Bow eye on an F26

[chumwithabottleofrum]

I am thinking about installing a bow eye on my F26. I put it on a trailer in the fall and store it in a limestone mine and then trailer it back up to Lake Erie (Ashtabula OH) in the spring. It slides a little while putting it back on the tailer and I would just feel more comfortable with a bow eye. I currently use a starp to strap the front end down on the trailer. Has anyone installed a bow eye? Any tips? I have found a 5/8" stock eye-rated for 4800 lbs-that's the heaviest available I'm figuring\hoping it will do the job.
(as a side note I trailered my boat back up to my boat yard yesterday-dual axle trailer rated for 100000 lbs-I found out when I dropped the trailer in the marina yard that I had broken two of the leaf springs-both on the back axle-man someone-maybe Neptune- was looking out for me!)

[rossjo]

Go bigger - WHITECAP Industries makes a nice 1/2" dia x 2" OD Bow EYE - thatss rated higher.

Make sure you make a solid backing plate for inside the boat - aluminum if possible, and then large washer behind that.

I just replaced the Bw Eye in my 26 Chaparall (approx 5000#) - it had snapped going up the ramp (no damage!), and my ramp is 1 block from my house, so I was ok, but I put a more substantial eye back in ...

[chumwithabottleofrum]

Thanks Ross I found one on Marine Hardware 5/8" rated at 5000 lbs. I am going to back it up with a very stout pice of wood and some large washers. I really don't plan on trying to use it to winch the boat up the tralier-no way that will happen give the weight of the boat- as much as just use it as a point to attach the winch strap and supplemental chain.

[rossjo]

Might try a 1/2 or 3/4" peiece of starboard - won't rot. ...