Trailering

Most of us live within 90 miles of accessible waterways, ready to welcome you and your boat. Boats under 25 feet are the easiest to trailer with your truck or sport utility vehicle. Discover the variety of activities that trailer boats provide: fishing, waterskiing, day cruising, wakeboarding, and simply enjoying the fresh air and adventure that are found on the water.

• Search for Trailerable Boats Information
• Check off your Trailering Safety Checklist.
• Review your state’s trailering laws

Your Guide To Towing a Boat

To many, the prospect of towing a boat can be frightful. This guide can help put you at ease with trailer boating by taking you through the equipment and procedures for safe, enjoyable towing and boating. It is a resource for newcomers and refresher for veteran trailer boaters.

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• Chapter One: TOW VEHICLES
  How to Chose Your Tow Vehicle
• Chapter Two: TOWING EQUIPMENT
  How to Equip Your Vehicle for Towing
• Chapter Three: TRAILER HITCHES
  What You Should Know About Hitches
• Chapter Four: WIRING
  How the Wiring on Your Trailer Should Work
• Chapter Five: LOADING, LEVELING and DRIVING
  How to Set Up and Drive with a Trailer Behind Your Tow Vehicle
• Chapter Six: LAUNCHING and RETRIEVING
  How to Launch and Retrieve Your Boat
• Chapter Seven: SAFETY CHECKLIST
  Checklist for Safe Towing, Launching and Loading

Trailers: A Word about Safety

Lug Nut Torquing

Being sure wheel mounting nuts (lug nuts) on trailer wheels are tight and properly torqued is an important responsibility that trailer owners and users need to be familiar with and practice. Inadequate and/or inappropriate wheel nut torque (tightness) is a major reason that lug nuts loosen in service. Loose lug nuts can rapidly lead to a wheel separation with potentially serious safety consequences.

• Here are some important safety TIPS »

Types of Trailerable Boats

Air Boats

Glide in very shallow water and typically are used for seeing nature and fishing. Power is usually an aircraft engine with propeller for pushing. 18 to 26 ft. long. (Trailerable; 2-5 people)

All-Purpose Fishing Boats

For those who fish from a boat for everything that bites, these are "generalist" craft with space for fishing gear, several bench seats or a few pedestal chair-back seats, a simple steering station or steer-by-tiller. They can be aluminum or fiberglass, are almost always outboard-powered, and are 15 to low-20s ft. long. (Trailerable; 1-5 people)

Bass Boats

Specialty craft for getting to the bass, fast. Accommodate larger outboards. Have lots of storage space for rods and gear. Outfitted with electronics and livewells. Usually feature a raised-deck casting platform in the bow (and often the stern), with provision for an electric trolling motor. Most often fiberglass, but aluminum models are available. Range from 16 to mid-20 ft. (Trailerable; 1-5 people)

Bow Riders

All-purpose runabouts with extra seats and forward access to the bow, a convenient spot to relax and sun. Outboard or stern-drive power. Smaller versions are fine for water skiing; larger versions allow some camping. All are suited to short-distance cruising. Mid-teens to upper-20s ft. long. (Trailerable; 1-5 people)

Canoes

Paddle-powered craft for exploring shallows to running white water. Great for fishing techniques. All-purpose aluminum to high-tech composites. Easy to use and enjoy. Range from about 10 to 22 ft. (Trailerable; 1-3 people)

Center-Console Fishing Boats

Allow angling from any place on deck, since the control station is located in the center. Generally outboard powered, some have small cabins for the "porta-potty" or to escape a squall. Depending on size, can be used offshore as well as near. Length from mid-teens to high-20s. (Trailerable; 1-5 people)

Cuddy Cabins

Small cruisers with compact cabins to camp, do some simple cooking, and get out of the weather. Outboard or stern-drive power. Great day cruisers and overnighters for small groups. Also used on big water for trolling for fish. High-teens to about 30 ft. (Trailerable; 1-5 people)

Day Sailers

Small sailboats suited for short day outings on small lakes or calmer waters, ranging from dinghies (with a centerboard) to more substantial boats with a fixed keel. At about 20 ft., day sailers often include a small cabin or "below decks" area for dry storage. So-called "pocket cruisers" range from 21 to about 29 ft., have cabins ample enough to accommodate berths and amenities for basic overnighting. (Trailerable; 1-5 people)

Deck Boats

Feature a one-level deck throughout and often rails or gunnels all around, all built on a performance hull. Multi-purpose craft that serve anglers, swimmers, sunbathers, evening social cruisers, and folks at the dock. These are stable craft. A number of guests will find room to enjoy being aboard; six friends on smaller versions, eight to ten on larger ones. Some have small cabins. Most often outboard powered, though some feature stern drives. Range from mid-teens to upper-20s. (Trailerable; 1-8 people)

Dinghies, Sailing

Small sailboats with a centerboard (a retractable fin) for use off the beach, around the harbor, or for small-lake sailing and racing. Mostly open-cockpit boats commonly come with just one sail (a mainsail) under 12 ft.; above that they are likely to have two sails and a covered foredeck area for gear stowage. Many dinghies race in popular "one design classes" where all boats in a class are of the exact type and measurement and sailed with equal crews (from one to four). (Trailerable; 1-3 people)

Dinghies, Rowing

Rather fish than sail? Get the rowing dinghy to get around the harbor and wet a line. Small, car-topable at eight to 12 ft. or so. (Trailerable; 1-3 people)

Fish and Skis

Interior layouts of these craft allow boaters to enjoy the two most popular on-water activities. Have enough power, usually outboard, to pull a skier or two, and to get to the fishing spot in short order. Storage allows taking skis and tackle. Three or four can ride and fish in lengths from teens to upper 20s. (Trailerable; 1-5 people)

Flats Boats

Shallow-draft hulls, mostly fiberglass, with tilting outboard engines. These craft allow angling access to saltwater flats fish. Each boat features a "poling platform" that allows navigation and fish spotting. A casting deck gives the angler stable control. Upper-teens to mid-20s ft. (Trailerable; 1-3 people)

Folding Boats

Made to store, then unfold and float, these consist of lightweight frames that are covered by fabric or plastic. Usable by one or two, they range from about seven to just over 10 ft. (Trailerable; 1-3 people)

High-Performance Boats

Designed for speed, these can be deep-vee or catamaran-hulled craft with big power. Creature comforts are included in the cockpit and below decks; fishing craft are more spartan. Outboard and stern-drive power, often sophisticated engines, can push even larger craft to speeds in the 60-mph range, sometimes faster. Size starts in the mid-20s and tops out in the 50s. (Trailerable; 1-5 people)

Inflatable Boats

Short five- and six-footers are used as dinghies. Mid-sized models in the 12- to 18-ft. range are more durable, have more interior space, and can handle an outboard; such mid-sized models can carry several passengers and serve as runabouts. Newer, hard-hull (or rigid) types of 20 ft. and over take moderate power and work well near and offshore. The "smalls" are easily transported; the "bigs" can be trailered. (Trailerable; 1-5 people)

Jet Boats

So described because they are powered by jet pumps linked to engines. Fun and usually wet, small versions starting at about 12 ft. can take two or three along; larger versions ranging to 18 ft. can accommodate a couple more folks or pull tubers or skiers. (Trailerable; 1-5 people)

Jon Boats

Multi-purpose camping, freshwater fishing and hunting craft, typically aluminum and powered by a small to moderate outboard or oars. Length in mid-teens to low-20s; accommodates three to five on bench seats, plus gear. (Trailerable; 1-5 people)

Kayaks

One- or two-person craft traditionally used for short- distance transportation, now expanded to include whitewater rapids duty and some for "sea kayaking" on bigger lakes and along coasts. (Trailerable; 1 or 2 people)

Multihulls, Sail

Called "catamarans" when they have two hulls and "trimarans" if they have three. Come in a variety of sizes, ranging from the popular 14-ft. and up "cats" launched from the beach, to high-speed ocean racers of 70-ft. or better. The lightweight hulls make these boats quicker under sail and well-suited to cruising and anchoring in shallow waters. Wide cockpit and deck layout in the back and "trampolines" in front provide lots of lounging options. Larger multihulls come with substantial cabins. (Trailerable; 1-5 people).

Pedal Boats

Leg-powered, two- or three-seaters for lazy small- water excursions. Classic lake boat, great diversion for the kids and not-so-serious anglers. Eight to 12 ft. or so. (Trailerable; 1-3 people)

Personal Watercraft

More often known by brand names such as "Jet Skis" or "Sea Doos." Two varieties include stand-on or sit-on; latest versions have gotten a bit bigger to accommodate three adults. Fun, fast, wet. Range from about six to 10 ft. (Trailerable; 1-3 people)

Pontoon Boats

Two tubes, usually aluminum, under a stable deck surrounded by railings and powered most often with outboards. Often covered with a canopy, featuring plenty of seating space (sometimes convertible to sleepers). Good for fishing, swimming and sunning. Start in the high-teens and go to the upper-20 ft. range. (Trailerable; 1-8 people)

Runabouts

Feature open or closed bows, outboard or stern-drive power, and mostly vee-hulls. Fun for water skiing and wakeboarding, fishing, cruising, sunning throughout the day. Some add camper canvas to allow overnights. Probably the most popular fiberglass boat made, though some are aluminum construction. Range from about 16 to upper 20 ft. (Trailerable; 1-8 people)

Sailboards

Surfboard with a sail for those who like to work waves and wind for an "athletic" form of solo sailing. Like water and snow skis, sailboards and sails are specialized for different windsurfing styles and skill levels, from easy gliding to stunts and jumps. Wider, more stable options are user-friendly to beginners. Range from eight to over 12 ft. (Trailerable; usually 1 person)

Waterski Boats

Powered by inboards, these "throw" a perfect wake for very serious water skiers and wake boarders. Used at tournaments and for training. Passengers usually include the driver and a "spotter." Range from about 18 ft. to the mid-20s. (Trailerable; 1-5 people)