Boat Trailering Basics: Towing, Launching and Retrieving

Boat Trailering Basics: Towing, Launching and Retrieving

Being able to trailer a boat opens up a lot of water. You can launch at different lakes, rivers and coastal ramps, and you skip the cost of a slip. It does take some practice, though. This guide covers matching the trailer and tow vehicle, a pre-trip checklist, driving with a trailer, and launching and retrieving at the ramp. Much of the practical advice comes from Discover Boating, the boating industry's consumer program, and its trailering checklist supplied by BoatUS.

Trailer equipment rules, such as brakes, lights, registration and size limits, are set by state motor vehicle laws and aren't part of our dataset. Check your state DMV before you tow. Your boat's registration and title rules are in our State Rules tool.

Get ready: choosing and matching your trailer

Support the hull properly. Discover Boating stresses that a boat spends much of its life on its trailer. The trailer should support the hull evenly, with the weight of the hull, engine and gear spread out. Uneven support can damage the hull.

Check the trailer's capacity. It should be greater than the combined weight of the boat, motor and equipment. Ratings are maximums, and running a bit below them is easier on the equipment. Discover Boating suggests a trailer one size bigger than you strictly need can handle an occasional heavy load. Go much bigger, though, and the boat may not be supported properly.

Know the real weight. A published "dry weight" won't include the fuel, water and gear you'll carry, so check exactly what the manufacturer's figure covers. Our model data includes dry weight and fuel capacity where manufacturers publish them.

Match the tow vehicle. The vehicle has to handle the trailer, boat, gear, fuel and water, plus the passengers and cargo inside it. Your vehicle's owner's manual lists its towing capacity.

Salt or fresh water? Discover Boating recommends painted trailers only for fresh water, and galvanized steel for better long-term service in salt water.

Get set: pre-trip checklist

Discover Boating recommends inspecting the trailer at the start of every season and doing a routine check before every trip. Based on its checklist (supplied by BoatUS), check:

Go: on the road

Backing up tip. Put one hand at the bottom of the steering wheel. Move your hand left to send the trailer left in your mirror, and right to send it right. Back slowly so you have time to correct. A spotter you can see in your mirror helps.

At the ramp: launching

Discover Boating's launch steps, in short:

  1. Prepare in the staging area, away from the ramp, so you don't hold anyone up.
    • Check the drain plug is in and the key is in the ignition.
    • Load your gear.
    • Attach fenders and bow and stern lines.
    • Remove the transom tie-downs.
    • Discover Boating suggests unplugging the trailer lights from the vehicle before backing in, so cold water doesn't hit hot bulbs.
    • It also suggests briefly turning the key to "start" to check the battery, without actually starting the engine out of the water, to avoid damaging the water pump.
  2. Back down slowly and straight. On most ramps, a rule of thumb is to stop when the front of the trailer fender is at the water's edge, or until the stern starts to float. Keep the tow vehicle's rear wheels and exhaust out of the water.
  3. Set the parking brake. Wheel chocks add safety.
  4. Release the winch and safety chain, then use the bow line to ease the boat off the trailer. Or lower the engine, start it, let it warm up and back off.
  5. Move the boat away from the ramp to finish loading, and park the tow vehicle and trailer.

If you're new, scout the ramp on foot first: check the slope, the water depth, the dock and the traffic. Consider making your first launch on a quiet weekday. Some ramps charge a fee, so pay it when you arrive.

At the ramp: retrieving

Retrieving reverses the steps. Discover Boating advises:

Clean, drain and dry. Ask your state wildlife agency whether it has rules on draining water and removing plants or animals from boats and trailers before you leave a ramp.

Trailer costs to budget for

A trailer brings costs of its own: registration (in many states), tires, bearings, lights, brakes and an annual inspection or service. Discover Boating notes that many owners leave trailer maintenance to professionals. Add these to your annual costs in the True Cost tool. On the plus side, keeping a boat on a trailer avoids slip fees. Discover Boating's cost figures put in-water dockage at roughly $1,000-$5,000+ a season, compared with outdoor storage at roughly $50-$300 a month.

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