Hi Keith: For multiple boats, I've used sprint boat club trailers that are best described as a large rectangular set of monkey bars with slings hanging down for boats to slip into. Makes for a nice, gentle support for delicate boats - - no pressure points. Also provides for a bit of suspension through the webbing. It is very simple to use, and each sling can be easily adjusted for a perfect fit. For one or two boats, I use a utility trailer with uprights in the corners, and lay slings across between the uprights. Again, it is very simple and very effective, and still lets me use the utility trailer as a utility trailer when I'm not hauling boats. To reduce strain on the sprits of the longest kayaks when using short trailers, I tie the boat to a very sturdy padded extension ladder, and then sling the whole sheboo. For trailering the heavy 40+ foot canoes, my club has yet to put in a sliding sling system in the trailer, but it is just a matter of time until we do (this method is also occasionally used for war canoe trailers). We have already put in a sling system in the non-mobile storage trailer for them. I prefer 2" webbing to 1" out of paranoia over pressure points, and go with 4" for the heavies. The primary difference between what you propose and what I have used is that with my approach any given web will only suppport one boat, rather than daisy chain more than one boat below a support bar. My best guess is that if you daisy chain a few boats all under one support bar, the ones in the middle will sway from side to side. A bit of give is a good thing, for it evens out sudden shocks, but too much swaying can be hard on fragile boats (e.g. sprint boats) if it snaps their sprits about (I know of one K4 that was snapped in two this way). But then I'm the fellow who continued on down a logging road dragging a trailer loaded with wild water kayaks, not realizing that the undercarriage including the axle and wheels had fallen off a few kilometers back. Strong as a bull, smart as a streetcar, Richard Culpeper *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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