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

Approved by DC-E USCG AuxA, Inc

Lesson 3Trailering Your Boat

Boating Skills and Boating Skills and SeamanshipSeamanship

Boating Skills and Boating Skills and SeamanshipSeamanship

Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives

• Essential safety

• Selecting a trailer

• Safety equipment

• Safety limits of your trailer

• Trailer and tire care

• Legal requirements

Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives

• Trailer maintenance

• Preparing for travel

• Launching and retrieving

• Storing boat and trailer

• Preventing theft

• Filing and canceling a float plan

Legal ConsiderationsLegal Considerations

• Width• Brakes• Lights• Licenses• Mirrors• Safety chains

Boat and Trailer WidthBoat 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 BrakesTrailer 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

Safety ChainsSafety 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

Ball, Coupler & Safety Chains

Trailer LightsTrailer Lights

• Check state requirements• May need

• Stop lights• Parking lights• Turn signals• License plate light• Side lights

Legal ConsiderationsLegal Considerations

• Licenses• Check state requirements

• Mirrors• If rear view is obscured, your state may

require side mirrors

Practical ConsiderationsTrailer Selection

Practical ConsiderationsTrailer Selection

• Hull shape, size, & weight

• Launch ramp conditions

• Trailer types

• Trailer care and maintenance

• Safety items

Hull ShapeHull Shape

• Types– Flat-bottomed– Rounded bottom– “V” shaped– Sailboat keel

• Launch conditions– Beach– Ramp– Lift

Trailer SelectionTrailer 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 ClassesTrailer 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 SelectionTrailer Selection

• Coupler & 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

Trailer TypesTrailer Types

• Skid Trailer / Bunk Trailers– Skids or bunkers

• Float-On Trailers

• Roller Supporting Trailers– Tilt Trailer

• Purpose– Support boat’s keel evenly and over

greatest surface area

Trailer TypesTrailer Types

Trailer PartsTrailer Parts

Trailer Care & MaintenanceTrailer 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 Lights– Disconnect plug from towing vehicle before

immersing in water– Carry spare bulbs– Sandpaper for terminals– Highway safety flares– Trouble lights– Trouble flag


• 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?


• 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


• Rust / Paint

• Rollers and skids/bunkers

• Loose bolts & nuts

• Brakes

• Tongue

• Hitch / Coupler & Ball

Other Practical ConsiderationsOther Practical Considerations

• Fire Extinguishers• Winches

– Electric– Manual

• Tie-downs– Transom tie-downs– Gunwale tie-down– Bow tie-down

The Towing VehicleThe 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


• 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


• Bumper 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 LoadBalancing 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 TrailerHandling 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 ChecksPre-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 ChecksPre-Departure Checks

• 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

Preparing to LaunchPreparing to Launch

LaunchingLaunching

• 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.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

RetrievingRetrieving

• 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 TrailerStoring 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/RecoveryTheft 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 PreventionTheft Prevention

• At launch site– 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)

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 PlanFloat 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

SummarySummary

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

Documents

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