How do I correctly attach my boat to a trailer?

Question

I just got this boat, and we're heading out to the water soon. Someone told me I had to attach the boat to the trailer before we pulled it out of the water. Is that true? If so, how?

Answer 1

The primary reason for attaching the boat to the trailer is to keep it from bouncing off the trailer... so you are making two components one. And then a close second is to minimize bounces that could damage the hull and are inevitably on the road as you tow.  

The shock absorbers on your car/truck do a wonderful job of insulating you from pothole or railroad tracks or whatever... the leaf springs on your trailer have a spring-like effect--- and could throw your boat off the trailer.... and that would hurt.   :  ((

Answer 2

Back trailer into water.  Maneuver boat over trailer.  Snap the winch line to the front of the boat (should be a ring on the bow).  Crank the winch until the boat is touching the front stop of the trailer.  Pull out of the launch area and stop.  Use a strap to secure the stern of the boat to the trailer.

Answer 3

Make sure that the boat stays attached to the "locked" winch and some safery chain or strap while backing off on the ramp, when not and you back off, the boat can roll off the trailer (when you brake). The chain or strap is on the bow eye and secures the boat in case the winch lock fails. Remove it only when the trailer is in the water ready to roll or slide the boat off.  

Same way when going up on the ramp, winch the boat on the trailer and lock the winch, lock on the safety chain or strap and you can drive up the ramp without leaving the boat behind on the concrete.

When out of the water, strap the boat to the trailer from the ski eyes down to the trailer and you`ll be off. Oh yeah, dont forget to remove the back straps before you go in the water :)

Frank

Answer 4

you slowly back the trailer down the ramp into the water and have someone drive the boat onto the trailer then your connect it and drive out.