What to Know When Towing a Boat for the First Time

Boating fun can’t begin until your boat is in the water! If you don’t store your boat in the water at a marina, you likely store it on land on a trailer.

To get it to the water, you’ll need to tow it – but towing a boat can be challenging and dangerous if you’ve never done it before or haven’t had enough practice.

It’s an important skill to master to get the most out of your boat in the water each season! So, whether you use your boat to fish or to pull water skiers around the lake, here’s what you need to know when towing a boat for the first time.

Choose the Right Trailer

If you already have a trailer for your boat, you’re on your way to towing it! Just double-check that it's the right size for your boat. 

Buying a new boat means you also need a trailer to get it to the water. However, the trailer can’t be just “any” trailer. It must be the right size and type to capably handle the weight of your boat when heading down the road.

To determine the size trailer you need:

• Use your vessel's size to calculate the trailer dimensions you need. In many cases, boats are sold with the right size trailer as a package deal – but that’s not always the case. Make sure the trailer fits your boat.
  
  
• Consult the manufacturer’s notes to guide you toward the right trailer size. If you’re unsure about the boat's weight on the trailer, which is near the top end of what it can hold, buy a bigger trailer.

Using the wrong size trailer can be dangerous, so don't force a boat that's too big onto a trailer that's too small. 

Make Sure Your Truck Can Tow It

With the boat on the trailer, you’ll need a truck that can tow the combined weight. Check your truck’s manual and engine size to make sure you aren’t trying to pull more weight than your vehicle can handle.

Check the Trailer’s Condition

If your trailer held your boat in storage during the offseason or you bought a used trailer, you’ll want to check it thoroughly before taking it on the road. Even with a new trailer, it’s a good idea to confirm everything works properly before pulling away from your home or boat storage and heading to the lake.

Like any other piece of equipment, trailers wear down over time – even with inconsistent use.

Check the brake and signal lights and ensure they work properly. Also, check the brakes and tires. Make sure you have a jack that fits under the trailer.

Connect the Trailer to Your Truck

Connecting the trailer to the truck's tow hitch is crucial to getting your boat in the water. A poorly connected trailer is dangerous! It can come unhooked and cause damage while bumping down the road.

Make sure the coupler fits the coupler on your trailer. A frame mount is the best way to attach the coupler to your truck. With a bumper-mounted coupler, exceeding the weight your bumper can hold can do significant damage to your truck’s bumper, the trailer, and your boat.  

For the ball hitch, make sure the ball is the same size as the trailer’s coupler. A ball that’s too small will create a bumpy ride for your boat on the trailer and can potentially cause damage to the boat.

Do You Need Safety Chains?

At Boat-Ed, we believe safety must always be a priority – even before you get to the water. While some may think safety chains aren’t necessary if the boat is attached snuggly to the trailer with straps and the trailer hitch is secure, we highly recommend chains, too.

Safety chains help keep the trailer connected to your truck. You’ll need two strong chains attached to your truck frame and the trailer. Make sure you crisscross the chains underneath the coupler to support it.

Before Leaving Home or Your Boat’s Storage Site

Even with your boat trailered and attached to your truck, you’re not quite ready to get on the road!

Before you leave where you store your boat:

• Make sure all gear on the boat is secured. You don’t want it to fly off the boat and hit a car while driving.
• Double-check the trailer, tie-down straps, and safety chains to make sure everything works and is secured.
• Test the brake lights and turn signals on the trailer.
• Tighten the lug nuts on the trailer wheels.

With your boat on the trailer, you’re responsible for making sure it arrives at your destination safely without causing harm to other drivers on the road.

Driving on the Road When Towing a Boat

We know you’re anxious to get your boat on the water, but it's important to drive safely when towing a boat.

• Drive at a moderate speed.
• Avoid sudden moves.
• Look ahead for obstacles in the road to avoid them.
• If it’s a long drive to the lake, pull over periodically to check the straps, chains, and trailer to ensure everything is still okay.

When you reach the lake, safely launch your boat and enjoy the day!

Learn More About Towing and Operating Your Boat through Boater Education

We’ve covered some of the highlights of what boaters need to know to safely tow a boat to the water, but we couldn’t cover everything boaters need to know about boat safety in this article! There’s much more to learn to enjoy more safe, fun days on your boat.

If you haven’t taken a boater education course through Boat-Ed, we provide an engaging online experience to help you learn and pass the exam. Most states require boaters to have a safety certification, and there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy the learning process!

Learn more about towing your boat safely, how to launch it, what kind of safety equipment your boat needs, and how to navigate the waters. Find the course for your state and start learning with our online study guide!