Bow & Stern Eyes
What Are Bow & Stern Eyes?
Bow and stern eyes are among the most fundamental pieces of hardware on any trailered or dockable boat. Bow & stern eyes are through-hull or through-stem metal fittings that serve as dedicated attachment points at the front (bow) and rear (stern) of a vessel. Whether you're winching your boat onto a trailer, securing it to a dock cleat, or rigging a tow line, these small but mighty fittings are the critical link between your boat and the ropes, chains, and cables that keep it where it belongs.
How They Work and Why They Matter
A bow eye is typically mounted through the stem at the front of the hull, making it the natural connection point for a trailer winch hook and bow strap. The stern eye, mounted at the transom, mirrors that function at the rear — and when mounted low on the transom, can even serve double duty as a ski tow point. Together, these fittings distribute load across a backing plate that spreads stress through the hull laminate, preventing localized damage during the rigors of trailering or rough-water towing.
Because these fittings are subject to significant pulling forces — often thousands of pounds — material selection and load ratings are critical. Most quality bow and stern eyes are machined from 304 or 316 stainless steel for corrosion resistance, though chrome-plated zinc and galvanized steel options are also available for fresh-water applications. Always check the manufacturer's rated working load limit (WLL) and never exceed it, as hardware failure under load can cause serious damage or injury.
Key Considerations When Shopping
- Material: 316 stainless steel is the gold standard for saltwater use; 304 stainless works well in fresh water. Chrome zinc is a budget-friendly option suited to calm fresh-water conditions.
- Shank size and thread length: Match the shank diameter (commonly 3/8" or 1/2") and thread length to your hull thickness to ensure a secure, flush installation with a proper backing plate.
- Single vs. double shank: Double-shank (U-bolt style) designs eliminate twisting or rotation under load, offering added stability for high-stress towing applications.
- Working load limit: Confirm the rated pull strength meets or exceeds the demands of your boat's weight and intended use — especially for water sports towing.
Top Brands in Bow & Stern Eyes
Seachoice is the category leader here, offering a comprehensive range of stainless steel bow and stern eyes in multiple shank sizes. Their stainless bow and stern eye lineup is machined from 304 stainless steel with rated pull strengths ranging from 3,200 to 4,800 lbs, making them a reliable choice for a wide variety of trailerable powerboats.
Sea-Dog Line brings over 80 years of marine hardware expertise to the category. A third-generation family business based in Everett, Washington, Sea-Dog is well-known for offering bow eye options in materials ranging from corrosion-resistant stainless steel to chrome-plated zinc for fresh-water use — with multiple size configurations to fit virtually any hull.
Attwood Marine rounds out the selection with dependable deck hardware designed for recreational boaters. Attwood is a trusted name across a broad spectrum of marine accessories, and their bow and stern eye offerings carry that same commitment to durability and fit.