| Learning the proper way to trailer a boat is a | | | | prevent it from striking the road and ramp. Do |
| necessity for any individual who does in fact trailer | | | | this at home. |
| their boat as opposed to keeping it on a lift or at | | | | * Make sure you have all safety equipment in |
| a storage facility that offers "in and out" service | | | | your boat. Floatation devises life vests, radio, fire |
| for their customers. | | | | extinguisher, flares and anchor. Attach dock lines |
| While there is no "official" data available at the | | | | to the bow and both sides of the boat. Do this at |
| current time from the government or insurance | | | | home. |
| companies on the exact number of accidents | | | | * At the ramp, remove any tie-downs you may |
| specifically, that occur while a vehicle is pulling a | | | | have on your boat. The Florida Keys requires |
| boat, it is widely speculated that the number is on | | | | boat tie-downs on all boat trailers entering the |
| the rise for several reasons: | | | | keys, however every where else they are |
| * Rise in the number of individuals purchasing | | | | optional. Our opinion is it depends on the distance |
| boats and boat trailers. | | | | you are traveling with the boat trailer and your |
| * Increased use of trailer companies using | | | | security with your trailer and winch. |
| low-cost imports to build trailers that | | | | * I actually find it easier to launch my boat off |
| unfortunately have been associated with a | | | | the trailer by myself, however many find it easier |
| decrease in quality, particularly in the area of boat | | | | with a friend. Both require the same fairly similar |
| trailers spring suspensions. | | | | procedures, however with a friend, they can |
| * Inadequate maintenance of boat trailers by the | | | | guide you down the launch and hold a guide line |
| owner. | | | | from the boat to help get it off the trailer into |
| * Inadequate knowledge by boat trailers owners | | | | the water; or they can actually be in the boat and |
| on the proper way to hook up the boat trailer to | | | | drive it off the trailer. |
| the vehicle, trailer a boat, launch a boat (backing | | | | * If your trailer is such that your electrical |
| up a boat trailer) and retrieving a boat. | | | | attachment is going to get wet, unattach the |
| Also, improperly trailing a boat, particularly when | | | | connection as to not short out your vehicle and |
| launching and retrieval, is extremely poor boating | | | | or trailer lights and electrical system. |
| etiquette and causes much inconsideration and | | | | Launching the Boat: |
| aggravation to knowledgeable and studied boaters. | | | | * Open the hatch of your SUV, if applicable. This |
| In addition, the environment suffers as more | | | | once again enables greater visibility for the driver. |
| pollutants enter into the water with a constant | | | | * Back the boat trailer down the ramp. |
| reversal and forward of the boat while trying to | | | | * Keep the rear wheels of the tow vehicle out of |
| retrieve to the trailer. | | | | the water (this will prevent the possibility of the |
| With increasing your experience, rest assured | | | | vehicle stalling). The trailer should be midway down |
| your turn will come someday as you patiently | | | | into the water. |
| wait for the inept driver making their fourth | | | | * Set the vehicle in park and engage the |
| attempt at backing the boat trailer down the | | | | emergency brake. |
| ramp or trying to retrieve it back onto the trailer. | | | | * If launching by yourself, retrieve the dock line |
| All this being said, lets look at tips on the proper | | | | from the bow of the boat, loosen the winch, |
| way to hook up, trailer, launch, retrieve and travel | | | | unhook the winch and attach the knotted end of |
| a distance with a boat trailer. | | | | the dock line from the bow to the trailer winch |
| Hooking up a boat trailer to a towing vehicle: | | | | hook. |
| * If you have a SUV vehicle, most of the | | | | * Get back into your vehicle and drive forward a |
| hatches can be lifted up. Before you begin to | | | | bit, then reverse a bit and hit the brakes hard. |
| back up to the boat, open and lift the hatch up. | | | | This will release the boat of the trailer. With the |
| This will give you an enormous advantage in | | | | bow line attached to the trailer hitch, you just get |
| backing up to the trailer by enabling you to see | | | | the bow line from the hitch, swing the boat |
| tremendously better where you are backing up in | | | | around and attach a side dock line to the cleat on |
| regards to the trailer. | | | | the dock. |
| * Once the vehicle is properly backed up to the | | | | * Shut your hatch and park vehicle and trailer. |
| boat trailer hitch, put the emergency brake on in | | | | * If you have a friend helping you launch, they |
| your vehicle and begin to crank down the boat | | | | can actually get into the boat, drop the motor a |
| trailer jack onto the coupler ball on the vehicle. | | | | bit, crank it up and drive it right off the trailer. |
| Once the trailer hitch is all the way down on the | | | | Otherwise they can use the guide line attached to |
| vehicle coupler ball, continue to crank the trailer | | | | the boat to pull it off the trailer. The other |
| jack as far as it will go up. | | | | individual can go and park the vehicle and trailer. |
| * Tighten down the trailer to the coupler ball | | | | Boat Retrieval onto the Trailer: |
| either by turning trailer hitch or locking it down, | | | | * The steps for removing your boat from the |
| depending on which type of trailer hitch you have. | | | | water are basically the reverse of those taken to |
| It's a good practice at this time to put a master | | | | launch it. |
| lock through the trailer hitch. This is often | | | | * Moore your boat to the dock and tie a boat line |
| forgotten and many a boater has come back to | | | | to a dock cleat. |
| the ramp and found their trailer gone. Therefore, | | | | * Retrieve vehicle and boat trailer. |
| do this immediately after your attached and | | | | * Maneuver the boat to the submerged trailer, |
| secured to your trailer. | | | | raising the motor as you go. |
| * Attach the safety chains from the trailer to the | | | | * If driving onto the trailer, engage the motor in a |
| vehicle making sure to cross them over one | | | | forward motion against the trailer winch, lean over |
| another. | | | | the bow of the boat, and attach the trailer winch |
| * If your trailer has brakes, hook up the S-hook | | | | to the bow cleat on the boat. Secure it tightly. |
| on the brake cable from the trailer to the hitch on | | | | * Turn the motor off, raise or trim it all the way |
| the vehicle. | | | | up to the upright position and pull the boat trailer |
| * Lastly connect the electrical connector from the | | | | out of the water. |
| boat trailer to the vehicle in whatever connection | | | | * Once out of the water, remove the drain plug |
| is on your vehicle hitch. | | | | from the boat. |
| * Make sure the trailer winch is locked down tight | | | | Driving long distance with a Boat Trailer tips: |
| on the boat bow eye. Shut your SUV hatch. | | | | * Use tie-downs on the back of the boat |
| * At this time you are hooked up and ready to | | | | attaching them to the trailer. |
| go, however it is suggested to take a few more | | | | * Have boat trailer serviced prior to trip (ball |
| minutes to prepare for launching either at home, | | | | bearings, tires...). |
| which is strongly suggested or at the boat ramp. | | | | * Have plenty of experience of trailing your boat. |
| Pre-launching Tips: | | | | * Realize your boat can be wider than your |
| * Preparation, preparation, preparation. This is the | | | | vehicle. Pay attention to the sides of the road so |
| key to safely launching your boat. This is not only | | | | that the boat trailer wheels do not leave the |
| a safety issue but an enormous courtesy to | | | | pavement. |
| fellow boaters at the ramp. Again, most of these | | | | * Understand that you will have to make wide |
| tips can be and should be addressed before | | | | turns to compensate for the length of your boat |
| leaving home with your boat; however, some | | | | trailer behind your vehicle. |
| must wait until arriving at the ramp. | | | | * Make sure everything in the boat is securely |
| * Put the drain plug in the boat. Check your fuel | | | | tied down. |
| level. Check your oil level. Put the boat key into | | | | * Check your trailer blinkers, brake lights and that |
| the boat. Do this at home. | | | | trailer lights are on when your vehicle headlights |
| * Raise your outboard or out drive motor to | | | | are on. |