|
(Continued from page 178)
· Make sure the boat cover is secured so it won't flap in the wind and tear itself apart.
If your cover isn't specifically design for trailering, don't use it. You will damage the
cover and boat. A good trailering cover is padded at all the stress points and sharp
edges of the boat.
· Make sure the outboard motor or stern drive has sufficient road clearance. Make sure
the drive is tilted all the way up and locked in place. Several engine manufactures have
special trailering brackets for their engines. Never trailer without an engine trailering
bracket.
· Check the torque of the hitch ball, making sure it is tight. (See hitch ball section) Also check the hitch to be certain
it's mounted tightly to the tow vehicle's frame. Also, make sure there isn't any
interference between the hitch and the coupler of the trailer when turning.
· Check the tightness of the wheel lugs. On new boat trailers they recommend checking the
wheel lugs and tire pressure after the first hundred miles. Repeat this step during
the trip.
· Check the winch, winch stand, and crank. Are they snug? Winch stands have a tendency to
slide forward because of the forces put on the stand when you apply your car brakes. Check
the paint on the tongue, it will usually show where the winch stand moved from. Oil
the moving parts in the winding mechanism of the winch. Also important to consider: What
shape is the winch rope in? Frayed ropes are dangerous. If one snaps under load, it could
cause a serious accident. Check the entire rope at least once a year. Replace it at the
first sign of wear.
At the same time,
double-check the boat tie-downs. Always use a transom tie-down. Straps you throw over the
top of the boat allow the boat to bounce on its trailer, which increases the chance of
hull damage. Also a tie down strap is recommended for the bow eye of the boat as
well. Tie it down to the tongue of the trailer, not the winch stand. In an emergency stop
or collision, the boat will stay on the trailer and not end up in the trunk of your tow
vehicle.
Check the bunks, making sure each bunk is contacting the hull and supporting
the weight of the boat. If you can slide a paint stick between the bunk and the hull
in any one spot, you need to do some adjustment. By the way, it's easier to check
and raise the bunks with the boat off of the trailer. So always make it a habit to inspect
the trailer whenever the boat is off. Look for bunk bracket bolts and or retainers that
have moved or become worn.
One last thing,
always keep an eye on the rollers for wear and cracking. The rollers should wear evenly
with age. If one roller seems to be getting a lot more wear and tear than the others, it
may be overloaded because of incorrect adjustment. All the rollers and bunks need to
share the load equally.
Happy Trailering....
|
|
