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Owning a boat is just the beginning. In order to get your new boat from one location to another, you’re going to need a boat trailer. In fact, boat trailers come in many different styles and weight capacities, so a little research in advance will help you make the right decision when it comes to deciding what kind of boat trailer you need.

Boat trailers come in several styles and are made of different materials. Some are made of aluminum and have certain weight capacity limits. Some are designed for inboard boats only, while others are designed for larger, outboard craft. Most boat trailers purchased at a boating supply warehouse can hold up to 15,000 pounds, but always check specifications before purchasing one.

Many boat yards offer one-size-fits-all boat trailers, but try to avoid the temptation of saving a few dollars to buy such a generic boat trailer. Purchasing boat trailers to specifically fit your boat will prevent slippage, wear and tear and possibly more severe damage when towing back and forth.

Boat trailers can be called many different things, such as Easy Loader boat trailers, or Magic Tilt or Fast-Load boat trailers. Each boat trailer is designed and made with one specific boat model in mind, so be choosy when it comes time to narrow down your boat trailer search to just the right fit for your boat. Some boat trailers are totally submersible while others aren’t.

Floating style boat trailers offer aluminum I-beam designs as well as catamaran storage cradles and boat lifts. Fast load boat trailers offer single axle, tandem axle in both ‘regular’ and heavy-duty designs, as well as triple axle models. Some boat trailers come with rollers, bunks or boards, and deciding which one is best for you and your boat isn’t easy.

Experience loading and unloading your boat will often have a big impact on decisions about which type of boat trailers to purchase, so if you’re a novice, you may want to head for your local boating dealer and ask some pertinent questions.

Price ranges of various boat trailers also depends on which type you want, its construction materials and whether or not you have your boat trailer customized. Many people customize a generic boat trailer to their boats, while others opt to have such customization done upon ordering. Boat trailers can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, so make sure to check around on brand names and prices when narrowing down your search.

When thinking of purchasing boat trailers, make sure that your vehicle is able to pull the weight of both trailer and boat when loaded. You’d be amazed at how many people don’t take the combined weight of the two into consideration when buying. For this reason, many professional boaters opt to purchase aluminum style boat trailers, as they are more lightweight than galvanized steel and are also easier to keep clean and shiny.

Owning a boat can be a lot of fun, but it’s also an expensive hobby, or sport, or business accessory. No matter what you’re using your boat for, boat trailers are a necessary piece of boating equipment, and finding the right one for your skills and your boat is essential.

• ISBN13: 9780071596930
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description

Restore that “showboat” look to tired gelcoat, canvas, brightwork, upholstery, metalwork, and more

Boat cleaning isn’t as simple as taking a can of kitchen cleanser and scrubbing away, and improper procedures can cause damage to the boat or the environment. This is the only stem-to-stern guide to all aspects of boat cleaning and detailing. The book recommends both generic and brand-name cleaning and maintenance materials to help you make the right selections.

Lots of before-and-after photos show you how to:

• Keep your boat looking great and protect market value
• Achieve maximum results with minimum work and environmentally safe methods.
• Use tables and checklists to keep work organized and efficient

The Insider’s Guide to Boat Cleaning and Detailing: Professional Secrets to Make Your Sail-or Powerboat Beautiful

Bass Boats have gone through a tremendous evolution to get to the point where they are today. The first “bass boat” was considered to be a hulled out canoe made from chippings off of very large trees. The Caddo Indians of east Texas and western Louisiana are credited with this type of boat “invention.”

They used these boats to fish to provide food for their families. Bass during that time were the number one food choice to enable families to survive. Fortunately for these families, bass were found in very large supplies in the swampy waterways of the southeastern United States, exactly where these tribes were located. Thus began the evolution of the bass boat as we know it today. Below are present day considerations and tips for purchasing a bass boat.

Consider your Towing Vehicle:

Bass boats and trailers with a full tank of gas and loaded with all the fishing gear easily weighs over 3500 pounds. Before you consider your purchase of a bass boat, make sure your towing vehicle can handle to the load. Also, remember to take into consideration towing up mountains and hills.

Bass Boats:

There are key questions that an angler looking into buying a bass boat needs to ask themselves. Where are you primarily going to be doing your fishing? What is the size of the body of water? Will it be small lakes and rivers? If so, perhaps all you will need is a small boat with a small outboard motor. If you are planning on fishing in larger bodies of water, a minimum of 19-foot boat is your best choice. Overall, the three main characteristics recognized and looked for in the bass boat of today are shallow draft, maneuverability and stability of the boat.

Lastly, if this is going to be your first bass boat purchase, you might want to consider buying a used boat. This way you can gain more experience and have a better idea of what you want in your next new boat purchase.

Aluminum Bass Boats:

Aluminum boats are much less expensive than fiberglass boats. Additionally aluminum boats are much more forgiving of occurrences that inevitable happen on the water; banging into a dock, running up into shallows, hitting submerged rocks or stumps and so forth. The downside is that aluminum bass boats ride much rougher than fiberglass boats and are easily blown around by even the slightest wind. Again, the size of the body you plan to bass fish on is clearly a tremendously important component in the decision making. If you are intending to fish in a small lake, a 16-17 foot aluminum bass boat would likely be a good choice.

Fiberglass Boats:

Fiberglass bass boats are much more expensive than aluminum but clearly there are reasons for this. Fiberglass bass boats are capable of handling rougher and bigger bodies of water, they give the boater a much smoother ride and they can go much faster than aluminum bass boats. Experts suggest that if you are considering going with a fiberglass bass boat that you purchase one with a 4-stroke outboard engine as opposed to a 2-stroke engine.

The reasoning is that even though they cost a bit more, they cover much more water as far as fuel is concerned, they are much quieter and much cleaner than a 2-stroke. The reduced fuel cost is estimated to pay-off for the additional cost of the engine in the long run. To give you an idea of the cost of a fiberglass bass boat, they usually range from $20,000 to a $40,000 top of the line boat.

New vs. Used Bass Boats:

There are advantages of buying a used bass boat. Clearly they will be less expensive than a new one and historically, used bass boats hold their value much better than a new one. Also, as mentioned above, is this is your first bass boat purchase, buying a used boat will give you a better understanding of what you may or may not want if you ever decide down the road to purchase a new bass boat. There are also disadvantages of purchasing a used bass boat. In the simplest way to state it, you may be buying someone else’s headache.

Outboard engines, as are found on bass boats, are known to be short lived and it is difficult to determine this on a causal inspection of the boat. The best suggestion is to either buy from someone you trust or have a professional inspect the boat and engine before purchasing. Lastly, just as in purchasing a car, the seller needs to be willing to negotiate on price with a used bass boat sale.

Obviously, the biggest advantage to buying a new bass boat is warranties and the sheer joy of owning a brand new bass boat!

Boat Handling:

Whether you decide to purchase a new or used bass boat, learning to handling it is a process that takes time. Every boat has its own “personality” and handles differently in every way. From launching to retrieval to water handling, bass boats are all different. A few examples of these differences are the sounds your engine makes when it is trimming, the way it pulls out and into shallow water and the correct engine positioning and trim tab positioning to get it up on plane. Bass boats are all different. Realizing this and knowing that it will take time to learn your boat will encourage you to spend more time on the boat and enjoying the wonderful sport of bass fishing!

In High school physics, we have a project where in groups of 6 people, we build a boat using whatever we want. We have a month to build a boat that can carry two people and can race against other boats from a different school. Is it better to build a cardboat boat or a plywood boat? Where should we start? Please help and give ideas..

• Super tough ratchet does all the work so you don’t have to
• Steel hooks attach easily to boat and vehicle
• Includes 2 ratchets, 13 feet polypropylene rope, steel hooks and attachment strap
• Bow and Stern tie down required when carrying kayaks or canoes
• Comes with 2 complete ratchet assemblies, so you can get started right away

Product Description
A simple ratchet system lets you do away with bungee cords and time consuming knotsProduct Description
The Thule 855 Quickdraw Boat Tie Down Ratchets lets you secure your boat’s bow and/or stern quickly and easily. The Thule Quickdraw provides you with a simple ratchet system that lets you do away with bungee cords and time-consuming knots.

The Quickdraw super-tough ratchet does all the work so you don’t have to, and means no more wrestling with less-secure knots or taking the time to untangle bungee cords. These tie-down ratchets are great for securing all types of long loads, as well as for hoisting various items, and are constructed with steel hooks that attach easily to both your boat and your vehicle. Incredibly easy to use, all that is required is for you to simply pull on the end of the rope to get the safe and secure tightness you need. The 855 Quickdraw comes with two complete ratchet assemblies, so you can get started tying down loads right away.

What’s in the Box?
2 x Quickdraw ratchets with hooks, 2 x hooks, 2 x attachment straps, 2 x 0.25-inch ropes, and instruction guide

Manufacturer’s Warranty
Limited lifetime warranty

Thule 855 Quick Draw Boat Bow/Stern Tie Down Rachets

We’re buying a house with no space for a boat outside, but it does have a 2 car garage (typ height – +/-8ft). I think by placing it diagonal and with a folded tounge trailer i’ll be able to fit a decent outboard (+/- 20ft), what worries me is the height (not talking about flat boats).

If anyone has dealt with this issue, please share your experience, any tips, thoughts, etc are appreciated. Thanks.

What type of boat is best for my lifestyle?

Maybe you are an avid fisherman who spends endless summer days searching for that fish that will give you ultimate bragging rights, or want to spend summer afternoons slowly cruising with a group of friends on your pontoon, or possibly have a fascination for speed and water sports. Whatever your passion, there is a boat out there that is made specifically for your needs and desires. However it isn’t always easy to know exactly which boat you should choose. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the enormous variety of boat types and models. There are several different boat choices based on what they would be used for.

What will I use the boat for?

You should first decide what you anticipate using the boat for. There are boats for fishing, water sports, cruising, sailing, entertaining, or taking long trips. Some are designed for multiple purposes.

Once you know what you want to do with it, decide who you are going to be taking with you? You may not want a pontoon boat the fits 12 people if you are only going to be fishing with a buddy. You also don’t want to overload your boat because of safety.

Consider where you will be enjoying your boat; up and down the calm river, on a sheltered lake, or an open ocean with high waves and rough seas. If you will be taking trips you will want your boat to have a cabin.

Choosing the right engine for my boat:

Now consider the propulsion needed when deciding on an engine type. The horsepower and weight are very important factors in the performance of your boat. An engine that is not powerful enough will cause your boat to work harder than it should and lead to a great deal of maintenance and excess use of fuel. You need to consider the size and weight of your boat, including gear and passengers. There are six different propulsion types with varying factors to consider when choosing a system for your boat.

Outboard Motors (2 types)

Outboard motors are detachable and mounted on the stern of the boat, with horsepower ranging from 1HP to over 300HP. These engines can be used in all types of water. The 2 types of outboard motors are 2 stroke and 4 stroke.

2 Stroke: better acceleration, no need to change oil, better fuel efficiency, lower priced, weighs less, quieter

4 Stroke: lower emissions, excellent fuel economy, electronic ignition systems, good acceleration, oil added to engine not fuel

Diesel Inboard Engines

These engines range in size and horsepower, and rely on compression for power. They are designed for boats over 35ft because they produce torque and weigh more than gas engines.

No carbon monoxide in cabins or back, non-explosive fuel, low running cost, excellent torque, long life expectancy

Gas Inboard Engines

These engines are used for a variety of different sizes and types of boats, and range in horsepower from 90HP to 1000HP. It is located in the middle of the boat with the drive running through the bottom of the boat to the propeller. The rudder is separate for steering.

Simple drive system, quite, hidden, lower maintenance, low running costs

Jet Propulsion

These systems do not include a propeller, which make it safer for water sports. They are inboard engines that take in water which flows through a pump that is powered by an impeller. The high pressure caused by this, propels the boat forward. However, steering is only possible when power is being applied. Things can also be sucked into the water intake, and shouldn’t be used in shallow water.

Stern Drive

This is often called an Inboard/Outboard and consists of an engine and drive connected through the transom of the boat. The engine is inside and the propulsion is outside of the boat. This drive can be trimmed up or down. There are many different types of functions depending on what they will be used for. They can be used with one or two propellers, as well as two drives on one boat with one or two propellers.

Low maintenance, ease of control and steering, used on gas or diesel engines, quiet

Choose the right boat for your favorite activity:

There are different types of boats for a variety of activities and intended use. Below are examples of what boats are used for with lists of boat types best suited for that activity. You will find that there are several boats that are intended for more that one activity. For example, if you like fishing, water skiing, and plan to sleep on board; you can choose between a Stern Drive Cruiser and Cuddy Cabin.

Different types of boats

Fishing

Inboard Cruisers, Houseboats, Sedan Bridge, Sportsfishing Boats, Center Console, Fish and Ski, Flat Boats, Bass Boats, Fishing Boats, Jon Boat, Deck Boat, Multi-Hull Cruiser, Multi-Hull Power Boat, Closed Bow Runabouts, Walkaround, Bowriders, Cuddy Cabins,

Water Sports

Fishing Boats, Fish and Ski Boats, Bass Boats, Stern Drive Cruisers, Bowriders, Closed Bow Runabouts, Cuddy Cabins, Deck boats, Inboard Ski Boats, Inboard Wakeboard Boats, Jet Boats

Entertainment

Pontoon, Deck Boats, Motor Yachts, Inboard Cruiser

Cruising/Trips

Cuddy Cabins, Motor Yachts, Sedan Bridge, Inboard Cruiser, Sportfishing Boats, Stern Drive Cruisers, Trawlers, Cruising Sailboats, Multi-Hull Cruising Sailboats