subject: Towing A Boat [print this page] Its summertime again. While summer means the return of many wonderful activities, there is one huge negative for boat owners towing your boat. Fear not maritime enthusiasts; following these simple tips will ensure that towing your boat is as painless as it can be.
Learn to drive with a trailer before actually hauling your boat
The addition of a trailer can make driving a real challenge. If there werent enough things to worry about already, the addition of a trailer means that you have to worry about jackknifing, parking with a trailer and a larger turning radius. A really bad time to discover that you dont know how to drive with a trailer is when your boat is sitting on it. Before hauling your boat, take the trailer out for a spin its worth the time.
Proper loading is essential
Your boat was designed to operate in water. Accordingly, your boat is not designed to sit comfortably on a trailer. Since this is the case, getting your boat to sit securely on your trailer is a bit of a balancing act. Keep the center of gravity as low as possible for better handling; load 60% of the boats weight on the front of the trailer; ensure the boat is balanced from side to side; and that its secured with at least two ratchet straps.
Fill your car up with gas and oil before attaching a trailer
You never want to navigate a gas station with a massive boat attached to the back of your car. It quickly turns a seven minute pitstop into 25 minutes of seven-point turns and a lot of dirty looks.
Ensure that your car is prepared for the extra work
You wouldnt find it easy to carry around someone on your back all day and your car doesnt either. Your car will be working extra hard to tow the added weight; in order to ensure that all goes smoothly, its best to check that your radiator is full and your transmission fluid levels are high. The added load can cause the transmission to overheat. One way to combat this is by installing a transmission cooler if your car does not already have one.
Check your trailers signals and brake lights
When towing something as valuable and large as a boat, its essential to use proper signals in order to prevent collisions. Have someone stand behind your car to ensure that all your signals are working. Make sure that your brake light reacts to even slight touches to minimize the risk of a collision from the rear.
Capacity is crucial
While you have most likely checked the towing capacity of your vehicle, one thing that is often overlooked is the towing capacity of your actual hitch. Make sure it can handle the weight of both your boat and trailer.
Until you buy your first hovercraft, youre going to have to make due with towing your boat to the lake. While the hovercraft route would be much easier (and way more fun), towing your boat will be safe and secure if you follow these great tips.
