A modern boat trailer will operate with minimal maintenance. However, ignoring them completely can cause roadside towing emergencies. Technology has greatly improved the quality and durability of recreational boat trailers, reducing many causes of roadside emergencies. BoatUS Angler, a boating membership organization, offers a roadside assistance service specifically designed to address boat trailer emergencies. A review of calls made to the service plan reveals inadequate maintenance as a prime contributor to boat trailer failures.

Modern, well constructed boat trailers can contribute to an out-of-sight, out-of-mind attitude with boaters. In remarks made in an organization press release, BoatUS Angler Director Mike Pellerin says, “Boat trailers are better than ever. However, because they are constructed so well, boat owners tend to overlook things such as checking tires for wear and forgetting to grease wheel bearings. Driving over the unavoidable rough patches and potholes contributes to early trailer or tire failure.”

Top Five Causes of Boat Trailer Service Calls - During 2007, BoatUS Angler responded to requests for boat trailer roadside assistance and found the top five reasons for service calls were:

44% - Flat Tires

20% - Wheel Bearing Failures

14% - Axle Problems

9% - Suspension Problems

5% - Tongue/Coupling Trouble

Boat Trailer Maintenance - It is apparent that the majority of problems with boat trailers occur from failure of wheels and components associated with them. Good preventive maintenance should focus on checking tire pressure, checking tightness of wheel lug nuts, regularly pulling wheels to check condition of brakes and wheel bearings, repacking wheel bearings routinely and using a product like the Wheel Buddy bearing cover. Installation of a fresh water flushing system to throughly clean wheel components after each use will greatly extend their useful life.

Other boat trailer components that should be checked from time to time are hull rollers, pads and bunks used to support the boat on the trailer. The trailer winch should be cleaned and lubricated at the beginning of the boating season. Inspect the winch cable or strap for fraying or excessive wear. Lubricant the tongue jack and coupler regularly. Check the condition of safety chains with each use of the trailer. More information can be found in the article titled Safety Trailering Your Boat.

Additional Equipment - Consider carrying some additional equipment to help with maintenance and roadside emergencies. This should include a spare trailer tire, lug wrench, jack, grease gun, tire pressure gauge, and safety flares. Other equipment and tools can be added after gaining additional towing experience.

The BoatUS Trailer Assist program may be of interest to the reader of Boating and Sailing at Suite101.com. For a nominal fee, boaters are covered for towing services of up to a hundred miles to a repair facility, can receive assistance at slippery launch ramps, and receive services for flat tire repair, battery jumps and fuel deliveries. Eighteen thousand service providers familiar with boat towing issues participate in the program.