Are you heading out on your maiden boating voyage? You may feel more than ready for this adventure, but towing your boat could come as a surprise. Whether you’re carrying your craft with a sports car or diesel pickup, hauling a boat will dramatically change your tow vehicle’s handling. Fortunately, with a little knowledge, you can avoid incidents that lead to vehicle, vessel, and boat trailer repair.
8 Tips for Towing Your Boat Safely
- Distribute vessel weight evenly on your boat trailer to ensure balance.
A balanced load offers better handling. Be sure to distribute the weight evenly, both side to side and front to rear. Don’t forget to consider equipment stored on your boat which could affect balance as well, such as fuel, water, and cargo. - Don’t overload the trailer hitch.
Your tow vehicle and trailer should both be nearly parallel to the ground. This geometry will ensure you are not overloading the hitch. To verify, check tongue weight, ensuring it bears only about 10% of overall trailer weight. For instance, if both boat and trailer weight 6,000 pounds, tongue weight should be approximately 600 pounds. - Always secure your boat.
Your boat should always be secured tightly to your trailer. Use ratchet straps, tightening firmly with the winch strap attached to the bow eye. - Perform a walk-around inspection before leaving.
You’d be surprised how easily a strap can come lose in transit. A popular rule of thumb for boat trailer safety suggests stopping to check after 1, 10, and 100 miles of driving. - Verify proper trailer light function.
Ensure trailer lights are working before beginning your journey, using them even in daylight hours for added visibility. - Always carry a spare.
Don’t leave home without a spare that fits your trailer, a lug wrench that fits your wheels, a tire gauge, and a grease gun for attending to boat trailer wheel bearings. These essential tools can help you avoid the need for mobile trailer repair. - When towing, allow extra time for stopping.
Your boat adds quite a bit of overall weight, requiring a considerably longer braking distance. To ensure safety and avoid accidents, allow ample time for stopping. Pay close attention to the road and surrounding traffic, avoiding sudden stops, starts, and turns that could impact stability. - When going downhill, use low gear.
Using a low gear when descending a hill helps control your speed without overheating your brakes.
Don’t get carried away by a wave of excitement. Avoid boat trailer repairs with proper planning. Get where you’re going safely with the help of the Denver trailer repair experts at Ainsworth Trailer Repair today.
