How many of you have this item on your trailer and what are the pros & cons about the item. I might try them if they are not all that bad.
I have some and I like them. I don't know if they are those exact ones but they must be close to the same.
Cy
I think mine are Rod Buckle, but whatever they are, I wouldn't want to be without them.
Same as Eric here, I think mine are Boat Buckles. I wouldn't be without them. No fooling with straps after you take them off, finding the right spot to ratchet them down, etc. 10 seconds and you are ready to go. I might even replace the chain on the bow with one, but that might just be too lazy of me.
Oh yeah. Now that Mr Bender mentions it, when I won a new set at at tournament, I took one off the back and replaced my old fashioned bow tie down with that. And I like that, too.
I'm on my third boat in the last 10 years or so... Boat Buckle retractable tie downs are the first thing I add to the trailer... that and LED tail lights.
I won't own a trailer without the retractable tie downs. Saves time, saves hassle, and they are just fricken cool!!
I'm sure modifications had to made to the trailer to accomodate either brand. Any accessories I would have to purchase? I have a Astro Boat & trailer and was wondering about an adapter which rotated to make the Tie Downs work properly. Did anybody buy these or just drill holes in the trailer.
I put some on my trailer last year and I love them, so much easier than straps and you don't have to have a spot to store them. I just bolted mine right to the tiedown tabs that are welded on the trailer. They are 90 deg. to the trailer, but they still work great.
i have the rod-saver brand. they are ok. Boat buckles are better. Mine are 3 years old and a bit finnicky. one of them lost some piece of metal and you gotta know the trick to get it to latch.... just ask anyone who as ever tried to ratchet down my boat.
Quote from: thedude on January 18, 2011, 11:21:24 PM
i have the rod-saver brand. they are ok. Boat buckles are better. Mine are 3 years old and a bit finnicky. one of them lost some piece of metal and you gotta know the trick to get it to latch.... just ask anyone who as ever tried to ratchet down my boat.
Oooh!! Ooohh! Ask me! Ask me!
Boat buckles are better for sure.
Quote from: thedude on January 18, 2011, 11:21:24 PM
i have the rod-saver brand. they are ok. Boat buckles are better. Mine are 3 years old and a bit finnicky. one of them lost some piece of metal and you gotta know the trick to get it to latch.... just ask anyone who as ever tried to ratchet down my boat.
I can chime in on that too...his are crap. He NEEDS to buy new ones.
Quote from: Cy on January 19, 2011, 11:21:14 AM
Quote from: thedude on January 18, 2011, 11:21:24 PM
i have the rod-saver brand. they are ok. Boat buckles are better. Mine are 3 years old and a bit finnicky. one of them lost some piece of metal and you gotta know the trick to get it to latch.... just ask anyone who as ever tried to ratchet down my boat.
I can chime in a that too...his a crap. He NEEDS to buy new ones.
I know a place that sells em! ;D
they keep the boat on the trailer. i'll buy some new ones when i got extra money just laying around.
I saw a pair of the Rod Saver type for $39.95 plus/shipping but I'm leaning toward the Boat Buckle since hearing from you guys. My trailer just has some welded eyes for the tie downs to hook to, so I would have to mount either ones I buy probably by drilling holes and bolting them on.
Before I bought my current boat, I didn't have them on my old one. I rode for many years as the co anlger. I knew from other's boat that I really wanted the retractables. Much easier, quicker, and you never lose anything.
I bought my current boat / trailer used last summer. I have retractable tie downs and love the idea.
Mine however were not in the best of shape when I got them. I will replace them this spring.
Well, it's a wrap. I purchased the Boat buckles online for about $55.00 and will be installing them in the spring. Thanks to all for the advice. I look forward to meeting all of you at the opener or maybe sooner. I've got cabin fever bad. I've got to stay away from sporting good stores like BPS, Gander Mountain, Cabelas, Dicks or I'll be broke.
Good call going with the Boat Buckles.
I also use 2 of them for my boat cover to pull the straps tight. They make it a snap to put the cover on my Z21 and get it tight. Pop on the rachets, throw the belly strap under and I am done. No other straps to mess with.
I also have the Ranger cover with the ratchets. It really is nice. I don't know why other companies don't make em. Or, maybe they do and I don't know it.
The only things is, .... you gotta be darn sure you remove the buckles before you take off across the lake. There is one member of this board that didn't and one of his buckles rests at the bottom of the lake.