Boating Skills And Seamanship 1 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Trailering Your Boat Lesson 3 Trailering Your Boat Chapter 3

Boating Skills And Seamanship 2 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Lesson Objectives Essential safety Selecting a trailer Safety equipment Care and maintenance Legal requirements Prepare for traveling Storage Preventing theft Float plan

Boating Skills And Seamanship 3 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Legal Considerations Width Brakes Safety chains Lights Mirrors Licenses

Boating Skills And Seamanship 4 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Legal Considerations Width Most State Roads – limit is 8 feet Interstate Roads – limit is 8.5 feet Greater widths Permits Special requirements Designated access roads

Boating Skills And Seamanship 5 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Legal Considerations Brakes Requirements 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

Boating Skills And Seamanship 6 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Legal Considerations Safety Chains Required Cross chains under hitch to form cradle Length Permit free turning Not too long that they drag Attach points S-hooks (may require added hardware to ensure stays hooked) Shackle Snap hooks

Boating Skills And Seamanship 7 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Legal Considerations Lights Check state requirements May need Stop lights Parking lights Turn signals License plate light Side lights

Boating Skills And Seamanship 8 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Legal Considerations Mirrors & Licenses Mirrors If rear view is obscured, your state may require side mirrors Licenses Check state requirements

Boating Skills And Seamanship 9 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Practical Considerations What to consider when buying

Boating Skills And Seamanship 10 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Practical Considerations size & type of boat towing vehicle use in fresh or salt water type of launch ramp

Boating Skills And Seamanship 11 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Practical Considerations Selecting your trailer Flat bottom Deep V Displacement Sailboat

Boating Skills And Seamanship 12 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Practical Considerations Size Load Weight > 4000 lbs requires multi- axle

Boating Skills And Seamanship 13 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Practical Considerations Selecting your trailer Skid trailers Roller supporting

Boating Skills And Seamanship 14 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Practical Considerations Trailer selection Influencing your choice Boats Situations

Boating Skills And Seamanship 15 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Care of Your Trailer What maintenance problems have you encountered? Leaking axle seals Jack for trailer Carry tools, grease, parts Rust Loose bolts & nuts

Boating Skills And Seamanship 16 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Care of Your Trailer Wheel Bearings Cool before launch Lights Disconnect before launch Tires Keep proper pressure

Boating Skills And Seamanship 17 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Care of Your Trailer

Boating Skills And Seamanship 18 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Other Considerations What else when trailering?

Boating Skills And Seamanship 19 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Other Considerations Fire Extinguishers Winches Electric Manual Tie-downs Transom tie-downs Gunwale tie-down Bow tie-down Support for outboard engine

Boating Skills And Seamanship 20 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Towing Vehicle What to consider when buying

Boating Skills And Seamanship 21 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 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 Transmission cooler Large capacity brakes & suspension

Boating Skills And Seamanship 22 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Hitches

Boating Skills And Seamanship 23 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Hitches Bumper hitches Weight carrying hitches Weight distribution hitches May interfere with surge brakes Trailer ball and coupler

Boating Skills And Seamanship 24 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Hitches Coupler and ball sizes 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

Boating Skills And Seamanship 25 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Balancing the Load 5 -10% of weight on tongue To shift weight Shift contents of boat Shift boat back and forth

Boating Skills And Seamanship 26 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Handling Your Trailer Practice in open area Drive to outside of turn (swing wide) Remain sensitive to unusual sounds Frequent stops to check trailer Practice backing One hand at bottom of steering wheel Post someone to look out Work out hand signals

Boating Skills And Seamanship 27 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Pre-departure Checklist What do you include on checklist?

Boating Skills And Seamanship 28 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Pre-departure Checklist 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

Boating Skills And Seamanship 29 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Preparing to Launch Things to remember when launching

Boating Skills And Seamanship 30 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Launching Before backing down ramp Disconnect lights & tie down straps Trailer bearings cooled Loosen or disconnect winch Drain plug in Sailboats: check for overhead power lines & step mast Out drive up - motor off No one in boat Lines to dock Backing down Make sure way is clear

Boating Skills And Seamanship 31 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Launching Launch position Apply parking brake and wheel chocks Remove winch line Launch

Boating Skills And Seamanship 32 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Retrieving What should you do?

Boating Skills And Seamanship 33 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Retrieving Raise outboard or outdrive Sailboats raise daggerboard or centerboard Back trailer into water and drive or pull boat onto Connect winch cable/strap and pull to proper place Be certain boat is centered on trailer Drive up ramp slowly to parking/holding area Remove drain plug, dock lines & fenders Attach all tie-downs Secure motor/stern drive unit Remove items not safe in boat during travel Connect lights and check functioning

Boating Skills And Seamanship 34 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Storing Your Boat/Trailer Remove valuable equipment Jack up trailer Cinder blocks under axles Remove wheels Raise tongue so there is drainage Winterize motor If outdoors, cover boat allowing air circulation

Boating Skills And Seamanship 35 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Theft Prevention Has anyone had theft problems with a trailered boat?

Boating Skills And Seamanship 36 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Theft Prevention What are some precautions to take?

Boating Skills And Seamanship 37 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Theft Prevention At launch site Lock up valuables Park in well lit site Use trailer hitch lock

Boating Skills And Seamanship 38 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Theft Prevention What are some precautions at home or on the dock?

Boating Skills And Seamanship 39 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Any exotic species in this area?

Boating Skills And Seamanship 40 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) What are some steps to stop this spread of ANS?

Boating Skills And Seamanship 41 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) approved bottom paint exterior cleaning/boat and trailer mix chlorine bleach in washing mixture eliminate trapped water incl. engine cooling empty bait container and bilges on shore remove local material from boat/trailer remove all mud, flora, fauna from equipment don’t use bait from one body of water in another

Boating Skills And Seamanship 42 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Float Plan Why should you file a float plan?