Bow trailer U-bolt broken

[Holgatelbi]

U-bolt snapped while winching onto trailer. Bolts are still inside cuddy, so it

snapped somewhere within the fiberglass.

Questions:

1. Do they sell a hardened SS U-bolt for replacement?

2. If not hardened, Is there a USA made replacement available?

3. Should I go larger diameter, or just thank God it didn't break

while on the highway? It was 34 years old. (probably)

[ssfishx]

they tend to work harden at the base of the threads from bending back and forth. that causes them to crack and eventually fail.

there are plenty of them available but they aren't all the same, the size of the bolts and the center distance between the threaded pieces will vary but it doesnt have to be exact as long as it will fit where the old one came out

replaced my broken bow eye with this one, it fit without modification

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Attwood-U-B...ashers/3085789

I reused the stainless figure 8 washer that was behind the bow eye on the outside of the boat

be carefull, not all of these come with stainless nuts and washers...

YMMV

[Holgatelbi]

Thanks for the input ssfishx - I did learn that 316 SS is better than 304 for salt water. Mine is 3/8" & I want to go to 1/2"

But that means the center to center dimension changes.