Verplexter 15-Inch Towing Safety Chain - Tie Down Trailer Safety Chains with Hooks Boat Safety Kit

A compact safety link that earns its keep

I’ve always treated the bow safety connection as the last bit of insurance on a boat trailer—something you rarely notice until you really need it. After a season of launches, highway miles, and a couple of rough ramp recoveries, the Verplexter 15-inch bow safety chain proved itself as a simple, sturdy safeguard that’s easy to live with, provided your trailer geometry suits the short length.

What it is and how I used it

This is a straightforward, 15-inch chain with hooks that connects the bow eye to the trailer’s winch post or bow stop, acting as a secondary tie-down independent of the winch strap. I installed it on two setups:

• A 17-foot aluminum fishing boat on a single-axle bunk trailer, with a short reach between the bow eye and winch post.
• A 20-foot runabout on a tandem-axle trailer, where the bow eye sits farther from the bow stop.

On the smaller rig, the chain length was essentially perfect—enough reach to hook up easily but short enough to keep the bow firmly planted against the bow stop. On the larger boat, 15 inches was borderline; I could make it work by choosing a closer attachment point on the post, but there wasn’t much spare link to play with. That’s the key theme with this chain: the compact length is a feature if your spacing is tight and you want minimal slack; it’s a limitation if your setup demands more reach.

Build quality and materials

For a no-frills safety chain, the build quality is reassuring. The links are uniform and free of burrs, and the silver finish has held up well for me after repeated dunkings in brackish water. I’m diligent about rinsing gear after salt exposure, but even without babying it, all I’ve seen so far is minor surface dulling rather than flaking or red rust. The hooks feel appropriately stout for a safety application; they engage a bow eye confidently and seat well on a welded loop on the winch post.

One note for detail-oriented buyers: I couldn’t find a published working load limit in the materials I received. For a bow safety chain that isn’t meant to carry the primary load, that’s not unusual, but I prefer seeing a stamped rating or clearly stated capacity. The chain’s job is redundancy, not towing or lifting, yet clarity would inspire more confidence, especially for heavier boats.

Installation and fit considerations

If the distance between your bow eye and your attachment point on the trailer is under a foot and a half, you’ll probably be in good shape. If it’s close to or beyond that, measure carefully before you buy. A few practical pointers from my installs:

• Measure with the boat fully forward against the bow stop, tongue jack raised, and the trailer level. You want the true “transport” position, not a ramp or driveway outlier.
• Aim to use the chain with minimal slack. The shorter the chain, the less room the bow has to surge forward in a panic stop or bounce backward over bumps.
• If your winch post has multiple holes or accessory mounts, you can often gain an inch or two by selecting a higher or lower attachment point. A small D-shackle can also slightly extend reach without adding flex, but it’s better to reposition hardware if possible.
• Keep the chain clear of the winch strap, wiring, and bow roller hardware to prevent chafe.

On my 17-footer, I had two links to spare and could snug the chain without effort. On the 20-footer, I moved the attachment point up the post and sacrificed a bit of convenience for the sake of using a compact chain. If you frequently swap boats on the same trailer or need extra slack for unusual ramp angles, a longer safety chain or a secondary strap might be a better match.

On-the-road behavior

Once fitted, the chain did exactly what I wanted: it reduced bow movement on rough roads and added a firm, mechanical backstop separate from the winch. At highway speeds, I noticed less chatter at the bow stop, likely because the short chain kept things tighter than a longer strap would. There’s some inevitable metal-on-metal noise if you leave the chain loose; keeping it in light tension reduced rattling substantially.

I also appreciate that, being only 15 inches, there’s less hardware flailing around the bow area. It’s quick to clip on at the ramp, and it doesn’t dangle into the winch or roller assembly when I’m cranking the boat up.

Day-to-day usability

• Ease of use: The hooks bite cleanly on both the bow eye and the trailer point. Even with wet hands, clipping and unclipping was straightforward.
• Durability: After months of use, no deformed links, no hook spread, and the finish remains intact with standard rinse-offs. I store it connected, which keeps grit out and prevents it from knocking around the deck or tool box.
• Maintenance: A quick freshwater rinse after salt exposure and an occasional wipe with a corrosion inhibitor kept it looking fresh. Inspect the link welds and hook throats periodically; if you see deep scoring or flattened spots, it’s time to retire it.

Safety context

A bow safety chain is not a primary tie-down or a substitute for transom straps. It complements your winch strap by providing a physical backup should the strap fail or stretch. It also helps control the energy of the boat in a sudden stop. In my testing and regular use, this chain provided the right kind of redundancy: it stayed out of the way when everything was normal and stood ready if something went wrong.

If you trailer a heavier boat or run particularly rough roads, consider pairing a short chain like this with a secondary bow strap or a turnbuckle to stabilize the bow vertically and fore-aft. Redundancy stacked in different systems (strap plus chain) is better than redundancy within the same system.

What I liked

• Compact length that keeps the bow tight to the stop, reducing surge and rattle.
• Sturdy build with a corrosion-resistant finish that held up well in wet environments.
• Hooks that engage securely and are easy to handle without fuss.
• Simple, no-nonsense design that installs in minutes.

What could be better

• The 15-inch length won’t suit every trailer; larger boats or longer reaches may require a longer chain.
• I’d like a clearly stated working load or safety rating in the packaging or product details.
• Including a small shackle or bolt-on tab could help users fine-tune installation without hunting for extra hardware.

Who it’s best for

This chain is a great fit for:

• Small to mid-size boats where the bow eye sits close to the winch post.
• Trailers with adjustable or multi-hole posts that make it easy to position the attachment point.
• Boaters who prefer a short, tidy safety link over a longer strap or bulky turnbuckle.

If your boat’s bow eye is a long reach from the post, or if you need more versatility across multiple trailers, look for a 24–36 inch option or a safety strap with a ratcheting or buckle mechanism.

The bottom line

The Verplexter 15-inch bow safety chain does a simple job well. It’s compact, solidly made, and confidence-inspiring so long as your trailer geometry works with its short reach. I came away appreciating the way it tightened up the bow area and reduced movement without adding complexity to my launch routine.

Recommendation: I recommend this chain for boaters whose bow eye-to-post distance comfortably fits a 15-inch link and who want a durable, low-profile safety backup. Measure your setup before you buy; if you need more length or prefer a rated, labeled component for heavier loads, step up to a longer chain or a clearly specified alternative. For the right trailer, this compact safety chain is a smart, dependable choice.