Some time ago, I drilled and filled holes through my skegs for toggle bolts so that I didn't need a strap to go all the way around the boat. I was very happy with the situation.
Until I noticed that there were some cracks in the skegs that weren't there before.
<I have pictures, I'll modify this post with pictures when I can.>
Today I did some investigation, sanding and patching. I now believe that it was not the stress from the bouncing on the trailer. I think it was because I din't get the holes sealed as well as I thought. I used red oak for the skegs and I think some water got in and seeped throught the wood pores and caused it to stretch a bit.
I sanded everything down and recoated with epoxy and graphite powder.
I also found another area where the skeg had rubbed against the trailer and scraped it down to the wood. That must have been recent, as I had found that before on the other skeg and patched it already.
Too bad it's such a pain to work on the skegs under the trailer.
I will continue to experiment with this and let everyone know.
In a serious road accident, straps across the boat are more likely to keep the load on the trailer, rather than the boat leaving behind some splintered skegs attatched to the trailer. Lashing down does not take too long and protective padding can be placed under straps to prevent chafe on varnish or paint. The load should really stay attatched to the trailer even if hit broadside by another vehilce or rolled. If you have ever seen a boat laying across 2 lanes of highway at night, unlit, you will curse the man who does not secure his load properly.
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