Off-Season Trailer Love
Published: Tuesday, January 3, 2023 12:00 pm
By: Dan Armitage
I used to belong to a boat club that offered outside storage during the offseason for its members. The fellow in charge of moving and placing the craft in the boat yard was a gruff old coot, and the responsibility granted to him had long gone to his head. Come the end of the season, savvy club members started being extra nice to Jim, hoping to get their boat placed in a prime spot for wintering-over and easy retrieval and launching in the spring.
I, on the other hand, learned the hard way not to cross the self-important, bearded boat-yard man, and my boat spent its first winter directly under a large pine tree. At first, I thought it was a great spot, with the thick-boughed fir protecting my craft from the elements. Come spring, I learned otherwise when I spent the better part of a weekend removing hardened drips of sap from the deck and continued to discover pine needles wedged into various locations throughout the summer.
It was an early lesson for me in how to protect a stored boat and trailer during Great Lakes winters, which can be brutal. Since then, I have shared on these pages tips and tricks for keeping the boat ship shape until the spring launch. But what about the trailer? Anyone who uses a trailer to tow their boat to their cruising or fishing destination knows that the quality of such a road trip is only as good as the trailer. A blown tire, cracked bearing, or malfunctioning lights can end a boating trip before it even begins. So, it makes sense to pay some attention to your trailer this time of year, as well as the boat it carries. That’s especially true if the rig is parked outside and at the mercy of the elements. Here are a handful of things I have learned over the years to help keep my boat’s trailer ready for action after the winter thaw.
Beware the trees: As was my own case, some boaters think their boat will somehow be protected by storing it under trees -- but the opposite is true - ice, snow, and howling winter storms can snap off tree limbs that come crashing down. Falling leaves and needles can also stain boat covers and gelcoat or make their way inside, where they can block transom drain holes. Park in the open. Or at least away from trees.
Spray it: Spraying lubricants or water-replacing products such as WD-40 on metal trailer roller assemblies, winch gears, lug nuts, and electrical connections will keep moisture away and rust at bay. If air temperatures allow, the off-season is also a good time to take care of any rust spots on the trailer’s metal. Sand, prime, and paint the affected areas – or use a rust-converting spray for a quick fix.
Park it backward: If you're going to leave the boat on the trailer in your driveway for the winter, face the hitch away from the street if possible, and put a lock on it. The name of the game in avoiding boat theft is to make your rig as difficult as possible to steal. Figuring out just how to maneuver your boat and trailer into such a bass-ackwards position is up to you...
Tire matters: In addition to being a theft deterrent, removing the tires and storing them in the garage or shed will keep the sun from damaging them. With the tires off, this is also a good time to repack the bearings. With the frame blocked, secure plastic contractor-grade trash bags over the hubs and brakes to keep them dry. If the tires won't be removed, position the trailer so that the tires rest on a piece of plywood or plank to help prevent dry rot and cover them with tire covers or plastic bags to keep the sun off and hubs and brakes dry. To avoid flat spots from happening on the tires, move the trailer periodically a few inches throughout the winter.
Let it drain: Keeping the parked boat and trailer rig in a slightly nose-high/bow-up position will allow water to drain off the deck and out the transom drain hole. This angled attitude can be achieved with a bolt-on trailer jack with adequate range to raise the bow up beyond horizontal, or by placing a block under the trailer jack. Just remember to remove the drain plug!
A version of this article appeared in the Winter 2023 issue of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.
tags: Off Season, Trailers
