There are good things and bad things to say about boat trailering. For people who are used to it and have their systems down, the good far outweighs the bad. For those who are inexperienced or lazy about maintenance, trailering can lead to hard knocks, and after a couple of those, their boats tend to stay in the driveway.
But let’s dwell on the dedicated, experienced trailer-boaters. The world is their oyster. Many can keep and maintain their boats at home. It’s cheap – no, wait, it’s free – and they have all the conveniences of workshop and kitchen right at hand. Others can store their boats at low cost in boatyards near home, or near the waters they usually ply.
Being able to transport your boat by road means you can get to distant lakes, rivers, and coastlines to do some fishing or wake-surfing, or just explore a new area. All you need is the boat, a trailer, a launching ramp, and a tow vehicle to make it all happen.
So, if you’re new to trailering, or you’re already set up but are a little gun-shy, what can you do to become a competent road warrior? Nothing beats experience, but it always helps to get as much expert advice as you can. Lenny Rudow, our colleague over at boats.com, has plenty of experience. If he ever had any qualms about trailering, they were long ago erased by his lifelong quest for fish and fowl for the table. He’s hosting a new boat towing series — feature articles and videos — sponsored by Ram trucks, and the first installments are online: Safety Tips for Towing a Boat, then How to Tow Hunting Boats (which focuses mostly on how to handle a truck and trailer in sandy or muddy conditions), Towing in Mountainous Terrain, and What to Look for in a Tow Vehicle.
Have a look at the safety tips video below and stay tuned to boats.com for more in Lenny’s series.
There’s plenty of trailering advice here at Boat Trader, too. Before you get to the water, read:
Five Tips for Ramp Launching
Trailer Smarts: Road and Ramp
Boat Launching Basics: Launch and Load
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