When buying a boat, one of the top considerations you will need to make is whether or not to buy a boat trailer.
If you intend to keep your new boat in a garage at home, there is very little point buying it unless you fully intend to also buy a boat trailer. Otherwise, how are you going to transport your boat from the house to the launch area?
Buying a boat trailer is a very important part of your boat ownership experience. Having a readily available trailer for moving your boat from one place to another allows for a lot of flexibility and convenience. But it can also be a huge challenge if you fail to do the necessary research.
Here, we look at some of the top reasons why you need a boat trailer and what you should know about getting one. Also, if you are looking for high-quality offshore trailer boats, we recommend you choose Makaira boats.
Freedom and convenience: Freedom, convenience, and flexibility are top reasons why boat owners invest in boat trailers rather than renting one whenever they want to use their boat.
When you have a boat trailer, you are no longer restricted by time or distance. As long as you have the right boat trailer and the proper towing vehicle, you can hit the road any time you want and drive to your favourite stretch of water.
Storage: When you have your very own boat trailer, it saves you from spending money keeping your boat in dry storage or at the local marina. Not only will you not need to spend money paying for boat storage, but towing your boat to your house will protect it from damage that may occur when it is left unattended in the public marina.
Apart from the fact that public storage is expensive, especially for the long-term, a boat trailer mean that you are less dependent on outside facilities and can have access to your boat at any hour.
Maintenance and servicing: Having a boat trailer will also save you some expenses when it comes to maintenance and servicing. For example, you can easily haul your boat to the service centre any time it needs servicing without having to pay for haulage. Or you can always have the mechanic come to your premises to work on your boat.
Also, keeping your boat out of the water for long periods will save you the need for constant hull repainting and the other problems associated with longboat stay in the water.
What to know before buying a boat trailer
Know the local trailer laws in your area: Every city has its own set of laws that govern road users, especially when it comes to hauling a boat on the highway. Before investing in a boat trailer, it is important that you first find out what the law says about towing a boat in your area.
Make sure to know the requirements needed to transport a boat, if you will need a special type of driver’s license, and whether you will need to register your boat trailer.
Other regulations to take note of include specific types of trailer lights, boat trailer weight, height and length, as well as any independent trailer braking systems. You should be able to get the information you need from your local bureau or department of transport.
Avoid buying cheap trailers: Boat trailers come in different shapes and sizes and are usually built from a variety of materials. This is why when it comes to buying boat trailers; price should not be your major consideration.
When you buy the cheapest trailer you can find, you are simply setting yourself up to repeat the process in a few years time. This does not mean you should overpay for boat trailer, but buying a cheap item may end up damaging both your boat and your towing vehicle.
The key is to do proper research and make sure you invest in something the not only meets your needs but will also last for a very long time.
Consider the weight of your boat: Boat trailers are typically designed to hold boats of a certain weight and size. Using a boat trailer meant for a smaller boat to haul a bigger vessel will only lead to problems. Therefore, before you buy a boat trailer, be sure of the size and weight of your boat.
A rule of thumb is to buy a boat trailer that can support at least 15% extra weight than that of your boat. This will also accommodate the weight of your boat’s engine and other equipment.
Wrapping up
Buying a trailer for your boat is a simple and practical option for boat owners. Once you have passed your boaters license exam, you will be ready to go. If you have yet to get your boater’s license, then visit https://www.ilearntoboat.com/texas/ for your interactive boating courses. As long as you buy the right fit and have the perfect towing vehicle, you can carry your boat to any water body of your choice without spending money on haulage.