Patent ID: 7946238

Claim:
A method of transporting and launching an aquatic vessel having a drain opening with inner and outer ends, and a drain plug insertable into the drain opening, the plug being connected to a tether that extends from the plug into the drain opening, the tether including an anchoring part that moves with the tether and limits separation of the plug from the drain opening by engagement with a part of the vessel adjacent the inner end of the drain opening, the method comprising the steps of: positioning the aquatic vessel on a trailer; securing the aquatic vessel to the trailer by connecting the vessel to the trailer by means of at least one tie-down strap having a flexible auxiliary strap having first and second ends, the first end being connected to the tie-down strap; anchoring the second end of the flexible auxiliary strap to the drain opening while the drain plug is not inserted in the drain opening by connecting the second end of the flexible auxiliary strap to the drain plug; transporting the vessel, on the trailer, to a launch site; releasing the vessel from the trailer by releasing a connection of the tie-down strap from at least one of the vessel and the trailer, and releasing the second end of the flexible auxiliary strap from its anchoring relationship with the drain opening; inserting the drain plug in the drain opening; and launching the vessel at the launch site.