Trailering & Launching Tips Helpful pontooning hints from the staff of the Pontoon Boat Guide.

One of the best things about a pontoon boat is that you don’t have to keep them in a marina or at a public dock. They’re trailerable, and that makes the boating world your oyster. Boaters with larger sailboats or cruising powerboats are limited by how far they can travel on the water in the time they have available; and these days, with everyone’s time at a premium, you want to be enjoying your vacation, not spending the entire time in transit.

Pontoon boaters, on the other hand, can simply hitch up the trailer, drive to the chosen cruising ground, and splash their boats. Even better, when they return home, they don’t have to worry about storms. Their boats are safe on their trailers, parked in the garage, in the backyard or at a storage facility.

If you’re interested in trailering your pontoon boat, keep a few tips in mind to make sure the experience remains as hassle-free as possible:

1. Double-check your boat insurance policy to see if it covers your boat during towing. If it doesn’t, and you plan to do a lot of trailering of your pontoon boat, it’s time to adjust your policy. Or purchase a new one.
2. Make sure the trailer capacity is right for your boat. This means consider your boat’s weight when it’s loaded with the gear, water toys and extras that you know your family will want to carry along.
3. Likewise, check the rating on the tire sidewall. You don’t want to place stress on the tires that they can’t handle, so make sure the ones you have will meet your needs.
4. Make sure you have a spare tire, plus a jack that will work on both car and trailer.
5. Check the trailer bunks — what the pontoon boat actually rides on — to make sure they’re long enough and support the boat in the right places.
6. Check the tow vehicle’s side mirrors. If the visibility isn’t great, purchase extended mirrors.
7. Consider replacing the ball hitch if it isn’t quite the right size for the trailer tongue. The price of the hitch is more than worth it, when you consider what it’s protecting on the trailer.
8. Also in the “protecting your investment” vein: Consider purchasing straps (with ratchet adjustment, if possible) to help secure your boat to the trailer. You don’t want to look in the rearview mirror as you hit a bump and all of a sudden realize how light your boat is. It does happen.
9. Double-check the trailer’s lights to make sure they’re all working.
10. Think about putting your outboard motor inside the tow vehicle or inside the boat for trailering. Just in case.

To learn more about trailering, and to find out about your state’s trailering regulations, check out Discover Boating’s online trailering resources.

When you get to the launch ramp and position your vehicle and trailer for the rear descent to the water, remember these pieces of advice:

1. Park away from the ramp and walk over to check it out. Other boaters will appreciate you not blocking the ramp while you assess the situation.
2. Likewise, prep your boat for launch while it’s away from the ramp. You want it to be completely ready to go before you get into position.
3. Remember to pull the light connection apart before launch. Hot lights and cold water don’t go well together.
4. Make sure you have an unobstructed view of trailer and boat through your vehicle’s mirrors
5. If someone else is helping you launch, go over your game plan in advance — including some simple hand signals for easy communication. Despite the number of boaters who employ the tactic of shouting, it just doesn’t work all that well.
6. If your boat has a drain plug, double-check to make sure it’s in place before the boat goes in the water. Even experienced boaters sometimes forget to do this.
7. Go slow. Remember the old adage, “less haste, more speed.” It’s incredibly appropriate whenever a boat is concerned.
8. If you’re not happy with how the launch is progressing, pull out and try again. This is as true with launching as it is with docking; there is no shame in calling a “do over.”
9. Once the boat’s in the water, set the parking brake — or even block the front wheels.
10. Slide the boat off and tie it up to the dock away from the ramp, out of the way of other launching boaters.

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