If you trailer a boat or jet ski back and forth between home and your favorite body of water, you know the drill: back the trailer into the water, hook the winch strap to the vessel, and crank it up. You’ve probably done it hundreds – maybe thousands – of times.
Years ago, most trailer winches used steel cables. These days, they’ve been replaced with high-strength polyester or nylon straps. They’re lighter, safer, easier to work with, and they don’t rust like the old cables did.
But they don’t last forever.
I got a reminder of that recently on a jet ski trip with friends. We were pulling my buddy’s ski out of the water when his winch strap suddenly snapped. We managed to improvise a solution to get the ski loaded and secured, and luckily we found a replacement strap later that day. The rest of the trip went fine.
Later it hit me: his trailer was the same age as mine, and I was still using the original strap that came with it. It only made sense to replace mine too. It also made me wonder how many people actually think about inspecting or replacing the straps they trust every time they hit the ramp.
Imagine what could happen if a winch strap failed while loading a boat. Best case, the boat just stops halfway up the trailer. Worst case, it slides back into the water and smacks another boat or a dock on the way.
And the winch strap isn’t the only one that matters. Most states require multiple tie-downs for towing – rear straps for sure, and in some places an additional front tie-down. Even if they weren’t required, it’s just smart to use them.
Now picture one of those straps failing because you hit a bump, or because you had a minor accident and the boat broke loose. That kind of failure can turn into a serious mess in a hurry.
There is no exact science on how long they last. There are many variables that affect their lifespan: whether your trailer is stored indoors or outdoors, how often it is used, exposure to salt water or fresh water. The best method to determine when you should replace them is to check them.
So take the simple route: check your straps. If they look frayed, worn, or questionable, replace them. They’re cheap. And a whole lot less costly than dealing with what could happen if they fail.
