Boating – May 2018

MAKING WAVES ///CAPTAIN’S TEST

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CLAIM SERVICEIN THE

INDUSTRY!

If you’re one of the many

millions of boaters who get to

the water via trailering, this

quiz is for you. How well do

you know your boat trailer

and trailering safety? It’s time

to get that rig on the road, so

here goes. —John Tiger

(Answers on page 16)

TRAILERING SAFETY

PHOTO: COURTESY RANGER BOATS

1. Your vehicle’s trailer

hitch should be capable

of towing:

A. Another vehicle.

B. Gross trailer weight

(GTW) exceeding

the total weight of

your boat, engine,

trailer and gear

combined.

C. Another buddy’s

trailer out of the

ditch.

D. Tongue weight (TW)

of approximately

10 percent of the

total GTW of your

towed load.

E. All of the above.

F. B and D.

2. What are the advan-

tages and disadvantages

of roller hull supports

versus bunks found on

boat trailers today?

A. Rollers tend to

make it easier to

launch the boat

from shallow and

otherwise difficult

launch ramps.

B. Bunks provide

more consistent

support because

they cover a larger

area of the hull.

C. Bunks can scratch

the hull, especially

if the carpet on

them becomes

loaded with sand

from launching.

D. Rollers can fail,

thereby causing a

danger of damag-

ing the hull if the

roller comes off its

spindle.

E. All of the above are

true.

F. Only A and B are

true.

3. Proper boat tie-downs
   should:
   A. Be used only
   when towing long
   distances.
   B. Connect the tran-
   som eyes to the
   trailer tie-down
   eyes, or another
   suitable strong
   attachment point.
   C. Be installed on
   every trip, regard-
   less of distance.
   D. Be checked for
   tightness at every
   fuel and rest stop.
   E. B, C and D.
   F. A, B and D.


4. A trailer fishtailing at
   speed could be caused by:
   A. Tongue weight too
   light for the towed
   load.
   B. Tongue weight
   too heavy for the
   towed load.
   C. Improper loading
   of the boat on the
   trailer, causing
   poor weight
   balance and load
   distribution.
   D. A and C.
   E. None of the above.
   5. Trailer tires should be:
   A. Checked for age
   and weather crack-
   ing on sidewalls
   and uneven wear
   on tread.
   B. Checked once per
   season.
   C. Filled to recom-
   mended air pres-
   sure and checked
   frequently during
   your trip.
   D. Checked often
   during your trip for
   overheating, using
   your hand as a
   gauge.
   E. All of the above.
   F. A, C and D.

Bonus: When stopping

for fuel during a trip, you

should:

A. Check tires and

wheel bearings for

overheating, using

your hand as a

gauge.

B. Check trailer

lights for proper

operation.

C. Check tie-downs

and tighten if nec-

essary; check load

for shifting.

D. Check winch strap,

emergency chain,

safety chains and

coupler integrity.

E. Park in front of both

fuel pumps to block

others from fueling

up behind you.

F. A, B, C and D.