The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #158099   Message #3736130
Posted By: Gurney
07-Sep-15 - 07:09 PM
Thread Name: BS: a trailer for our rowboat?
Subject: RE: BS: a trailer for our rowboat?
What everyone said. It's easy going forward, so easy you can forget about it, but reversing takes some practice, particularly down a narrow launching ramp. Guest Ian pointed out the easiest, if rather elaborate idea, a launching trolly, a lightweight frame-with-wheels which rolls up onto the roadable trailer. This only works for lightweight boats, like yours, though.

Usual solution to your problem (here) is to modify a small open trailer with an extendible towbar and cut-outs to take the boat hull. for storage, they reverse the slide-in 'gates' and store the boat upside-down on top. Or just have a cover made.

Reversing a trailer means that you have to think in terms of moving the towball/hitch from side to side, which means the car's front wheels are on the wrong end of the rig.
Some people with heavy boats put another towball on the front of the
car. Or just unhitch and manually manoeuvre separately.
Always remember that you need a weight of about 40lbs or more on the car's towball, or the trailer will 'wag the dog.'