Something to Think of While Towing a Boat

[mike_i]

Sad story we can all learn from as we're towing our boats.

Wife of Harbor police chief killed in Jamul crash when boat flies off trailer into car’s path

EAST COUNTY — A driver died Saturday after her car slammed head-on into a boat that flew off a trailer and landed on state Route 94 in Jamul, officials said.The 49-year-old woman w…

www.sandiegouniontribune.com

 

[Lou C]

For safety everyone should get their boat/trailer weighed because often boats are a lot heavier than what the manufacturer listed and this is really the only way to know if your trailer tires/axles are overloaded
Trailer brakes should be installed as per your tow vehicle manufacturer recommendations; this is usually for any load over approx 1000 lbs depending on the actual tow vehicle.
Just because you “can do it” doesn’t mean you “should” do it….

 

[Bondo]

was driving a 2000 Mazda B3000 truck pulling a boat on a trailer when the boat detached from the trailer as he turned west

Ayuh,..... Probably one of the idiots that thinks gravity will keep a boat on a trailer,......

Donno how many boats I've seen, with only the winch cable holdin' the boat to the wagon,.....

 

[Lou C]

in addition to transom straps & safety chain, especially with roller trailers...

 

[Scott Danforth]

@Lou C you need a grommet on the holes where your wiring is coming thru

 

[Lou C]

Hey Scott that’s actually a brake line…the wire between the tongue & frame is actually a ground strap…

 

[Scott Danforth]

Hey Scott that’s actually a brake line…the wire between the tongue & frame is actually a ground strap…

ok, you need a grommet on your brake line...... LOL

 

[ejnichol]

LOL

 

[Lou C]

And it’s only been that way since…2004 lol!
Roller trailer & very steep hill up from the boat ramp hence the extra back up of the chain/turnbuckle/hook.
Our street is elevated 80 ft above sea level and the ramp obviously is sea level so there are steep hills all around here unlike most of Long Island….

 

[Captain Caveman]

in addition to transom straps & safety chain, especially with roller trailers...
View attachment 355906

I kept trying to figure out why you strapped the bow stop to the tongue....and why you thought that was necessary. Then I realized that's for attaching to the bow eye!

In this picture, it is clipped to the bow stop so I got confused. It made me laugh.

 

[racerone]

There are many old trailers out there.-----No inspection required in many states.------And I saw picture / video the other day of an aluminum trailer where the tongue had broken of due to metal fatigue I think.---Big damage to the boat with 3 big outboards.------Most wheel bearing kits contain bits made out of " chinesium " material.----I asked for real bearings at the supplier and he said ----" Don't blame for that "----Not worth saving a few beer tokens when it comes to wheel bearings.

 

[wooky30014]

I rigged a backup safety chain for the winch and bow eye today. I can leave it hooked until I'm just ready to launch and hook it back upon retrieval. Just enough slack to get the snap-hook off so she shouldn't move but an inch or so in case of a winch or strap failure