Canadian Yachting — June 2017

http://www.canadianyachting.ca 61

SPARES AND TOOLS
Carrying a toolbox with the following items will mean that you
are always ready to take care of any minor problems:

• Hammer


• Crescent wrench


• Phillips, Slot, and Robertson screwdrivers, also
  Torx if required


• Allen wrenches, SAE, and/or metric


• Adjustable pliers and “snap ring” pliers for bearing
  removal and replacement


• Wire cutter, stripping, and crimping tool


• Electrical test probe


• Tire change kit with jack and lug nut wrench


• If you use anti-theft lug nuts, remember the key and
  where it is kept


• Don’t forget to maintain the proper tire pressure in the
  spare tire


• Having a fully charged ABC fire extinguisher in the tow
  vehicle is a good idea and you may also require at least
  one in the boat, depending on its length

Spare parts should include:

• Electrical and duct tape


• Extra tie down straps and bungee cords


• Spare light bulbs


• Electrical wire of the same gauge as your wiring harness


• Crimp connectors


• 16 or 18 gauge aluminum wire


• A spare wiring harness plug and socket


• Spare wheel bearing kit and packet of grease


• Locking pins for the draw bar and coupler

TOWING THE TRAILER
When making the connection to the trailer, first adjust the trail-
er jack so the coupler is a few centimetres above the height of
the ball so you can locate the ball directly under the coupler
when backing up. Here is where a back-up camera in the vehi-
cle is a real asset. Chock the trailer wheels and try to have a
spotter assist you, but if that is not possible, back up slowly tak-
ing time to stop the vehicle, set the brake, and get out of the
vehicle often enough to check the distance between the ball and
coupler. It is important to avoid hitting the coupler with the
hitch or rear bumper. If the tongue weight is light enough, you
may be able to move the coupler over the ball the last bit by
hand. When in position, turn off the engine, set the parking
brake, and connect the trailer following the checklist above.
When checking the safety chains, ensure they are slack enough
to allow the trailer to pivot left or right, but not so slack that they
drag on the ground.
Now that all the connections are made and everything is safe
and secure and ready for the trip, it’s time for some driving tips.
Note: After you have been driving for about ten minutes, stop
the vehicle and set the brake, get out, and check all connections
to make sure everything is tight and still working properly. Touch

the wheel hubs to see if they are hot - they should not be. If they

are, there is probably a problem with the bearings. This will

need to be taken care of before continuing on your journey.

If you don’t already have some trailering experience, practice

time is well spent. Take a friend, preferably one with some past

experience, and find a deserted parking lot and act as a spotter.

Start off slowly. Practice moving forwards and then, when you

are comfortable, backwards. Try turning; slow wide turns at first

and then gradually tighter turns. Take your time. The closer you

are to the ramp or parking spot the tighter the turns will have to

be and it will be more difficult than making wide, gentle turns.

Be aware of how sharp your turning angle can be before you

jackknife the trailer and cause damage to both it and the vehicle.

Give yourself lots of room.

Practice braking. It will take far more distance to stop, espe-

cially with a trailer that has no braking system of its own. Start

off slowly and then gradually increase your speed. Remember it

will take 50% or more extra distance to stop safely when you are

towing a trailer, depending on the size and weight of the trailer

and if it has its own braking system.

Practice time will be well spent and help build confidence.

At the start of each season, a bit of practice will help to renew

your skills and confidence.

Remember, all trailers will track to the inside of a turn, but

trailers with multiple axels will track more to the inside of the

turn than single axel trailers. Being aware of this will help avoid

hitting curbs, posts, other vehicles, or going off the paved shoul-

der of the road.

When you are on the road, be prepared for lots of little

squeaks, rattles, and jolts - these are just part of the trailering

experience and you will soon get used to them. If a new sound

or movement that is out of the ordinary begins to occur, stop and

check it out. Often you will be able to sense a change; checking

it out could head off a more major problem.

LAUNCHING AND RETRIEVING THE BOAT

The Launch

When you get to the launch ramp there are a number of things

you need to do before launching, so park in a staging area that

is clear of the ramp. If another person is launching their boat,

offer to assist. You might be glad of their assistance if they offer

to reciprocate. Having a spotter is always the best way to go.

Here is a pre-launch checklist:

• Inspect the ramp for any obstacles, loose gravel, tight
  turns, or objects in the water that could cause a problem


• Note the drop off and how far you will need to back up;
  if there is a sudden drop off or depression, make sure
  you don’t back the trailer wheels into it


• Check for wind and current and where you are going to
  tie up the boat while you are parking the vehicle and
  trailer; is there proper parking available or will you have
  to park elsewhere?


• To ready the boat, remove the travel cover and stow it