Collection: Bow & Stern Eyes

Bow and stern eyes are the anchor points your boat relies on for trailering, towing, mooring, and dock lines, so picking the right fitting for the position and the load matters. Whitecap covers the widest range here, offering bow eyes, stern eyes, and eye bolts in 304 stainless steel across a variety of shank diameters and lengths. Their bow eyes run from a compact 5/16" x 1-3/8" on the smaller end up to 1/2" x 4-3/4" for heavier applications, and their stern eyes follow a similar range. Shank length determines how much hull thickness the fitting can pass through and still seat the backing plate properly, so measure your transom or bow before ordering. Ti-Tackle takes a different approach, offering titanium D rings with long studs for the bow and transom, which suit boaters who want maximum corrosion resistance and reduced weight in a high-load fitting.

When comparing options, the key specs are thread diameter, overall length, and whether you need a traditional eye profile or a D ring. A larger diameter shank handles greater pull loads, which matters for tow eyes especially. Stainless steel is the workhorse choice and integrates easily with standard hardware, while titanium is a premium pick for saltwater environments or weight-conscious builds. Confirm the thread pitch and shank length match your existing hole and backing plate setup before purchasing.