Towing a Boat

Biggest tip when towing is to develop a strong belief in road karma.

If you are travelling slowly because of gradient or conditions, let the queue behind you pass at regular intervals. Having a clear road behind you because you have let the tail gaiting pillok pass leads to a much more relaxing drive if nothing else.

When towing my boat I am rarely the cause of jams cause my little van tows really well, but if you do the trailer in the way slowing everyone down thing then you are just storing up trouble for yourself. slow caravan drivers, tractor drivers and sunday drivers in flat caps with 2 door hatch backs all have C/B radios and communicate to put someone slow in your way the next time you are in a hurry.

Oh- and when lining up at the lights against the local boy racers in rover 25's with MG stickers on. Do try and resist the temptation!!! It is not big or clever!

(Not sure I'll ever get the hang of that last one though.)

Originally posted by ratface hmm, someone who instantly sees a caravan and thinks 'oh look gypsies'  not every caravan'er is!

So if I'd said that criminals use cars, would you have accused me of suggesting that all car drivers are criminals ?   
Methinks your powers of deduction are somewhat dodgy Sherlock.

If you make sure that the bow is firmly fixed to the trailer with much rope then the boat is very unlikely to fall off even on bumps. In our case (and I have noticed at many other clubs) the worst bit of road/track is to and from the club in question.

Make sure it the hitch really is locked (bitter experience leaving the boat park) does the car move up and down by lifting and pushing down the trailer.

Fit a break-away cable.

Especially after the recent weather - navigate around potholes - they are everywhere - boatbreakers.

+1 for TTs stop after 5 mins and check the tie downs - don't forget the mast! I must have lost enough strips of carpet to cover the M4.

+1 for all above - find a way to lock the trailer to the car.

It is amazing at legal towing speed how many nutters there are on the road (and I also have a caravan).

hmm, someone who instantly sees a caravan and thinks 'oh look gypsies' 
not every caravan'er is!

*calms down*

also which this thread is here, when towing doubles do you have to have the lighting board on the lowest point possible? ie the boat on the bottom?


Edited by ratface