Checklist - Returning Boat onto Trailer
On the Water
Fill with Gasoline
- Prepare the boat for trailer transport - empty ALL water ballast bags
- Prepare the boat for trailer transport - move ALL lead ballast bags to the REAR FLOOR of the cabin, just behind the captain's chair
- Backup the trailer on the launch ramp, with tow vehicle rear wheels at the water line
- Prepare the trailer winch - release 2-3 feet of cable.
- Drive the boat slowly onto the trailer.
- Continue to drive it forward until bow "tow point" meets the rubber cushion.
- Use the winch to pull the last few inches, and secure the boat on the trailer
- Turn off the boat engine
- Drive the tow vehicle 30 feet forward, pulling the entire boat and trailer out of the water, but still on the launch ramp
- Remove the plug at the rear of the boat, above the propeller, and allow the bilge to drain completely while boat is on the ramp. Or, you may just run the bilge pump until the water is done pumping, if you don't want to remove the plug.
- RE-INSTALL THE DRAIN PLUG, after the bilge has drained.
- Re-Install the two rear straps, (between boat and trailer). The straps should be in the BOAT (behind the captain's chair) (Optional for short distance towing)
- Remove all people and gear before towing
- Inspect the cabin, make sure that there is nothing in the cabin, or on the surf racks that could blow off of the boat during transport
Fill with Gasoline
- It is the operators responsibility to fill with gas before returning boat to storage
- Be very careful while towing the boat thru gas stations, as not all stations have the size appropriate to pull a boat through the pumps.