Marinette Boat Forum

Hey all, I just bought a 1968 28' Marinette and although I've seen it several times (it's an hour and a half away and I need to put new rubber on the trailer) I never noticed until drooling over the pics tonight that there is nothing for the winch to connect to. I've been around boats all my life, but not this size and I'm wondering if this is normal? Should I run a line from my bow cleats to the winch to secure it?

There are no such things as stupid questions; just stupid people that ask questions...and I'm feeling dumb! LOL

I'll attach a pic...she's a dirty girl...for now- I'm going to make an honest woman out of her.

I have used 2 inch ratchet straps off of the mid cleats, it lets the boat pivot more as you come out of the water. Attach them wherever you can around the trailer tongue. It also works nice for keeping it straight while loading onto the trailer.

A line from the fwd cleats to the hitch, will help prevent backwards slide but probably not much help for side to side motion. A series of side straps to the cleats fwd, mid ship and aft will do that. Marinette never put a bow eye on its boats which was curious. Did they think that the smaller ones would not be trailered? Looks that way

Thank you both for the replies! I was a bit concerned when I noticed there was no bow eye. I'm also scratching my head at the bow mounted drain plug. I'd have sank the first time I went out had the previous owner not told me!

DocGil » Sun Aug 01, 2021 8:37 pm

" I'm also scratching my head at the bow mounted drain plug. I'd have sank the first time I went out had the previous owner not told me!"

The reason the drain plug is at the bow is that when your Marinette is setting in the water the hull is lower in front that why there is a bilge pump in that area.

When storing on land either on the hard or trailer don't make the mistake of storing your Marinette bow high.
Place level on the swim platform or floor of the Marinette and try an set it level.
bill

I trailered around a 28 express for quite a few years, take it from me and install a bow eye, it takes maybe an afternoon to maybe 6-8 hours of work to install and you will not regret it. Time to install depends on how fussy you want to be on the looks of it

Seef158 I was actually thinking of posting that question. Thanks for confirming my thoughts! Edit: I was also thinking about putting stern eye's in so that I can easier strap it down. Thoughts anyone?

" I was also thinking about putting stern eye's in so that I can easier strap it down. Thoughts anyone? "
Do you have cleats on the stern? They are what most people use.

Here's how I strap it down.
Here is the Bow eye I made. Welded it on.

Wow. That is beautiful. I am actually planning on painting mine a dark blue and now I know it will look awesome.

I am thinking finding a good aluminum welder near me is a must. Either that or learning to weld aluminum myself.

Thanks for posting!