How To Choose A Boat Trailer
Riding the waves in your boat is a great way to pass the time, but getting your boat to the water safely can be a hassle. Boat trailers are essential for any mariner who doesn’t want to leave their boat in the water full-time, but not every trailer will work for your needs.
We here at Blue Water Boats have put together this guide to help you get started! If you have any questions we don’t answer here, or if you want to see some boat trailers for yourself, stop by our store in Cape May Courthouse, New Jersey. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will work with you to find what you’re looking for!
Narrowing Down The Type
There are two popular, broad categories of boat trailers: bunk trailers and roller trailers. The first step to figuring out which model you need is to decide which of these categories you want.
Bunk Trailers
This trailer design places the boat between two sturdy rails that run the length of the trailer. The vessel is then secured in place, making this option a reliable one.
The trailer relies on the “float on/float off” method, meaning that you’ll need to back the trailer fully into the water until the boat's buoyancy to help you lift it from the trailer and into the water. There are special ramps at many publicly accessible bodies of water to allow exactly this. Make sure the boat is fully in the water before loading or unloading it to avoid damaging the boat, the trailer, or both.
Roller Trailer
Similar in many ways to the bunk trailer, the roller trailer adds rollers alongside the rails that your boat is resting on. This helps ease the boat into the water, and you won’t need to back the trailer fully under the surface to load or unload the boat. This option is great for larger models and types, like sailboats and yachts.
Figure Out Materials
Boat trailers come in a variety of materials. Figuring out whether you prefer galvanized steel or aluminum is the next step to narrowing your search.
Galvanized Steel
Galvanized steel trailers come with a zinc coating, which helps to reduce and prevent rust. Given how much contact the trailer will have with the water, the benefit there is obvious. It’s also a harder and more rigid metal, meaning that it can carry heavier and larger boats. However, this means your tow vehicle will need to be more powerful to compensate for the extra weight. Steel is also best used with fresh water, as salt water can cause corrosion.
Aluminum
Aluminum’s primary benefit is that it’s lightweight and flexible. These boat trailers don’t weigh a lot, making them easier to actually tow. This is better for your tow vehicle’s tires and fuel efficiency, but only works for lighter boats. Aluminum’s flexibility means that heavier boats will bend and break the trailer.
Price Point
Once you know what you need from your trailer, you can start to figure out how it will fit into your budget. There are plenty of great prices for boat trailer sales, so figure out how much you’re willing to spend and focus your search on options within that range. This ensures that you get the most quality you can for a price you can afford.
You’ll also want to keep your boat’s value in mind. The more expensive the boat, the nicer you’ll want the trailer to be. A better trailer will keep your boat safe for longer.
Keep Storage In Mind
Finally, remember that your boat trailer has to be kept somewhere when you’re not using it. If possible, keep it indoors to prevent weather damage. Ideal options include a shed or your garage. If that isn’t possible, factor in the price of a durable boat trailer cover to your overall budget.
We hope this guide helped! If you have more questions or you’re looking for boat trailers for sale, stop on by Blue Water Boats! We proudly provide Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with marine financing, service, parts, and more—come over today to see what we can provide for you!