Six Boat Towing Safety Tips

Boat towing guidelines are helpful for safeguarding passengers, cargo, and the vehicle, boat and trailer. New boat owners and seasoned towers alike can benefit from observing the following safety tips when loading, hitching and towing their boat to the launch.

1. Know Your Vehicle’s Towing Capacity

Before purchasing a boat and trailer, research your SUV or truck’s towing capacity. This information is found in the owner’s manual or by contacting the vehicle manufacturer. Do not plan on towing a boat and trailer with a combined weight equaling the maximum capacity. The safest strategy is to deduct at least 10 percent of the vehicle’s towing capacity and consider that number the new standard. When matching a boat to a vehicle, do not forget to calculate the weight of the boat’s trailer as well.

2. Service Your Vehicle

Before attaching a boat and trailer, check all the major systems in your vehicle, including the transmission fluid level and the current condition of the brake system and tires. Towing a heavy vessel puts significant strain on a vehicle’s engine, and a breakdown is undesirable, especially when you have a trailer attached. Once your vehicle is tow-ready, fill the gas tank before hooking up the tow load.

3. Install the Correct Hitch

Outfit the tow vehicle with a hitch that can handle the combined weight of the boat and trailer. There are five hitch classes, each designed for a maximum tow weight. Anti-sway bars, which brace the attached trailer against high winds, might also be worth the investment for heavier loads.

Also, pay attention to the type of coupling mechanism on the boat trailer. The size of the trailer ball, whether it is 1-7/8 inches, 2 inches or 2-5/6 inches, must match the accompanying vehicle hitch.

4. Attach the Trailer Securely

If the trailer is outfitted with its own braking system, test the connections to be sure the brakes respond before driving on the roadways. Make sure all brake lights and directional signal bulbs are in good working order and are controlled from the inside of the tow vehicle.

5. Pack the Boat Evenly

A rookie mistake is to quickly stow food, water, fuel and gear inside the boat willy-nilly. It must be packed evenly to prevent swaying during transport. The common rule of thumb is to place 10 to 15 percent of the boat and trailer’s total weight toward the front, so the load falls on the front axle and provides balance. However, if the hitch already accounts for at least 10 percent of the weight, place the heavy cargo toward the back to lower the center of gravity. To check how much weight falls on each axle, visit a local weigh station that allows non-commercial customers.

6. Practice Maneuvering

Before backing your boat up into the water, practice driving in reverse in an empty parking lot with the parking space lines as a guide. You will feel more confident at the launch and lower the risk of injury and damage to people and boats nearby.

If you need a professional towing company to come to your aid, contact Stauffer’s Towing today. Their experienced staff can offer boat towing advice and instant assistance for all towing emergencies.