How to Load a Boat on a Trailer

After a long day on the water, loading your boat on the trailer is easy with these simple steps. You might be rushing to get home, but take your time as you load the trailer, boats are likely to be damaged if you’re in a hurry.

 

Loading a Boat onto Your Trailer

  1. Back the trailer in so the bunks get wet completely. Wetting the bunks reduces friction between the bunks and the hull. Don’t skip this step, save your gelcoat!
  2. Pull forward to a point where roughly a third of the center bunks are out of the water.
  3. Nose the bow of the boat between the bunks.
  4. Winch forward until the bow eye is up against the bow rollers. Don’t power load (using power to drive onto the trailer), as this washes out the ramp and will eventually ruin the launch. Don’t go above idle while at the launch.
  5. Slowly pull the boat out of the water.
  6. Attach and secure tie downs on both bow and transom.
  7. Remove anything that might fly out of the boat in transport.
  8. Note that different launch ramp and water depths may require slight adjustments to the procedure above.
  9. Be a responsible boat owner and rinse the trailer and boat hull off to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. This should also be common practice for those in salt water to prevent corrosion.

Take your time as you retrieve your boat from the water. Phoenix trailers are designed to hold your boat securely and safely, although if your boat is loaded crooked or incorrectly, our trailers won’t be able to do their job. Make sure the trailers bunks are in full contact with the hull. If your current trailer doesn’t securely nestle your boat, give us a call. We can talk about building the custom trailer your boat deserves.   Phoenix Trailers is not responsible for any damage to persons, or property—be careful. Please see our terms of service.

Words From

Happy Customers

I am now on my third Phoenix trailer and could not be more happy with the product. I have never had one problem with any of my trailers. I'm overly impressed with the product from Phoenix trailers and would certainly recommend to any boat owner out there.
— Nate Smith, World water-ski record holder and two-time slalom champion
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Service & Warranty

We warrant boat trailer frames tip to tail for two years from the date of purchase against defective material and workmanship. Many components have an extended warranty. Our welded frame trailers have a five year warranty. We backup each trailer that we produce with the finest customer service department in the trailer industry.