Has anyone made their own Brap strap/ ratchet hood clamp?

[jeckert]

Just wondering as anyone made their own Brap Strap?

http://blowsion.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=04-04-310

I'm not sure if the actual ratchet mounts to the hull like a stocker, but it would be nice if it did! I'm assuming that you want to buy a stainless sailboat ratchet for $12 or so, but what else...why does Blowsion charge $100 for this. I guess I'm missing something, right?

Thanks in advance for the input!

 

[Cannibal]

A couple guys have made them. I have all the stuff here to do mine, but I need to get my body work done on the SJ first.

Here's a thread I started about it a while back. Should give you some ideas.

Really nothing to it but the ratchet and webbing, but you could add the guide plate like the Blowsion one and turf the ratchet, and add a velcro strap to secure the ratchet in the down position.

Steve

 

[stanton]

the blowsion kit includes everything you need, all backing plates, hardware, and protective covers are included. the stainless ratchet is bulletproof and turfed for looks.

100 isnt so bad if you dont have the knowledge, time, or means to make your own.
i could have made one, but for the price it wasnt worth my time ordering all the stuff from seperate suppliers and the headache of getting something wrong.

best hood system out. i wont trust anything else.

 

[oxnard111]

I have made my own before the brap strap came out.

here is a link to the thread. no pictures though.

http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/18365&highlight=strap

 

[Cannibal]

$100 is cheap compared to a hood, but the "inventor" of the Brap Strap was actually selling them here for like $40-50 IIRC. I can't seem to find his original thread though. His and Blowsion's are identical. Blowsion either bought the rights and makes them themselves, or he still makes them for Blowsion.

You are really only talking about $30 in materials.

Plus, you need to find someone to sew your webbing in a 'V' and sew your velcro on.

 

[guiness92]

I made mine with clip style straps, they never failed. was a total of about 12 bucks at the hardware store and about 15 minutes to install.

 

[oxnard111]

I made mine with clip style straps, they never failed. was a total of about 12 bucks at the hardware store and about 15 minutes to install.

yours may have not failed, but i have seem plenty that have.

but i have yet to hear of a brap strap style hood system that has failed.

 

[Proformance1]

EJ made makes them, it is the only way to fly in my opinion. He uses good straps that don't losen up as soon as they get wet. With the new velcro strap, etc changes, I think he was still well over 70 bucks plus

 

[keith t]

http://www.pwcforums.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=34084

heres how i made mine

Keith

 

[Motorheads5]

Daylite has a slick setup on his ski. it's better than the Brap Strap IMO.

 

[tom21]

I made mine with clip style straps, they never failed. was a total of about 12 bucks at the hardware store and about 15 minutes to install.

me too. it doesn't have to be expensive to work. the latch holds the hood and in the event the latch fails the straps and clips will keep it in place til I get to shore.

 

[wydopen]

me too. it doesn't have to be expensive to work. the latch holds the hood and in the event the latch fails the straps and clips will keep it in place til I get to shore.

i lost a hood with those..latch broke and so did both clips..granted it was probably the worst slamming ive taken on a pretty seizable day but it can happen
Wamiltons bungee hoodstraps are the easiest and strongest..my latch has popped open multiple times with the wammer straps and the hood dosnt even shift

 

[oxnard111]

i lost a hood with those..latch broke and so did both clips..granted it was probably the worst slamming ive taken on a pretty seizable day but it can happen
Wamiltons bungee hoodstraps are the easiest and strongest..my latch has popped open multiple times with the wammer straps and the hood dosnt even shift

i was waiting for you to chime in with that story.

 

[Talsivar]

if you make your own you need to make a guide or thread the strap through something. if you don't and you land sideways like in big surf or under rotating a roll, the hood will slide/shift sideways and break.

 

[suva]

Daylite has a slick setup on his ski. it's better than the Brap Strap IMO.

I don't recall what that looks like, could you enlighten us?

 

[Motorheads5]

I was trying to find a picture of it I guess I didn't take one! It is wide like a seat belt and you just route the strap through between 2 bar's and it Cam's over like a Chain binder and I think he had a velcro strap over it as a safety. It was made out of stainless steel I will send him a E-Mail and find out where he got it I want one anyway, I don't even have my glass work done yet on my RN so I have not been thinking about it lol

 

[infamy]

I was trying to find a picture of it I guess I didn't take one! It is wide like a seat belt and you just route the strap through between 2 bar's and it Cam's over like a Chain binder and I think he had a velcro strap over it as a safety. It was made out of stainless steel I will send him a E-Mail and find out where he got it I want one anyway, I don't even have my glass work done yet on my RN so I have not been thinking about it lol

http://http://www.bing.com/shopping/Pair-2-x-48-Heavy-Duty-Transom-Tie-Down-Web-Straps-With-Rust/search?q=boat%20transom%20strap&p1=[CommerceService%20scenario%3d%22o%22%20docid%3d%22BA6D9DDD39E13BAA39F7%22]&wf=Commerce&FORM=EGCA6

 

[infamy]

i lost a hood with those..latch broke and so did both clips..granted it was probably the worst slamming ive taken on a pretty seizable day but it can happen
Wamiltons bungee hoodstraps are the easiest and strongest..my latch has popped open multiple times with the wammer straps and the hood dosnt even shift

ive tried the blowsion straps with the plastic clips...they suck , i have a ski with brap strap.... works good but kinda a pain to take hood on and off, i also run the wamilton bungee straps and think they kinda suck. just my opinions. i kinda like my oem 550 hoodstrap the best

 

[Idok]

tractor supply USED to sell SS ratchets for 40 bucks for 4 of them...they dont carry them anymore though..

turfing the strap takes about 10 minutes.......the ones I have done just dont have the plastic piece that goes on the hood..a piece of turf works just as well...

the ratchet bolts to the hull with a single 1/4" bolt and a fender washer

then mount the straps up front to a number of places



suncor sells a 2" ratchet...but its ginormous

 

[mrc123]

Just made my strap for 8 bucks! Works great...... I might start selling them for half the price of Blowsions!