump on this if the opportunity presented itself.
There's also a warning label on our 2010 Trail-Rite stating that the winch is not intended to be the only securing point for the boat - yet another flag. I'm certain this label is a result of past lawsuits where the manufacturer was dragged into court.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2010 : 08:58:24

When we trailer our C-22's, we run a 2" strap over the boat in front of the cockpit winches to the trailer frame as 1 tie-down. In addition to the trailer winch strap to the bow eye, we also run a ratchet strap across the bow behind the cleats to each side of the winch stand.
When I last pulled the C-25, I tied bow lines to the trailer on each side, a 2" ratchet strap over the cockpit in front of the winches down to the trailer frame, AND a 3/8" line from the winch platform to each cockpit jib sheet winch. (The line to the jib winches is run as part of the haul-out process to keep the boat from sliding backwards on the trailer during haul-out, and we left it there for trailering after easing the tension on the line a little).

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