You’ve got a great boat, but you don’t know the best place to put it.
A marina or mooring is the best option for large boats. If you have a boat that is with a length of say 25 or 26, then storing your boat on a trailer could be an option that is very feasible. Trailers can be used to transport small vessels, RIBs, and dinghies safely and easily.
What are the advantages and drawbacks to a trailer?
THE GOOD NEWS
Let’s begin with the price. A brand new, high-quality trailer for a 16 footer boat costs about PS2500. Marina berthing costs generally are similar to this however, you must pay them annually. The savings on marina fees is like getting 100% return on your investment! It’s a great incentive for your financial situation.
If you want to do any work on your boat, storing it at home on a trailer is more convenient than having to travel to the marina. I’ve seen from personal experience that having gone down to the marina, you often don’t have the right tool you need to complete the task.
A trailer implies that you do not have to keep your boat in the water. You can also offer it a clean washdown after every trip. This keeps the hull in excellent condition. This means that you won’t have to antifoul your boat each year, which could be a financial savings.
You can bring your boat with you wherever you want. You only need a slipway or launching ramp that’s suitable for your boat. There are plenty of them in the US and they’re completely free.
DISADVANTAGES
Of course, you’ll need four essentials – a boat that is small enough to be able to be towed and a trailer as well as a vehicle that is capable of towing the trailer and boat, and then a location (on your driveway or in another location) to store the trailer and boat. These are the essential things to have if you don’t have them. A trailer is not an option.
SIZE MATTERS
Selecting the appropriate size of trailer for your boat is crucial.
A trailer is typically suitable for anything, from a small sailing boat to a larger yacht of 25 to 26 feet. These trailers are usually not suitable for deep-keeled sailing yachts. It is possible to purchase a trailer for small deep keel boats, however you will typically have to launch them via cranes, not ramps – and the costs of cranage outweigh any cost savings.
The weight and size of your boat will determine the type of trailer you will need. You need to take account of your LOA (length over the entire length) and any outboards.
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WEIGHTY MATTERS
The dry weight of the boat plus freshwater, fuel, as well as blackwater in the boat are the most important weights. Twin-axle trailers may be required for larger boats.
If the trailer’s gross weight is not more than 775 kg or half of the towing vehicle’s weight, then brakes are not required. The full set of rules are intricate.
ADJUSTABILITY
Adjustability is an important factor when choosing the best trailer to meet your requirements. It should be fitted to your boat, and it should keep fitting your boat while you load and unload it. There are several elements to this.
The rollers will adjust to your boat’s profile as you fill it up.
Indespension trailers achieve this by their swing axle technique to ensure that the change in the bow-stern dimensions are covered. (see the image) Then the alteration in the portstarboard dimensions (i.e. The pivoting of rollers arms will cover the angle of the keel (see the photo). Indespension trailers were the first to pioneer the swing axle concept (see the video below for a demonstration) which is a key feature of their boat trailers.
In addition, for larger flexibility, all major components should be attached to the frame using U-bolts. You can adjust the dimensions by unscrewing the nuts and moving the U bolts. Then tighten again. Indespension, again, have majored on the concept of fully bolted trailers. (The bolts actually are rectangular in order to match the shape of the components instead of U-shaped, however everybody calls them U-bolts!) This allows for simple adjustment and repair of damaged parts.
Certain boat makers will attempt to offer you a trailer if you buy a brand new boat. That’s fine as far as it is concerned, but there is a catch. The trailer is usually designed just for that type of boat and typically isn’t adjustable or has a limited range of adjustment. What happens if you sell the boat, the buyer does not want a trailer such as if they have a dock somewhere? The trailer will be inoperable. The general advice is to purchase a trailer with the ability to adjust in a variety of ways like the Indespension range.
SIZE and WEIGHT MATTERS – AGAIN
You’ve got your boat. You have the perfect trailer. Now you require an appropriate car or another towing vehicle.
A majority of cars have towbars installed in the rear. Some notable exceptions are Porsche 911s, as well as several other special cars. The weight of towing of a car is defined by the car’s manufacturer. It is usually referred to as the “gross train weight” and can be found in the owner’s manual or the VIN plate of the car. It is important to determine the total weight of the trailer, the boat and any other boating paraphernalia you intend to put into the boat.
It is your responsibility to verify that the vehicle you are employing has the appropriate towing capabilities.
SECURE YOUR HUB
The trailer hubs are exposed to repeated submersion in seawater. They are corroded by this! Indespension offers two great solutions. Indespension has two excellent solutions Their brake flushing kit allows you to quickly flush saltwater out using freshwater and their hub-savers safeguard your hubs.
PRETTY COLOURS
A beautiful trailer could be tempting. Our suggestion is straightforward. Don’t be. Even the most durable paint is eventually washed away in saltwater, especially when it’s scratched or scraped in any way. The most effective solution is to have a fully galvanised trailer, such as those offered by companies like Indespension. A painted trailer may look more appealing however it’s only going to last for a short time.
WEIGHTY LEGAL MATTERS
The weight you can tow depends on the date you passed your car driving test. If you passed on or after 1 January 1997 you are able to:
drive a car or van up to 3,500kg maximum authorized mass (MAM) towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM
to tow a trailer with more than 750kg MAM as in the event that the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is not greater than 3,500kg
MAM is the limit on how much the vehicle can weigh when it’s loaded. To haul heavier objects, you must pass the trailer and car driving test.
If you’ve passed your car test prior to 1 January 1997 you’re usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg MAM. The Government website provides more details.
Summary
When you are buying a trailer the most important aspects to take into consideration are weight, size costs, as well as the complex rules. Get all those right and then enjoy your boating.