Adventures in Trailering

[TitusTiger]

I would like to have a place to discuss trailering. I have seen a good bit of discussion in specifics like 'can a certain car pull a certain boat.'

I would like to discuss more general things like:

• advice in backing up
• how do you secure: mast, paddles
• brakes on a trailer
• advantages of tilting/folding trailers

Other things could include, brands, finding tires and replacing other parts...

[TitusTiger]

The number one thing I have found in trailering and launching.. The man or woman standing at the dock is probably no help.

I have had two people point and tell me 'turn right' thinking if I turned right it would make the boat go right, it doesn't go right.

In their defense, they are strangers and probably never backed up a trailer. And when they say something like 'cut it' what ever they mean by that, is likely not what I think it means.

Added to this, it is just easier for me to get out and look where the boat is headed because of this communication problem. "you're okay" leaves out--- 'though your wheel is against the curb.'

[Peter E]

Backing up...I use side mirrors. One, On my truck I can't see out of the normal rear view mirror so it is side mirrors or nothing.
One trick if you remember is to hold the bottom of the steering wheel and the way your hand moves is the way the trailer goes.. Go slow and don't make sudden corrections. Any slight movement of the vehicle is exaggerated by the trailer. There is nothing like practice.

Very few people are any help in backing a trailer. That said while hauling a travel trailer around and backing in small spaces my wife was a great help. The trick there is silence and hand signals. The person directing always staying where you can see them in the mirror. You and the other person have to keep your cool and if you do things go smoothly. I have seen the opposite and things go down hill quickly. Thats another story, I'm glad they didn't have guns.

[Peter E]

Brakes on a trailer.. On a boat trailer I have never had brakes. With a heavy enough boat it would be a good idea. My rule of thumb would be if you need duel wheels on the trailer because of the load you should have trailer brakes.

I have had electric brakes on a travel trailer that had duel controls. One control was activated by the vehicles brakes. The second was activated by hand. This was useful in going down a hill where the trailer was pushing the pulling vehicle you could just brake the trailer.

Tilting trailers.... I think all my boat trailers have that feature except one. The only time I have found it useful is loading a boat that was sitting on the ground to help getting it on the trailer. Maybe others have found it useful for other things.

[TitusTiger]

Backing up...I use side mirrors. One, On my truck I can't see out of the normal rear view mirror so it is side mirrors or nothing.
One trick if you remember is to hold the bottom of the steering wheel and the way your hand moves is the way the trailer goes.. Go slow and don't make sudden corrections. Any slight movement of the vehicle is exaggerated by the trailer. There is nothing like practice.

Very few people are any help in backing a trailer. That said while hauling a travel trailer around and backing in small spaces my wife was a great help. The trick there is silence and hand signals. The person directing always staying where you can see them in the mirror. You and the other person have to keep your cool and if you do things go smoothly. I have seen the opposite and things go down hill quickly. Thats another story, I'm glad they didn't have guns.

I like the direction suggestion..

I think the best person helping me can do is to stand either where I can see them and want to go.... or stand where I can see them to designate an obstacle that I want to avoid...
(I think I once asked: "Am I close to the board sticking out?" and the response was, "What board....(pause) no you are not."

Turns out I was six inches from the board (sticking out of the ramp and just high enough that when the trailer wheel hit it I was stuck -- unless I gunned the engine, which risked everything going into the lake, I didn't ake the risk)..

[TitusTiger]

<snip>

Tilting trailers.... I think all my boat trailers have that feature except one. The only time I have found it useful is loading a boat that was sitting on the ground to help getting it on the trailer. Maybe others have found it useful for other things.

Fortunately I have a small boat and can just push the boat off and winch it back on. A pivot might be nice, but only if the trailer had rollers.

Also, I seem to have several reasons to get the boat off the trailer (to weigh the trailer so I could register it, so I can flip the boat on its side and paint the keel, etc.). the tilt might be nice for that as well

[Friends with SCAMPS]

My advice is to practice. Use the empty parking lot near you. Our boat is bigger than the car: longer, wider, and taller. When I had the hitch installed the guy said "Always remember, speed is your enemy. Let people pass you, keep a wide margin of error, and give yourself a lot of room to stop. And always remember, speed is your enemy."
Our old marina had a ramp at a 45 degree angle, the first time I saw it I thought "oh great, I'll never get the boat in the water!" But, even with the ever present audience of old salts I got pretty good at navigating it after awhile.
Still, a trailerable sailboat is way different than someone's power boat. Unless there is a long line, I'd just let them power in and be gone so you can take your time & remember to do the fourtyseventhousand little things you need to remember to do.
I am also not above giving the keys to someone I know has this whole thing down pat. I hope to one day be the person some new sailor looks to for help out of a sticky wicket.

[lustyslogger]

I have absolutely no trouble in launching my boat from a trailer. I simply get my brother in law, who is a long haul truck driver, to put it in the water for me!!!

I can say this about boats and trailers from my experience with travel trailers. Most centerboard boats will not need trailer brakes. I would think anything 22 feet and up would certainly need them. As far as using someone to assist me, I would rather take poison. The only way to really learn how to back up is to practice practice practice. Go to an empty parking lot and just keep trying, paying absolutely no attention to anyone else, unless of course they are shouting that you are about to run over them or their car.. Eventually, you will either develop the knack or simply keep your boat in the water!!

[TitusTiger]

Practice = of course

The first time out there was a guy with a row boat waiting --- he pointed out I had let the keel down and needed to pull it up when I launched.
I told him, "You have to give me your e-mail so I can let you know to come out and watch me at the end of summer --- after I figured this out..

One thing I would say about practice -- don't over due it. When I had my Chrysler LS 13... after a long day of launching, I had a stiff neck for three days