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As the temperature cools and you are thinking about taking your power boat out for at least a few more trips, you may want to think about something else – inspecting your trailer. You probably took your power boat out many times through the summer and probably would rather think about all the great times you had with family and friends on your boat. But to keep those good times going, trailer boaters also have more to think about than just keeping their boat in good shape. After many trips back and forth to your favorite boating spots, your trailer has taken a pretty good beating and could be feeling the strain, especially if you are a saltwater boater. The saltwater and salty air can heavily corrode anything, but especially a metal boat trailer. While you must rinse your trailer thoroughly after each saltwater trip, here are some steps on a good end of year inspection. -- Check the tires for any imperfections caused by tread wear, dry rot or road wear. The best idea is to take them off so you can get a good look at the back of the tire. A cut on the backside of the tire means you could be headed for a blowout and you would have had no idea it was going to happen. If your tires are starting to get some age on them, go ahead and replace them. -- Take off the wheels and hubs, and inspect for wear and tear. Get your drums turned if necessary. -- Check the wheel bearings. If the grease is nearly gone, that means they’ve gotten too hot and need to be replaced. If the grease is dried out, you may have to do more than just repack them as well. If everything looks fine, just repack them and install new seals. -- For trailers with surge breaks, inspect the breaks and hubs for wear. If they look ragged, it’s time to replace them and turn the hubs. Don’t forget to check the brake fluid level. Inspect the springs, shackles and bushings for corrosion and wear. Replace them if they have too much wear or a heavy coating of rust. -- Turn on all your lights and make sure they’re working. Even if they do, it’s a good idea to check the wires for any cuts or wearing. If the light sockets have any corrosion or rust, you may want to think about replacing them. If all of this sounds daunting to you, go directly to a professional and have them do the inspection, or any of the work you don’t feel comfortable doing. Making sure your power boat trailer is in good working order is a big part of making sure you can continue to enjoy your days on the water. Florida-baesd EdgeWater Power Boats is a leading manufacturing of power boats for cruising, fishing and water skiing.
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