1. Trailering Your Sailboat
Chapter 6
Trailering Your Sailboat
Courtesy of National Marine Manufactures Association photo by Jim Bartlett

2. Lesson Objectives Safety essentials Selecting a trailer
Safety equipment
Care and maintenance
Legal requirements
Preparing for travel
Storage
Preventing theft
Float plan
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3. Legal Considerations Width Brakes Lights Licenses Mirrors
Safety chains
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4. What should you consider when buying a trailer?
What to consider when buying
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5. Trailer Weight Rating
Weight of boat should not exceed 85% of trailer rating
Tires run cooler/last longer
Wheel bearings run cooler with less failure
Long trips justify higher trailer ratings
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6. Boat Bottom Support Selecting your trailer Skid supports or Bunks
Roller supports
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Courtesy of Trail “N” Sail Sailboat Trailers

7. Care of Your Trailer Maintenance problems: Tires Wheels Bearings
Brakes
Springs
Bunks and rollers
Tongue
Wiring
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8. Care of Your Trailer
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9. Care of Your Trailer SSSpptChpt06Traileringyourboat040609.ppt
Courtesy of Bearing Buddy, Inc

10. Other Considerations What else when trailering? Lights Motor Support
Tie downs
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11. What Should You Consider When Buying a Tow Vehicle
What to consider when buying
Deferred maintenance?
Age
Road-worthyness
Brakes, lights, tires, bearings, etc.
Licensing
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12. Hitches Bumper hitches Weight carrying hitches
Weight distributing hitches
Trailer ball and coupler
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Courtesy of Cequent Towing Products

13. Hitches Coupler and 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
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14. Balancing the Load 5 -10% of weight on tongue To shift weight
Shift contents of boat
Shift boat forward or backward on trailer
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15. Handling Your Trailer Practice in open area
Remain sensitive to unusual sounds
Frequent stops to check trailer
Practice backing
One hand at bottom of steering wheel
Move hand in the direction you want trailer to go
Post someone to look out
Work out hand signals
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16. Pre-departure Checklist
What do you include on checklist?
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17. Preparing to Launch Things to remember when launching
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18. Launching Before backing down ramp Backing down Drain plug in
Out drive/motor up - motor off
No one in boat
Lines to dock
Backing down
Make sure way is clear
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19. Launching Launch position Apply parking brake and wheel chocks
Remove winch line
Launch the boat
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20. Set brake and wheel chocks Attach winch line Winch on to trailer
Retrieving your boat
Lift outdrive/motor
Back trailer to boat
Do NOT “power load”
Set brake and wheel chocks
Attach winch line
Winch on to trailer
Drive away from ramp
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21. Storing Your Boat/Trailer
Remove valuable equipment
Winterize motor
Jack up axles to take weight off wheels
Raise tongue for drainage
Cover boat if stored outside
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22. Theft Prevention Has anyone had theft problems with a trailered boat?
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23. Theft Prevention What are some precautions to take?
Mark HIN in safe place
Take an inventory
Mark equipment
Have insurance
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24. Theft Prevention At launch site Lock up valuables
Park in well lighted area
Use trailer hitch lock
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25. Theft Prevention What are some precautions at home or on the dock?
Secure vessel
Put it in garage
Chain to permanent structure
Remove a trailer wheel
Remove equipment
Remove or lock motor to boat
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26. Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS)
Any ANS species in this area?
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27. Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS)
What are some steps to stop the spread of ANS?
Bottom paint selection
Use only approved bottom paint
Exterior cleaning/boat and trailer
Eliminate trapped water
Empty bait container and bilges on shore
Remove weedy material from boat/trailer
Mix chlorine bleach in washing mixture
Remove all mud, flora, fauna from equipment
Don’t use bait from one body of water in any other
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28. Float Plan Why file a float plan? Best way to get rescued
Sooner or later, you’ll be glad you did
Tell someone who cares about you “who, what, where, when”
When trailering, put a note under windshield wiper of your car:
“J. Jones, alone, fishing off Big Point, back by sunset, cell:
Cancel your float plan when you return
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