Know the Weight of What You Are Pulling
Now that you want to transport your sailboat using a trailer, you need to learn the fundamentals of how to trailer a sailboat. From the onset, you should know the weight of everything that you are going to pull. Basically, make sure that you know the estimated weight of the trailer, sailboat, and everything that’s inside it. In this respect, you should take note of the amount of gas in the tank, water, as well as any other equipment that might be inside your sailboat. All this should be put into consideration when looking into the issue of weight. Having known the approximate weight of what you need to pull, you should check your towing vehicle’s manual to establish if it can pull your trailer and sailboat.
Make sure that you get the weight of every component right because it will be important in determining how safe and comfortable the transportation will be. For instance, a trailer’s tongue weight should fall within the limits of a towing vehicle. If a trailer’s tongue weight is too much, it puts a lot of pressure on the rear wheels, thus lifting the front wheels of the towing vehicle. Consequently, steering becomes a difficult task. Again, if there is too much weight on the back of the trailer, the towing vehicle can easily lose control. Therefore, it’s prudent to take note of the sailboat, the trailer, and all the components involved so as to make trailering your sailboat easier.
Check the Tires and Brakes
The tires and brakes of a tow vehicle should be in a good condition for safe transportation. A valuable tip that you should always put into consideration, in respect to how to trailer a sailboat, is ensuring that the pressure of the tires is at the right levels. Ensure that the tires of the tow vehicle and the trailer are within the recommended pressure for the transportation to be safe and effective. It’s advisable for you to check the sidewalls and treads of the tires of the towing vehicle and the trailer to ascertain whether they are fit for the transportation.
If you notice that they are worn out, the best thing to do is to replace them. UV damage can cause tear and wear on trailer tires while pot holes and bumps can weaken the capacity of a towing vehicle’s tires. Thus, you should establish whether the tires need pressure inflation or replacement. Additionally, it’s cardinal to take note of the speed rating on the tires on the towing vehicle and the trailer. This is pivotal because it will guide you on the speed limit you should maintain while on the road. For most trailer tires, the rated speed limit is 65mph. Maintaining the required speed limit is essential in guaranteeing the safe arrival of your sailboat. Of great importance still, ensure that brakes are functioning well to avoid any mishap while on the road. If there is any problem with brakes, you should address it so as to tow your sailboat safely.
Maintain Safety When Towing a Sailboat
Safety is very important when towing a sailboat. Part of the major things you should know when learning how to tow a sailboat is how to maintain safety. You don’t want to put an end to your sailing because of the damage you might cause to your sailboat during transportation. So, it’s wise for you to ensure that you are in full control of the trailer, sailboat, and towing vehicle. The following areas are worth putting into consideration when towing a sailboat: acceleration, braking, turning, and stability. Driving at a slower speed is recommended when towing a sailboat, especially if you are not used to it. Make sure that you maintain a considerable distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you. Driving slower is advisable when you are attached to a trailer because you need to react safely when you find yourself in a challenging circumstance when on the road. When you encounter a sudden challenging situation when towing a sailboat, you, obviously, don’t react the same way you do in normal times. You should induce a slowdown without causing unsteadiness. This will help you to remain in control without having to cause unnecessary panic and instability. If you master the skill of acceleration, braking, turning, and stability, you will be in a position to maintain safety when towing a sailboat.
Sailing is good for adventure. Indeed, being in the deep waters is a great experience. But, you need to think about how to trailer your sailboat to the waters and also how to take it back home once you are done. Knowing how to trailer a sailboat will give you the freedom of doing it yourself without having to hire a tow company to do it for you. It’s not a difficult task. However, you will need to follow the required procedures for the safe transportation of your sailboat. Remember, trailering a sailboat means that you have to pull a lot of weight. Therefore, you should be able to put integral aspects and components into consideration so as to tow a sailboat in the safest way possible. Now that you have learned how to trailer a sailboat and how to tow a sailboat as well, practice the above-mentioned, and you will realize that it’s not a hard task as many people think.
