Safety Tips for Trailering Your Boat 

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Trailering Your Boat Can Result in More Wear and Tear Than Boating

Choosing the correct trailer for your boat is important because the stress of road travel can actually cause more damage to your boat than typical water operation.

When a boat is in the water, the hull is designed to be evenly supported by the water.  A similar kind of logic applies to transporting a boat on a trailer.  More specifically, the boat needs to be supported as evenly and uniformly as possible.

Doing this will evenly distribute the weight of the hull and the engine.  In addition, the trailer needs to be long enough to support the total length of the hull and short enough so that the engine can extend freely.

With these guidelines in mind, the following represents some of the main safety tips that need to be followed when trailering your boat.

• Rollers and bolsters need to be maintained in good condition in order to prevent scaring and scratching the hull
  
  
• Lower unit supports, tie-downs, and additional straps need to be adjusted properly in order to prevent the boat from bouncing on (or off) the trailer.
  
  
• The payload capacity of the trailer needs to be greater than the total weight of the boat, engine, and equipment.
  
  
• The vehicle that is towing the boat needs to have a towing capacity that is greater than the weight of the boat, equipment, and the trailer and the weight of the tools, passengers, and equipment in or on the tow vehicle.
  
  
• In addition to the winch cable, the bow eye on the boat should be secured with a turnbuckle, chain, or a rope to provide maximum safety.
  
  
• The towing capacity of the tow vehicle may need to upgraded to include the following components in order to be able to tow the boat and everyone and everything else that is being transported:  a larger engine with additional torque and horsepower, heavy-duty brakes, a transmission cooler designed for heavy payloads, higher payload tires, a heavy-duty transmission, and attaching a load-bearing hitch to the frame of the towing vehicle rather than to the bumper.

Items to Check Before Going On The Highway

• Make sure that the coupler and the tow ball are the same size and that all bolts with washers are adequately tightened.
  
  
• Check to see that the coupler is located completely over the tow ball and that the latching mechanism is locked in the down position.
  
  
• Since the vibration of the road can loosen the bolts associated with the towing mechanism, occasionally stop the vehicle and check on the tightness of these bolts.
  
  
• Check to see that the trailer lights are working correctly.
  
  
• Make sure to load the trailer proportionally from side to side and from front to back.  If the boat and equipment are loaded too close to the front of the trailer, the weight on the hitch may exceed the towing and the lifting capacity of the hitch.  This may result in making the tow vehicle incapable of towing the trailer.
  
  
• Disproportionately loading the boat and equipment too close to the front of the trailer might also make the rear wheels of the tow vehicle drag  and might make steering the tow vehicle more difficult.
  
  
• Check the brakes.  Find a level parking lot and while driving forward, apply the brakes a number of times and at different speeds so that you can determine safe stopping distances.
  
  
• Make sure to remove any excess water from the boat after cleaning the boat or after a rain.  Since water weighs almost eight pounds per gallon, excess water in the boat while towing can add a noticeable and unequal weight distribution due to the movement of the water.  This can cause the load on the trailer be shift adversely.
  
  
• Check the grease in the wheel bearings so that the wheels do not lock up. Check the wheel bearings more frequently if the trailer wheels have been exposed to water (especially salt water).
  
  
• Make sure that the safety chains on the towing mechanism are crisscrossed under the coupler and attached to the tow vehicle's frame.  Doing this will increase the likelihood that the coupler will not drag on the road and that the trailer will follow in a straight line if the ball accidentally breaks.
  
  
• Check the pressure in all tires, including the spare. Also look for uneven wear or for tire treads that are less than 1/4" deep.  Not only will under inflation of the tires cause steering difficulties, but it will also prematurely wear out your tires.
  
  
• Make sure that the side view mirrors are large enough so that you have an unobstructed rear view on both sides of the vehicle.
  
  
• Disproportionately loading the equipment and the boat too close to the rear of the trailer may cause the trailer to fishtail and could actually lift the tow vehicle's rear wheels off the ground, thereby reducing traction.

Towing Precautions

• Before taking the loaded trailer on the road, find an unpopulated area of a level parking lot and practice accelerating, turning, stopping, backing up, and so on.
  
  
• Due to the increase in vehicle length when towing a trailer, keep in mind that the turning radius is much greater than usual and that roadside curbs and barriers must be given a wider berth when making turns.
  
  
• Remember that because of the additional weight of the load you are towing, you will need to allow more time to accelerate, pass, brake, and stop.

Pre-Launching Preparations

• To reduce stress and foster courtesy for other people who are preparing to launch their boat, get your boat ready for launching out of the way from the ramp.
  
  
• Remove all supports and raise the lower unit to the appropriate height for launching so that the boat will not hit bottom.
  
  
• Remove the tie-downs and other fasteners and make sure that the winch is properly connected to the bow eye and locked in the proper position.
  
  
• Visually inspect the boat to make sure no damage occurred during the trip.
  
  
• Securely replace the drain plug.
  
  
• Disconnect the trailer lights since they are no longer needed.
  
  
• So that the boat cannot drift away from the dock and can easily be moved to the docking area, make sure to attach a safety line to the bow and to the stern of the boat.
  
  
• Visually inspect the launch ramp for possible problems such as sharp objects, slippery areas, or a steep drop off or decline.
  
  
• After you have checked and double checked all pre-launch preparation steps, remember that the boat at this point in time is merely resting on the trailer and is connected at the bow only.
  
  
• Keep in mind that the optimal launching situation includes an experienced individual in the boat and an experienced observer at the water's edge to communicate with and help guide the driver of the tow vehicle.

Launching

• Keep the exhaust pipes of the tow vehicle out of the water to prevent the engine from stalling. The simplest way to accomplish this it to keep the rear wheels of the tow vehicle away from the water's edge.
  
  
• Engage the parking brake and put tire chocks behind the rear wheels of the tow vehicle.
  
  
• Ask an experienced person to go on shore and hold the lines that are connected to the boat.
  
  
• After checking for fuel leaks, lower the motor and get ready to start the engine.
  
  
• When you start the engine, make sure you see water moving through the engine cooling system.
  
  
• When the boat operator gives you the OK, release the winch and remove the winch line from the bow.
  
  
• The boat is now ready to be launched with a gentle push.  So that others have access to the ramp, finish loading the boat's gear and equipment at a reasonable distance from the ramp.

Retrieval

The steps for removing your boat from the water and getting it back on the trailer are basically the same as those that were taken to launch the boat--except in the opposite order.  Remember, though, that various conditions might arise during the retrieval process that did not occur during the launch phase.  Some of these special factors may be the following:  a significant increase or decrease in watercraft traffic, a change in visibility, changes in the direction and/or strength of the wind, or even a change in the water current or tide.

• Once the above conditions are checked, unload the boat at a dock or mooring.
  
  
• Carefully move the boat to the partially submerged trailer and lift the lower unit of the engine.
  
  
• You are now ready to winch the boat on the trailer and fasten it down.
  
  
• Once the boat is secured onto the trailer, drive the trailer from the ramp to a parking area that has been designated for cleaning the watercraft.
  
  
• At this point it would be wise to create an equipment checklist so that you can quickly and easily check and make sure that all of the needed gear and equipment is on the boat and ready for the next boating event.

Boat Storage

After the boating season, you must address the boat storage issue.  Why?  Because your boat will typically have to be stored until the next season.  Since your boat might be sitting on a trailer for many weeks or months before it is used again, it is important to store the boat properly.

Checking the Engine

• Check for worn or loose parts, including hoses, belts and or wiring.
  
• Lubricate the propeller shaft.  Check the propeller and have it rebuilt or replaced, if necessary.
  
• Fill the fuel tank(s) and add a quality fuel conditioner.
  
• Change gear case lubricant in the lower unit(s).  Look at the owner's manual for more info.
  

Checking the Boat

• Clean the inside and the outside of the boat.  Remember to remove life jackets, electronics, fire extinguishers, etc., and store the boat indoors, if possible.
  
• Drain the water in the bilge and leave the plug out of the transom.  Tying the plug to the tiller or steering wheel will act as a reminder to replace it before the next boating season.
  

Checking the Trailer

• Inspect the wheel bearings and grease or replace if necessary.
  
• Look at the lights, wiring, and brakes and repair or replace as needed.
  
• Inspect the tires for excessive wear and make sure to look at the air pressure in each tire.  Remember that tires will last longer when the trailer is stored on blocks.  Storage on blocks may also help prevent theft.
  
• Make sure your boat and trailer are in a safe and secure area.  For instance, it would not be wise to store your boat and trailer in the street.
  
• If your motor can be lifted off the transom by hand, consider using a motor lock.
  
• With a sturdy chain and lock, chain the trailer to a solid object such as a deck post or a large tree.

• If the boat will be stored outdoors, make sure to cover the entire boat with a tarp or heavy boat cover that is securely fastened.  This will significantly reduce the damage that can occur from the sun and from the elements.  Try to allow room for air circulation under the cover and if you want to go the extra mile, placing mothballs inside the boat will keep rodents such as mice from chewing on the wires and other boat parts.
  
• To remove all of the weight from the trailer wheels, put concrete or wooden blocks under the tongue and under the four corners of the trailer frame at a height that is sufficient for the wheels to move freely.

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