As we roll into the ?colder months? here in the lowcounty, a fair number of anglers will line up fishing retreats to warmer weather. While some may be fortunate enough to hop a plane to some tropical paradise on the equator, many will simply jump in the truck, hook up the boat, and head to South Florida or perhaps the panhandle or even Louisiana. Whether you are after the Redfish bite in Venice, Sailfish bite off Jupiter, or the chance at an early season Tarpon in the lagoons of the lower Keys, you better be ready for the long haul. This weeks article was actually published last spring in Boat US?s Trailering Magazine. I found it to be a good read and wanted to pass it along?
Advice For The Long Haul By Dan Armitage Published: Spring 2014
A little planning before hauling your boat to faraway waters goes a long way.
Over the long haul, a successful long-distance boat-towing trip is a combination of pre-trip preparation and vigilance while the journey is underway. Extended road trips with boat in tow make for memorable family vacations. Four decades of annual long-distance trailering trips have taught me that the best ones require pre-trip prep and common sense. The first step toward tow-trip success is using a vehicle that’s up to the task of towing the designated boat and trailer rig, while comfortably accommodating passengers over the course of an extended journey. No matter how well-maintained the boat and trailer may be, if the vehicle used to tow it breaks down, you’re dead in the water before you even get to the water. Be sure your vehicle is rated to tow the combined weight of the boat and trailer, taking into account the terrain and temperatures you expect to encounter enroute. An SUV that easily handles towing the family runabout across town in the Midwest flatlands may find its tow-rating envelope pushed when struggling on the uphill side of the Continental Divide or crossing the Mojave in the heat of July.
Stowage Matters
Make sure the ball and coupler are snug and that the latching m