Stress cracks, gel coat fractures, de-lamination, we look for and discover these imperfections in our boat hulls most often while washing and waxing or performing routine maintenance. We typically make mental notes on these issues and watch them for further degradation to ensure the integrity of our hulls is not being compromised. If the problems appear to be the least bit serious of if they appear to be getting worse we are on the phone with the local dealer to have a professional look at them in short order.
So how often do you inspect your boat trailer, trailer ball, hitch assembly, and bumper or receiver? These structural components assembled out of steel, aluminum and wood are subject to structural degradation just like fiberglass. These components should be thoroughly inspected at least every year, if not every few months.
I prefer to start at the tongue of the trailer and work my way back. These steps are not intended to be all inclusive, but should provide a good start for an inspection:
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