A boat trailer is important equipment for many boat owners and operators, yet too often it doesn’t get nearly the attention lavished on the boat itself. Not all hitches, towing vehicles or trailers are able to handle all boats, so giving careful thought to the whole towing package and how it works together can be critical to getting that sleek baby of yours safely to the marina. 
 And once you have the right trailer, be sure to maintain it properly. Towing is an art form. Don’t wait for a near disaster to study up on how it’s done. Here are 10 tips for trailering the safe way:

1 Match the trailer to the boat. The trailer needs to be long enough to support the full length of the hull yet short enough so that the engine can extend freely out the back of the boat. Also, the trailer’s ball size, winch rating and tire rating need to be appropriate to the size of the boat. For boats larger than 17 feet, consider a tandem axle trailer, which better distributes the load for a safer and more stable ride. You can also increase stability and braking performance with surge brakes, which are activated by the force of the trailer pushing against the trailer ball as you apply the brakes of your towing vehicle. A little extra stopping power is always a plus.

2 Match the tow vehicle to the trailer and load. Overloading can create serious driving hazards and even vehicle failure. If you’re unsure about how much your vehicle can handle, learn the different weights – dry weight, payload, tongue weight and maximum trailer weight rating and how they affect your pull.
 Review the rating of the hitch and the vehicle towing specifications listed in the owner’s manual. Check the wheelbase and vehicle weight. The greater the wheelbase – the distance between the front and rear wheels – the better and more stable the ride. The heavier the towing vehicle, the more likely you are to stop straighter, faster and with more control. Also be sure the side-view mirrors are large enough to give you an unobstructed rear view on both sides of the ­vehicle.

3 Opt for a strong hitch. Look for one that bolts to the vehicle frame. Hitches are rated as Class 1, 2, 3 and 4. Class 4 has the greatest towing capacity, but class 3 hitches should be sufficient for all but the largest boats that can be transported by trailer.

4 Make good trailer maintenance a habit. Keep your trailer in good repair and plan ahead for any problems you may encounter en route to the marina. Carry an emergency repair kit that includes a hammer, wrenches, spare fuses, a metal file, a chisel, grease and a grease packing gun, an extra wheel bearing kit and bearing seating utensil, possibly a hand-held torch and a trailer jack that can lift the weight of the boat and trailer in the event of a breakdown.

5 Do a careful trailer check. Before you take the boat out on the road, always check the frame, bearings, lights, tires and tire pressure. Obvious problems will be easier to repair in your driveway than out on the road.

6 Make sure the load is balanced, side to side and front to back. A boat needs to be supported structurally as evenly across the hull as possible, taking into account the added weight of the engine, fuel and equipment. The same thing goes for stowed gear. Also consider the forward weight on the trailer tongue. If the tongue weight is too heavy, the front wheels of the towing vehicle could lose traction and the steering may be compromised.

7 Secure the boat on the trailer. It’s surprising how often this is overlooked. If the trailer bounces over a large bump or pothole, an unsecured boat can shift quickly and dangerously, resulting in serious hull damage or, worse, a boat ending up in the middle of the highway. Tie-down straps that permanently affix to the trailer are quick and easy to put on.

8 Keep the boat motor off the pavement. Some motors can be left in the vertical position in transit, but many large motors need to be tilted up so that the skeg doesn’t drag on the highway. If you need to tilt up the motor, avoid too much stress on the transom with a support bar that fits on the last roller of the trailer. A motor support bar puts the load on the trailer and relieves any stress on the transom.

9 Attach safety chains. The safety chains on the towing mechanism should be crisscrossed under the coupler and attached to the tow vehicle’s frame. If the ball breaks, safety chains will make it less likely that the coupler will drag on the road and more likely the trailer will continue in a straight line.

10 Practice safe handling. Before taking the loaded trailer out on the road, find a vacant parking lot and practice accelerating, turning, stopping and backing up. Every trailer handles differently, and yours will respond differently from day to day as a result of weather, temperature, load and other factors. Taking a few minutes before you start is a minor inconvenience, but it can help you avoid a major accident on the road. BW

Safe-Launch Checklist

Mistakes at the launch can result in more than embarrassment: Serious property damage and injuries can occur. This is why safety is every bit as important at launch as when your boat is on the water, or on the road. With nearly 13 million recreational boats registered in the United States, marinas are often crowded with operators so eager to launch that they forget or neglect important steps in the process.

To make jumping the gun less likely, have a safe-launch checklist.

‹ Put on a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket before working near the water.
‹ Make sure there’s plenty of room at the marina for easy turning and parking.
‹ At the ramp, make sure the water depth is adequate for the size of the boat.
‹ Make sure the ramp is wide enough to accommodate both the boat and trailer.
‹ Check that the ramp’s incline is appropriate for the length of the boat and trailer.
‹ Scan the surface of the ramp for slippery conditions and/or sharp objects.
‹ To keep from delaying others, do initial launch preparations away from the ramp.
‹ Raise the outdrive or motor to keep it from dragging on the ramp, remove the support bracket and install the drain plug.
‹ Disconnect the trailer wiring. Release transom tie-down straps. Check the fittings. Connect the fuel tank, check fluid levels and again check the drain plug.
‹ Keep the boat winched to the trailer until you’re ready to launch.
‹ If possible, back the trailer down the ramp, keeping the tow vehicle’s wheels out of the water.
‹ Shift into park, set the emergency brake and block the wheels.
‹ For inboard propulsion, energize the installed blower for five minutes prior to starting.
‹ Lower the outdrive or motor, look for water entering the boat, sniff the bilge and start the motor.
‹ Make sure water is passing through the engine cooling system.
‹ Attach a bow line to the boat, then release the winch and disconnect the winch line.
‹ Launch the boat with a slight shove or by backing away under power.
‹ Move the towing vehicle and trailer to the parking lot to make room for the next boat and trailer in line.
Move your boat to a dock away from the ramp to load any passengers or additional gear.

 Make this checklist part of your routine, and know that the payoff is more than personal.  When you follow the correct ramp procedures, you encourage other boaters to follow your example.