More and more people are choosing boats based on their transportation abilities.
Due to harsh weather conditions, costs, and difficulties surrounding maintenance, choosing a boat that you can simply hook up to a trailer and take with you solves a whole lot of hassle.
A trailered boat allows you to survive all manner of unpredictable situations. For example, if an oncoming hurricane were to take place, all you’d need to do is simply fasten your boat up, and drive it inland. Problem solved.
Another thing that makes these boats oh so appealing is the fact that you literally can transport them anywhere.
Whether you want to head out to a gorgeous lake nearby, an expansive ocean, or a perfectly placed inlet, you’re not restricted in the slightest.
But, this doesn’t mean that trailer boats are by any means easy to navigate. Of course, after some time and practice, securing it to your trailer becomes a breeze, but at the beginning, there are some things you have to learn.
If you’re a new owner, you probably have a whole lot of questions, one of them being how to best retrieve your boat onto a trailer.
This is where we come in. Below, we’ve compiled a handy guide that we think will help to answer all of your burning questions.
To find out more, simply keep reading below.
What Should I Do After I’ve Retrieved My Boat Onto My Trailer?
Now, why not jump straight in and answer the titular question? What should you do after you’ve retrieved your boat onto the trailer? Well, the answer is simple, you’re going to want to attach the safety chains so that they’re super secure.
After you’ve done this, make sure that you pull the boat trailer in a forward motion, taking care that your engine is nice and raised.
How To Retrieve Boat Onto Trailer
Now that we’ve covered what you need to do after you’ve retrieved your boat safely, we can move on to discuss our handy step by step guide, which teaches you everything you need to know about retrieving your boat on to the trailer in the first place.
To find out more, simply keep reading below.
Step 1
The first thing that you’re going to need to do when retrieving your boat, is to simply watch and wait!
Chances are that there are many others attempting to retrieve their boats too, and as a part of boating etiquette, it’s important to wait your turn.
After you see that the coast is clear, you can go ahead and get started. If you have multiple people on the boat, this will make the process far easier.
You’re going to want to leave somebody off the boat, in order to go and grab the trailer and drive it closer to the water so that you can hook it on.
Everyone else can pitch in in clearing up all of the gear on the boat, and making sure that nothing is left behind.
Step 2
You’re going to want to use the bow and stern lines in order to make sure that the boat is properly aligned with the trailer, and go ahead and drive your boat over to the trailer.
Make sure that you’re not overdoing it and applying your throttle to ‘power load’, as this can be potentially dangerous.
In fact, it can cause the ramp to collapse entirely. Remember to just take it easy.
Step 3
After you’ve done this, you can then move on to attach the winch. You can either do this yourself, or the person who’s standing by the trailer.
You need to attach this to the bow eye of the boat, and make sure that it’s fully cranked so that it’s nice and secure.
After you’ve done this, you’re going to want to do exactly what we instructed you to do at the beginning of the article, and attach the safety chains. You can then go ahead and pull up the ramp. Take it into the loading zone.
Step 4
One of the final steps that you’re going to need to take is to drain the water from your boat. Make sure that you do this thoroughly, as you don’t want any live objects still floating around in there if it’s not been done properly.
After you’ve done this, all you have to do is plug in your trailer lights, then you’re all set to go!
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that we’ve provided you with a handy guide for retrieving your boat onto your trailer, we can move on to discuss some frequently asked questions.
What Is The Largest Sized Trailer Boat You Can Drive On The Motorway?
This one isn’t entirely straightforward to answer, but generally, if a boat is over 45 feet, it’s impossible for it to be towed by a regular trailer. So, you’re going to need to choose one with a shorter length if you want to take it on the motorway with you.
How Much Longer Is A Boat On A Trailer?
If you’re securing your boat on a trailer, then you can expect for it to add on approximately 2 feet to the overall length.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, after you’ve retrieved your boat safely onto your trailer, you’re going to want to make sure that the chains are securely fastened and ready for use.
