Boating Skills and Seamanship Lesson 3 Trailering Your Boat Approved by DC-E USCG AuxA, Inc

Lesson Objectives Essential safety Selecting a trailer Safety equipment Safety limits of your trailer Trailer and tire care Legal requirements

Lesson Objectives Trailer maintenance Preparing for travel Launching and retrieving Storing boat and trailer Preventing theft Filing and canceling a float plan

Legal Considerations Width Brakes Lights Licenses Mirrors Safety chains

Boat and Trailer Width Three State’s Roads – limit 8 feet Interstate Roads – limit 8.5 feet Greater widths Permits Special requirements Designated access roads

Trailer Brakes Requirements Types Varies by state American Boat & Yacht Council Recommendation: Breaks if Greater Than 1500# GTW Types Electric Air Surge Emergency brake cable or chain shorter than safety chains May need lock out to back up

Safety Chains Required Cross chains under hitch to form cradle Length Permit free turning Not so long that they drag Attach points S-hooks (may require added hardware to ensure stay hooked) Shackles Snap hooks

Ball, Coupler & Safety Chains

Trailer Lights Check state requirements May need Stop lights Parking lights Turn signals License plate light Side lights

Legal Considerations Licenses Mirrors Check state requirements If rear view is obscured, your state may require side mirrors

Practical Considerations Trailer Selection Hull shape, size, & weight Launch ramp conditions Trailer types Trailer care and maintenance Safety items

Hull Shape Types Launch conditions Flat-bottomed Rounded bottom “V” shaped Sailboat keel Launch conditions Beach Ramp Lift

Trailer Selection Trailer weight Load weight Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) = Trailer Weight + Load Weight Load Weight > 4000 lbs requires multi-axle Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) x # of axles = GVWR

Trailer Classes

Balancing Boat on Trailer How to determine tongue weight Hull - 1,750 lbs Motor - 381 lbs Trailer - 350 lbs Gear -100 lbs Fuel - 40 gal. @ 8 lbs. / gal = 320 lbs. Total wt. 2,901 lbs. Recommended tongue weight 5 – 7% @ 5 % = 145 lbs. - @ 7 % = 203 lbs.

Trailer Selection Coupler & Ball Sizes Ball must equal coupler size 1 7/8” 2” 2 5/16” Ball must equal coupler size Size determined by GVWR Padlock prevents theft and ensures coupler stays on ball

Trailer Types Skid Trailer / Bunk Trailers Float-On Trailers Skids or bunkers Float-On Trailers

Trailer Types Roller Supporting Trailers Purpose Tilt Trailer Support boat’s keel evenly and over greatest surface area

Trailer Parts

Trailer Care & Maintenance Fresh vs salt water use Wheel Bearings Keep bearings dry if possible Use bearing buddies or wheel-bearing protectors Allow bearings to cool before immersion Carry spare bearings, grease, and tools for replacing the bearings in an emergency

Trailer Care & Maintenance Trailer Lights Disconnect plug from towing vehicle before immersing in water Carry spare bulbs Sandpaper for terminals Highway safety flares Trouble lights Trouble flag

Trailer Care & Maintenance Trailer Tires Fully inflate tires! Keep tire pressure at the pressure located on the tire sidewalls Spider-web cracking on side walls = old age caused by UV rays. Cover if possible Balancing?

Trailer Care & Maintenance Changing a Trailer Tire Carry a spare & keep properly inflated Appropriate size lug wrench Scissors Jack Car jack most likely will not work Low enough to get under a trailer with a flat tire Special Axle Jack Get off the road onto solid ground

Trailer Care & Maintenance Rust / Paint Rollers and skids/bunkers Loose bolts & nuts Brakes Tongue Hitch / Coupler & Ball

Other Practical Considerations Fire Extinguishers Winches Electric Manual Tie-downs Transom tie-downs Gunwale tie-down Bow tie-down

The Towing Vehicle Front wheel drive is not recommended Loss of steering and traction on drive wheels GVWR of Trailer & Boat should not exceed vehicle weight

The Towing Vehicle Cooling Heavy-duty higher capacity radiator Transmission Extra cooling Brakes Heavy-duty brake linings Suspension System 100 lb tongue weight = 400 lb trunk weight Other Equipment Heavy-duty battery Higher capacity alternator

The Towing Vehicle Bumper Hitch Weight-Carrying Hitch Clamp on bumper Weight-Carrying Hitch Bolt on frame 2000 lb towing limit Weight-Distributing Hitch Distributes weight to all four tires May interfere with surge brakes

Balancing the Load Total Weight of the Tow (TWT) Boat + motor + contents + trailer 5 – 7% of TWT should be on tongue Greater and front end of car lifts Less than and trailer fish tails Large trucks passing possibly causing loss of control Tongue weight not to exceed 150 lbs for Class 1 trailer Bathroom scale technique

Handling Your Trailer Practice in empty parking lot Swing wide when rounding corners When traveling on highway, frequently stop and check tires, wheel-bearing temperature, and safety chains Backing Post someone to look out for you Hand on bottom of steering wheel

Pre-Departure Checks Wheel Bearings Tire Pressure Tie-downs and boat position on trailer Trailer & Boat loaded/balanced properly Motor/stern drive unit in “up” position Brake and lighting system working Safety chains Ball & socket secured

Pre-Departure Checks

Preparing to Launch Ramp Etiquette Do the following before backing onto the ramp Disconnect lights Check bearing temperature Remove tie-downs Undo winch Sailboats check overhead for power lines Attach fenders Attach a shore line to prevent boat from floating away Size, adjust, and put on life jackets Check ramp

Launching Running the engine to assist in launching your boat is HIGHLY discouraged & dangerous! Boat should float freely Never place people between back of boat/trailer and the water Avoid exiting the vehicle when launching if possible Parking brake and “Park” do not hold with the same stopping power as the pedal brake Secure boat to dock

Launching cont. Lower drive if applies Start & warm engine. Check gages & tell tale Test forward & reverse shift Observe current and wind. Plan actions & place spring lines as needed. Board guests Depart dock

Retrieving Raise outboard or outdrive Sailboats raise daggerboard or centerboard Back trailer into water and connect winch cable/strap Be certain boat is centered on trailer Drive up ramp slowly to parking/holding area Pull drain plug Attach all tie-downs Secure motor/stern drive unit Remove items not safe in boat during travel Connect lights and check functioning

Storing Your Boat and Trailer Jack up the trailer and place axles on blocks Level trailer to avoid warping Remove wheels & store out of sun to extend tire life Raise tongue higher to let water drain from boat Cover boat to keep water out Flush and drain all water from outboard and inboard motor open cooling system Follow any additional procedure described in boat and motor owner’s manual

Theft Prevention/Recovery Permanently mark Hull Identification Number in another, hidden location on your boat Remove propellers or purchase propeller locks and install them Remove electronics gear or mark all equipment with a personal identification number known to yourself Keep an accurate inventory of equipment kept on your boat Photograph equipment to identify make, model and condition for insurance purposes

Theft Prevention At launch site Back home Keep valuables out-of-sight Leave auto in well lighted area Lock hitch to secure trailer to car Back home Remove a wheel Chain to a tree Lock hitch lock Garage store your boat and trailer Remove small engines and use transom motor locks

Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Transported by ballast water or water from hull Prevention Use environmentally acceptable anti-fouling paint on hull Flush boat’s engine, hull, outdrive, and trailer’s frame (hot water if available) Empty bilge, bait wells, and flush with 5% chlorine bleach mixture Do not take bait from one body of water to another Remove any plants, mud or animals from equipment before leaving all waters

Float Plan Single most effective means of assisting law enforcement and search & rescue teams with finding people lost File with friend, relative, or neighbor or leave on dash or under wiper on car Details Where going and route Time for return and whom to call if not back on time Persons on board, type & description of boat, other relevant information Cancel float plan when you return

Summary Legal considerations Practical considerations Other considerations The towing vehicle Trailer hitches Ball & Coupler Balancing the load Preparing for travel Launching & retrieving