It's asking for trouble. Use the gunwale strap. Boat trailers don't have
shock absorbers so the boat gets a rougher ride than you feel in your tow
vehicle. A sharp bump or dip can bounce the boat out of position on the
trailer. Then there are all the other highway dynamics to contend with:
gusts, sudden stops, sharp turns, minor accidents. The boat needs to be
firmly secured to the trailer. I also tie my bow line around the trailer
tongue so I won't be depending only on the winch cable to hold the bow in
place.
Isn't there an Oak Grove Inn in Asheville? I stopped there in 1959. I
remember a huge fireplace built of large stones.
Harry Gordon
P14 #234, Manatee
Mountain View, CA