Learning the correct way to tow your boat is an absolute necessity for any boat owner, who tows their boat as opposed to keeping it on a mooring, or in storage that provides an  "in and out" service to their customers. While there is no "official" data available at this time from our government or the insurance companies on the number of accidents, that occur while a motor vehicle (car, 4x4 or van etc) is towing a trailer, it is thought by many that the numbers are on the rise for a few reasons.

• The rise in the number of people purchasing boats and boat trailers.
  

• The Increased use of trailer manufacturer’s using low-cost imports, to build trailers more cheaply, that have unfortunately been associated in a decrease in quality.
  

• Also the Inadequate maintaining of the boat trailer by the owner’s.
  

• The lack of knowledge by boat owners on the correct way to hitch up the boat trailer to the towing vehicle, towing a boat, the launch and recovery of their boat. The lack or breakaway cables being connected or even have them on there braked trailers, and the tether chain/cable on unbraked trailers not being used or even there to use.
  

Also, the lack of knowledge in towing a boat, and the launching and recovery of the boat, this is extremely poor boating etiquette and causes a lot of aggravation to the knowledgeable boaters. The environment also suffers a lot more, as pollutants enter into the water with the constant reversal and forward motions of boat and trailer while trying to launch or recover the boat

To increase your experience, why not go to a deserted large car park, with your boat and trailer. There you can practice your reversing skills. Then someday while you patiently wait for the inexperienced driver making their sixth attempt at reversing the boat and trailer down the ramp trying g to launch or recover it. You can sit back knowing you will not make the same spectacle of yourself.

A few tips on the correct way to hitch up, tow, launch, recover and travel a distance with a boat trailer, Follow on

Hitching up a boat trailer to your towing vehicle:

• If you have a 4x4-towing vehicle, most of these have tailgates that can be lifted up. Before you begin to back up to your boat trailer, open up the tailgate. This will then give you an enormous advantage in reversing up to the trailer by enabling you to see so much better when you are reversing in regards to the trailer.
  

• Once you have reversed the vehicle properly up to the boat trailer hitch, put the hand brake on in You’re towing vehicle and begin to wind down the jockey wheel on the boat trailer onto the tow ball on the your tow vehicle. Once the trailer hitch is all the way down on the vehicle tow ball, continue to wind the trailer jockey wheel as far as it will go up. Then loosen the bracket and pull the jockey wheel and its whole assembly to its extreme highest position and re tighten the clamp.
  

• Make sure that the hitch has locked its self down on the tow ball. It's a good practice at this time to put a lock through the trailer hitch or lock the hitch depending on the type of hitch you have. This is often forgotten and many a boater has come back to the ramp and found that the trailer gone. Therefore, if you do this immediately after you have attached and the secured the trailer, to the towing vehicle it won’t get forgotten. Also now the breakaway cable to braked trailers, and the safety chain/cable on unbraked trailers. From the trailer to the towing vehicle, these are safety devices and must be used by law in the UK
  

• Now connect the electrical plug from the boat trailer board. It is always advisable to check the correct working of all lights before you pull away.
  

• Make sure the trailer winch is wound up tight on the boat bow eye, and that you’re securing straps are tight. Shut your tailgate, you are now ready to depart
  

Pre-launching Tips:

• Preparation, preparation and even more preparation. This is the key to safely launching your boat. Preparation is not only a safety aspect but also a huge courtesy to your fellow boaters at the launch slipway. Most of these tips can be and should have been addressed before leaving with your boat; for launching slip however, some must wait until arriving at the ramp
  

• Make sure that you put the drain plug in the boat. Check your fuel and oil levels. Put the boat key into the boat. You can do this at home.
  

• Raise your outboard motor to prevent it from striking the road while towing and the slipway at launching. Again do this at home
  

• Make sure you have all of your safety equipment in your boat. Life jackets, radio, fire extinguisher, flares and anchor. Attach painters to the bow and stern cleats of the boat. Do this at home, and make sure that they wont come adrift while towing causing a danger to other road users
  

• At the slipway, remove any securing straps have on your boat. Release the ratchet on your winch now.
  

• Some people actually find it easier to launch their boat off the trailer by there self, however many find it far easier with a friend. Both require very similar procedures, however with a friend, they can guide you down the slipway and hold the bow painter from the boat to help get it off the trailer and into the water. Or they could actually be in the boat and drive it off the trailer.
  

Launching Your Boat:

• Open the tailgate on the tow vehicle if you can. This again enables you the driver greater visibility when reversing down the slipway.
  

• Reverse the boat trailer down the slipway.
  

• Keep the rear wheels of your towing vehicle out of the water (this will prevent the possibility of the water covering the exhaust and stalling the engine of the tow vehicle). The trailer should be midway into the water for a successful launch. Make sure you put the vehicles handbrake on securely.
  

• If you are launching by yourself, retrieve the bow painter from the boat, loosen the winch, unhook the winch strap/wire and attach the knotted end of the bow painter to the trailer winch hook.
  

• Get back into your vehicle and drive forward a little bit, then reverse a bit and hit the brakes as hard as you can. This will release the boat off the trailer. With the bowline attached to the trailer winch hook, you just get the bowline from the hook, swing the boat around and attach it to a suitable anchor point on the slipway.
  

• Shut your tailgate and park up the tow vehicle and trailer.
  

• If you have a friend helping you to launch, they can usually get into the boat, drop the out board motor a bit, start it up and motor it off the trailer. Otherwise they can just push it off making sure they keep hold of the bow painter. You can the go and park the tow vehicle and trailer up safely.
  

Boat Recovery onto the Trailer:

• The steps for recovering the boat from the water are basically the reverse of those taken to launch it.
  

• Moor the boat to an anchor point on the slipway.
  

• Go and get the tow vehicle and boat trailer.
  

• Reverse the trailer down the slipway, and then manoeuvre the boat to the submerged trailer, after raising the out board motor.
  

• If driving the boat onto the trailer, engage the motor in a forward motion against the trailer winch post, lean over the bow of the boat, and attach the trailer winch to the bow eye on the boat. Secure it and then winch it up tightly.
  

• Turn the outboard motor off, raise it all the way up into the tilt position and tow the boat and trailer out of the water.
  

• Once you have the boat and trailer out of the water, remove the drain plug from the boat, to let any water out of the hull.
  

Driving long distances with a Boat Trailer tips:

• Make sure you use tie-downs (ratchet ones are best) on the boat attaching them to the trailer.
  

• Have your boat trailer serviced prior to trip (Wheel bearings, tires, brakes, hitch etc…)
  

• Get plenty of experience of trailing and reversing your boat, locally before you set off on a long distance towing expedition.

• Realise that your boat could be wider than your tow vehicle. Pay particular attention to the kerbs so that the boat trailer wheels do not go onto the pavement.
  

• Understand that you will have to make slightly wider turns to compensate for the length of the boat trailer behind your vehicle.
  

• Make sure that you have everything in the boat securely tied down
  

• Check your trailer indicators, brake lights and that trailer lights are on when the tow vehicle lights are on.