Before towing a boat, first of all you should check that your car is legally allowed to tow the boat.
A big boat behind a small car can present a real danger to the driver and other road users.
Find out from your manuals the towing capacity of your car and also the total weight of the boat motor and trailer.
Now check your state road regulations to see if your car is permitted to tow your boat.
You must also check the maximum length and width of the trailer that you are allowed to tow with your vehicle.
To give you an idea, 7.3 metre long Whittley Cruisemaster is the maximum sized boat that can be towed in most states, and it can only be towed by a large 4WD eg Nissan Patrol or something of similar size.
Next up you must inspect the bearings, axles, springs and other moving parts of the trailers undercarriage on regular occasions.
If you are not sure how to do this, have it looked at by a trailer expert or your local mechanic.
Bearings in particular should be properly inspected twice a year.
If there is movement in the hub when you shake the wheels you have problems with your bearings and should fix them immediately.
When hooking up a trailer, make sure the coupling is locked on properly.
You can do this by lifting the trailer by hand if it is light enough.
For heavier boats, attempt to lift the coupling off the trailer with the jockey wheel, if the car's rear end lifts up past its usual height, the coupling is locked on properly.
This means the coupling will not jump off the trailer when you go over a bump.
This happens more often than it should and is quite dangerous.
Most boat trailers are designed so that the boat sits forward putting slightly more weight on the front of the trailer.
Five to 10 per cent of the total load should be on the tow ball is ideal.
If you have the trailer weighted toward the rear too much you will feel the trailer sway as you increase your speed.
This can be fixed by having the spring hangers moved back a little.
In smaller boats the same load your boat up with holiday items, near the front will help maintain downward force on the coupling.
If the car's rear end is taking too much weight redistribute the load further back, and check again.
When washing your boat, always give your trailer a good clean with fresh water.
Do not be shy to give the brakes and hubs a good flush. You may need a bucket to do this if water restrictions dictate so. Your trailer should be given time to drain just like your boat.
Note that modern boat trailers often have very "slippery" rollers or slips, so you must leave the winches safety chain in place during towing-this is the law.
I recommend leaving the safety chain on at all times except when actually ready to launch and only once your boats rear end is touching the water.
Before setting off on any trip, check that your trailer lights are working.
Do this by sitting in your car, turning on the blinkers, pressing the brakes, turning on the tail lights etc succession as someone at the back of the trailer checks them.
If one particular light is not working, make sure the plug connections are clean, and check the globes. If the lights are all mixed up ie when you turn on your blinker the brake lights flash, you probably have to rewire the plug. It is best to wire the plug to suit your car rather than vica versa. A mechanic or auto electrician can easily fix any problems if you cannot do it yourself.
Before travelling remove the jockey wheel or swing it up if it is a swing up type. You must not travel with a jockey wheel in the down position as they will slowly unwind and touch the ground which can cause an accident. A dolly wheel, which is the short kind with no winding mechanism, must placed in its holder upside down.
during travel.
When towing, a few extra straps across the boat or even better tying the rear corners down will stop the boat from moving on the trailer, which is dangerous and also a major cause of hull damage.
Also secure any loose items in the boat, as they can shift around and cause damage, and they are also potential hazards if you have to brake heavily.
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