BOAT TRAILER MANUAL

Boat trailer manual

This manual is intended to explain your boat trailer and to help you use your boat trailer safely and with pleasure . Read this manual carefully and thoroughly before using the trailer.
This manual is made for you to help you choose the right trailer. In addition, you will get to know how to connect the Trailer, explain how to launch a boat, or get it out of the water.
In addition, information is also provided on how to disconnect the Trailer and on instructions for use and maintenance. If – despite reading this manual carefully – something is still unclear, please contact us.

How do I choose the right trailer?

  • The most important thing is that the weight of the boat (together with the engine and accessories such as convertible top) is lower than the maximum load capacity of the trailer. The weight of your boat and engine can often be found by Googling. Often you have enough with the weight of your boat and add 10 percent for the engine and accessories.
    Next, you check if the length of the boat is less than the maximum boat length of the trailer. This is less important than the weight.
  • The boat may be moored at the rear of the boat trailer may protrude a maximum of 5 metres, measured from the rearmost rear axle. In the case of a multi-axle boat trailer (tandem axle), the boat may protrude a maximum of 4 metres, measured from the rearmost rear axle. The protruding length may not be more than half the length of the boat trailer. So in the case of a 6-metre boat trailer, the boat may not protrude more than 3 metres behind the rearmost.
    • If the boat extends more than 1 meter behind the light box, it must be provided with a “long-load marker board”. A marker board is a square board at least 42 by 42 centimeters with parallel diagonal stripes in red and white. The stripes must have a width of at least 7 and at most 10 centimeters. The red stripes must be fluorescent or retroreflective.
      After sunset , a red light must be placed on the back of the protruding boat. On the boat that protrudes at the front, white light must be placed on the lighting that radiates towards the front. The distance between the outermost point of the boat and the light is a maximum of 10 centimetres. The white and red light must be clearly visible to oncoming and following traffic respectively.
  • At the RDW you can look up the length, width and height of braked boat trailers with a gross load capacity of more than 750 kilograms. You can also look up the load capacity, which is the permitted maximum mass - own weight of the boat trailer. The permitted maximum mass and axle loads according to the RDW / registration certificate may not be exceeded.
  • The maximum length is 12 meters, in combination with a car the maximum length is 18 meters.
  • The maximum height is 4 meters.
  • The maximum width of the boat trailer is 2.55 meters. The trailer including boat may be a maximum of 3 meters wide in total. The boat may therefore protrude up to 22 centimeters on the side. The boat must be provided with marker signs if the boat protrudes more than 10 centimeters on the side.
    The 'width' marking signs consist of square signs measuring 42 by 42 centimetres. Oblong signs measuring 28 by 56 centimetres or 14 by 80 centimetres are also permitted. The signs must have alternating diagonal red and white stripes with a width of between 7 and 10 centimetres, with the red stripes being fluorescent or retroreflective.
    Four marker signs must be placed on the front and rear of the boat, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the boat trailer (so not at an angle). The signs must be placed as wide as the boat (so not wider or narrower). The signs must be placed at a minimum height of 25 centimetres and a maximum height of 1.9 metres (or a maximum height of 2.3 metres if there is no other option).
    After sunset you must have a white light at the front and a red light at the back. The lights must indicate the largest width of the boat. You can determine the height yourself.


A trailer must always be adjusted to the boat to ensure that the boat can be loaded and transported without damage.

  • It is important that the weight of the boat (often at the rear with an outboard motor) is as much as possible above the load-bearing part of the boat trailer (so not above the light box with the license plate). With a self-leveling trailer this is often not necessary, so ideal if you have no experience or transport different boats.
  • Finally, check whether your vehicle has sufficient towing capacity for the trailer and the boat. You can request this from the RDW. You will then receive a statement for a Maximum braked mass (for a boat trailer with brakes) and a Maximum unbraked mass (for a boat trailer without brakes).
  • Boat trailers are suitable for a B driving licence provided that the weight of the car, trailer and boat is less than 3,500 kilograms.
  • If a boat has a deep keel at the bottom of the boat, such as a sailboat, then extra supports are often needed. If you have a RIB or rubber boat, then it is important to mount trumpet rollers or beams and another bow support.

Adjustment under your boat
If you have chosen to have your boat trailer adjusted by Marinaut, it is important that you test it yourself as soon as possible to see if everything is functioning properly and satisfactorily. Of course, Marinaut has extensively tested the trailer and the launching of your boat, however, every waterfront is different and factors such as changing water levels, full or empty fuel tank, but also the height of the tow bar can all affect the correct functioning of a boat trailer. If you have chosen to adjust it yourself, we cannot guarantee the correct functioning of the loading system.

Coupling/uncoupling a boat trailer

Step 1 : Check whether the tow ball coupling is open (X position).

Step 2 : Check that the coupling height of the trailer is approx. 5 cm above that of the towing vehicle. If necessary, this height can be corrected using the support wheel.

Step 3 : Drive the towing vehicle backwards to the placed and braked trailer until the ball coupling is almost exactly above the ball on the vehicle. Please note that for safety reasons there may be no persons between the trailer and the towing vehicle

Step 4 : Remove any wheel chocks from the trailer.

Step 5 : Release the trailer handbrake.

Step 6 : For overrun devices with a "KH" or "GF" handbrake lever, this only needs to be pulled forward into the starting position. No further locks need to be released or buttons pressed. For overrun devices with a retractable handbrake lever, this must first be pulled out to its maximum length. The handbrake can then be easily released. Finally, the handbrake lever must be pushed back to the shortest position.
 For overrun devices with "HF" toothed segment lever, the button on the handbrake lever must be pressed before the lever can be released. The force required to press the button can be reduced if the handbrake lever is pulled slightly at the same time.

Step 7 : Pull the trailer with the ball coupling exactly over the ball.

Step 8 : Slowly lower the drawbar until the ball coupling is clearly audibly positioned correctly on the ball, this can be heard by a click. Check the marking on the drawbar coupling to see if the coupling is correctly closed. After the ball coupling has been positioned correctly, the pointer jumps to the green field of the marking, which is marked with a "+".

Step 9 : Now the support wheel can be turned up and fixed in the upper position.

Step 10 : Wrap the breakaway cable around the ball neck once and then hook the carabiner onto the cable.

Step 11 : Plug the trailer light plug into the tow vehicle's power outlet and check that all lights work.

To connect, do the same in reverse order.

Connecting a boat trailer, what you need to know:

  • After coupling, the pointer must be used to check whether the ball coupling is correctly positioned on the ball: If the pointer is in the green "+" field, the ball coupling is correctly closed and locked and the ball on the car still has sufficient wear reserve.
  • Only in this case is a safe connection made between your vehicle and the trailer and are they allowed to participate in traffic. Do not forget to release the trailer from the handbrake and attach the breakaway cable to the ball neck.
  • The breakaway cable is designed to cause emergency braking of the trailer if the connection to the towing vehicle is interrupted for any reason.
  • If the pointer is in the red "-" field, the coupling has been closed incorrectly and the trailer must not be driven under any circumstances.
     There could be three reasons for this:
     1. The ball on the towing vehicle is already very worn and does not provide sufficient support for the ball coupling. A new ball has a diameter of 50.0 mm. If this diameter becomes smaller due to wear, even if only partially, below 49 mm, the ball on the towing vehicle must be replaced in any case and may no longer be used.
    2. The ball coupling itself is very worn and no longer provides the ball with sufficient hold. In this case, the ball coupling must be replaced by a qualified garage.
     3. The ball coupling locking mechanism has been activated, but there is no ball in the coupling. The ball coupling is loose on the ball and has no fixed connection. The coupling jumps off the ball as soon as it is driven. Open the ball coupling as described in point 2.1 and try again to let the ball coupling latch correctly on the ball.
  • When the pointer is in the red "X" field, the ball coupling is not closed. The ball is loose on the ball and would jump off the ball when driving away. Under no circumstances may the trailer be driven in this situation!
     The clutch mechanism may be stiff due to lack of lubrication.
  • The rotation range of the ball coupling around the vehicle axle is max. ±25°. In horizontal direction, rotation angles within a frame of ±20° are possible.
     Attention! When the turning ranges are exceeded, the components are overloaded and the function of the ball coupling is no longer guaranteed.
  • The permissible support load of the respective tow ball coupling is indicated in the handle of the tow ball coupling. Driving with a negative support load is not permitted, as this negatively affects the driving stability of the trailer. A negative support load can be easily avoided by changing the loading of the trailer.
  • In order to ensure optimum driving and braking behaviour of the trailer, it is essential that the coupling heights of the towing vehicle and trailer match. According to DIN 74058, the position of the coupling point on the trailer must be 430 ± 35 mm above the point where the wheel is on the ground. To check the coupling height, the trailer and the towing vehicle must be exactly horizontal and loaded to the full permissible weight. In addition, the wheel pressure must comply with the manufacturer's specifications.
  • The nose weight is the vertical force of the boat trailer on the tow bar coupling. The type plate on the tow bar indicates the maximum permitted weight on the ball (usually 50 to 150 kilograms).
    If the maximum load under the trailer coupling deviates from the maximum nose weight, use the lowest value.
  • The permitted nose weight of a loaded boat trailer is at least 5% of the attached weight. So with a weight of 1,000 kilograms (boat with trailer) at least 50 kilograms nose weight . The desired nose weight is usually between 50 and 80 kilograms. To determine this quickly, you can use 75 kilograms. Check the nose weight with the boat on the trailer. A good guideline is a nose weight of 5% to 7%. The load under the coupling with a permitted maximum mass of more than 750 kilograms must be at least 1% of the permitted maximum mass of the vehicle. So with a maximum of 1,300 kilograms, the load must be more than 13 kilograms.
  • If the nose weight is too low, the boat trailer will not lean enough on the tow bar. Then the stability of the combination is too low. The boat trailer can start to swing in crosswinds and overtaking trucks, and that is very dangerous . If the combination starts to sway, brake as hard as possible.
  • With too high a nose weight, the car can spring too far (and then has too little grip at the front wheels). If you then have to brake hard, the car with boat trailer can jackknife. The load under the coupling of a boat trailer with a maximum permitted mass of 750 kilograms may only be directed downwards and may not exceed 50 kilograms.
  • You can measure the nose weight with a nose weight gauge (drawbar scale) or a regular personal scale. It is important that the trailer is horizontal (level). With a personal scale, place a plank on the scale to distribute the force over a larger surface. Then place a piece of wood upright between the coupling and the plank and let the trailer rest on it.
  • If the centre of gravity of the boat is above the centre of the axle (tandem axle) or the centre of the axle (single axle), then the coupling pressure is correct in most cases.
     If the ball pressure is not optimal, you can increase or decrease it by moving the boat forward or backward. You can adjust this by moving the winch support.
  • Install the breakaway cable. The breakaway cable ensures that an unbraked boat trailer remains connected if it unexpectedly becomes detached from the car. In the case of a braked boat trailer, the cable will ensure that the boat trailer brakes itself and comes to a standstill (the breakaway cable breaks away).
  • After connecting the lighting plug, check whether the lighting of the boat trailer is working. If you have a 7-pin socket on the car, you can use an adapter to connect it to the 13-pin plug of the boat trailer. This is an adapter type 7-pin to 13-pin instead of 13 to 7 pin.
  • Raise the nose wheel. For smaller nose wheels, make sure the nose wheel is in the notch so that it is fixed and clamp the nose wheel against the trailer.
  • Check tires annually for dry cracks due to age or damage from hitting curbs. Check the correct tire pressure for safety, to save fuel and thus reduce tire wear. The maximum air pressure is indicated in small characters on the sidewall of the tire in KPA or PSI and applies to a cold tire (after a few hours of driving and out of the sun). Many tires can handle 3 bar.
     Also check the profile (minimum 1.6 mm). The tires may not be older than 6 years old, tires also age through standing still. Also protect them from UV radiation from sunlight.
  • The maximum permitted towing weight of the car is calculated on the weight of the trailer with boat (and engine). So take the load into account.
  • For an unbraked boat trailer, click the license plate onto the light box (light box at the rear of the trailer).
  • The boat should never protrude from the front of the trailer coupling. When turning it will hit the car.

Inspection of new boat trailers

After the first ride, at the latest after 50 kilometers, the wheel nuts must be checked.
 Before every ride, check:
 - condition of the tires/enough air pressure?
- function of the lighting Always check before you drive that all the lighting around your boat trailer is functioning properly and is clearly visible. So make sure that no load or parts of the load are obstructing the view. Also make sure that your license plate and the associated lighting are clearly visible. - drawbar support wheel up and fixed? (the support wheel must always be parallel to the direction of travel.)
- ball coupling securely locked? (the ball coupling must be properly closed around the ball. You can read this from the glued or notched marking in the tow ball coupling (see 2)). The trailer may only be driven when the pointer points to the green field with the "+" marking!
 - breakaway cable hooked up?
 - handbrake released?
 - with height-adjustable pull device: are the hinges firmly seated?
 - securing the bolts?

Principles for safe trailer use

  • External changes in the centre of gravity due to incorrect loading must be avoided at all costs.
  • Heavy objects should be stored as deep as possible within reach of the axles.
  • No overloading by irresponsible or rough riding or wrong handling. Blows and bumps must be avoided.

  • On motorways and expressways, you are allowed to drive at a maximum of 90 kilometres per hour, but only if the permitted maximum mass of your boat trailer is less than 3500 kilograms. The driving speed must be adapted to the roadway and the load or the trailer load. This applies in particular to bends.

  • Note the chassis number for tracing after theft. If the boat is on the boat trailer, make sure you have a CCV / SCM approved coupling lock (even if it is connected to a car) to prevent theft of the trailer and boat (and in case of long-term parking on the public road, also a wheel clamp - Incidentally, in most municipalities you are allowed to park the boat trailer on the public road for a maximum of 3 days). These measures are often also required by insurers. Sometimes it is also required that the boat is secured to the boat trailer with an approved lock.
  • The boat trailer falls under your third-party liability coverage of your car insurance if you cause damage. This only applies when the boat trailer is connected to the car at that time. Take out trailer insurance if you cause damage when the boat trailer is not connected or in case of external damage (such as fire damage) or theft. A fully comprehensive (all-risk) coverage for a boat trailer with a value of 2,000 euros costs approximately 72 euros per year. Check whether the boat trailer falls under the contents insurance, because that is the case when there is no license plate requirement.

  • A boat trailer must be equipped with at least:
    • 2 white retroreflectors on the front
    • Amber yellow retroreflectors on each side
    • 1 red rear fog light
    • 1 (white or yellow) reversing light if the permitted maximum mass exceeds 750 kilograms
    • Approved and clearly visible rear license plate
    • 2 red brake lights
    • Pneumatic tires with a minimum tread of 1.6 mm
    • License plate illumination
    • 2 red triangular reflectors on the back
    • 2 red tail lights
    • 2 red or orange indicators at the rear
    • 2 white city lights at the front if the ahw is wider than 1.6 meters
    • additional marker lights are mandatory if a boat trailer is longer than 6 meters and/or wider than 2.1 meters,
  • Boat trailers with a maximum permitted mass of up to and including 1,500 kilograms must have at least one auxiliary coupling.
     Boat trailers with a maximum permissible mass of more than 1,500 kilograms must have a breakaway brake system or if this is more than 50 percent than the kerb weight of the car. For example, with a maximum weight of a boat trailer of 1,400 kilograms is more than 50 percent heavier than a car of 650 kilograms.

Launching the boat:

  • Important: Close any open lens plug (usually located at the bottom of the mirror (back)).
  • Remember to remove the light bar from the trailer before loading and unloading. Hang the plug so that the plug cannot be submerged.
  • Prepare any tilting mechanism by disconnecting it.
  • Make sure the outboard motor is tilted to prevent the propeller from touching the ground.
  • Drive the car with trailer backwards to the slipway with open windows for communication. At the slipway someone checks if the boat is properly launched and for example does not hit rocks or other obstacles in or out of the water.
  • The trailer does not need to be too deep in the water (up to the axle of the wheels, it is best if the axle remains dry). Lower the boat with the winch. Be careful that the ratchet can injure you if it is released. If the boat does not want to come off, unwind a piece of the winch strap with the ratchet. Secure the ratchet and push the boat. If this does not work, you can drive the trailer deeper into the water. If you then try again, there is a chance that the boat is already floating and wants to come off.
  • There may be a person in the boat (boarding at the front) to maintain control and to keep the boat on course with two lines and to manoeuvre alongside the shore.


The first time you launch your boat is always exciting. It is therefore important to be well prepared for this adventure. After all, a boat weighs quite a bit and almost always more than a person can carry. It is therefore important to let the boat trailer and its equipment do its job properly.

Preparing your boat for launching

  • Inspect the ramp for soundness and only use it if you are convinced that it is suitable for your car, trailer and boat.*
  • Loosen all tension straps and belts and store them safely if necessary.
  • Check that the winch is on the brake and that any safety chain is secure.
  • For launching your boat
  • Drive the trailer slowly down a sloping boat trailer ramp, paying close attention to a number of things:
  • Is the underwater ramp long and strong enough to support the wheels of the trailer?
  • Is the slope not too steep? This is because of possible damage that can occur to the bottom of the trailer. Do not drive the trailer too far down the slope! If the first keel rollers - the rollers to support the keel in the middle of the trailer - get wet, it is often far enough to get your boat in and out of the water safely and in a controlled manner. We strongly advise against sailing your boat onto or off the trailer. The chance that you will cause damage to your boat or the trailer by sailing onto or off the trailer is very high.
  • Put your vehicle on the handbrake. Even wiser is to block your vehicle with a stone or block of wood behind the wheels. Of course you can also use the handbrake of the trailer for extra braking power, if present.
  • In this case, don't forget to remove it again when your trailer has to be driven up again.
  • Use the hand winch or the electric winch to slowly roll your boat into the water. You can, when conditions require and allow it, assist your boat by guiding it from a gangplank onto the gangway. NB! Despite the anti-slip structure and/or additional anti-slip stickers, gangways or catwalks can be slippery!!
  • Once your boat is safely in the water and you have unhitched the boat, you can drive the trailer back up.
  • When sailing in salt or brackish water, it is advisable to immediately rinse the trailer with fresh water to prevent accelerated corrosion.

Taking the boat out of the water:

  • Getting your boat out of the water
  • Drive the trailer slowly down a sloping boat trailer ramp, paying close attention to a number of things:
  • Is the underwater ramp long and strong enough to support the wheels of the trailer?
  • Is the slope not too steep? This is due to possible damage that can occur to the bottom of the trailer. Do not drive the trailer too far down the slope! If the first keel rollers (middle rollers) get wet, it is often far enough to safely and controlledly get your boat in and out of the water. We strongly advise against sailing your boat on or off the trailer. The chance that you cause damage to your boat or the trailer is very high.
  • Put your vehicle on the handbrake. It is even wiser to block your vehicle with a stone or block of wood behind the wheels. Of course, you can also use the trailer's handbrake (if available) for extra braking power. In this case, do not forget to release it again when your trailer has to be driven up again. Walk with the winch strap/cable in your hand over the gangway to the bow of your boat and attach the hook to the towing eye. Use the hand winch or the electric winch to slowly pull your boat out of the water. If the circumstances require and allow it, you can help your boat by guiding it from the gangway. (NOTE! The gangway can be slippery despite the anti-slip structure and/or additional anti-slip stickers) . When your boat is safely and securely on your boat trailer, you can drive the trailer back up. When sailing in salt or brackish water, it is wise to immediately rinse the trailer and your boat with fresh water to prevent accelerated corrosion of the trailer and damage to your boat.

 

  • Remove the light box and ensure that the plug does not come into contact with water.
  • Make sure two lines are ready on board. If necessary, make sure someone in the boat can keep control.
  • Attach the winch strap to the trailer eye.
  • Maneuver the boat using the lines straight behind the trailer. Make sure the bow is straight in front of the bow roller and pull the boat onto the trailer with the winch. A centering set (2 or 4 rubber wheels) ensures that the boat is straight onto the trailer and does not drift away due to current or wind.
  • If the winch strap does not wind up properly or is wet, you can unwind it later when the boat is horizontal on the trailer.
  • Always secure the boat to the winch at the front, this will prevent the boat from shifting backwards during transport. The winch strap runs from the trailer eye through the rollers of the winch support (if present) to the winch.
  • Please note that the trailer must always be adjusted to the boat. (you can do this yourself or, if you have no experience, have it done by a water sports company). Putting the boat in the right position in relation to the boat trailer or adjusting the rollers, outriggers, bow support and axles and therefore braking system is of great importance.
  • It is important that rollers are adjusted to the size of the boat, so that the greatest pressure is on the keel and the bilge (the corner where the floor transitions into the side). Keel rollers (these are the lower rollers) carry the weight. If a keel roller does not support the boat, set it higher (this can be done while the boat is on the trailer). The bilge rollers provide the correct vertical support for your boat. It is best to set these quite low before loading the boat onto the trailer (so that the boat rests on the keel rollers). Then set the bilge rollers as high as possible. If a keel (boat) is higher, the back in particular can be secured more tightly by using outriggers instead of rollers.
  • For wide boats, install an additional set of winding jacks for extra stability.
  • Remember to tie the boat to the trailer with 2 or more ratchet straps with ratchet. A length of 5 meters is usually sufficient and a working tension of 1,000 kilograms. Otherwise the boat can come off the trailer due to wind or a collision. To protect the boat you can use special corner protectors, foam rubber, a cloth or cardboard between the lashing strap and the boat.
  • Make sure the straps are well spread. Place a strap a quarter of the boat length from the bow (front). This strap should be tensioned diagonally from front to back.
    Also place a tension strap a quarter boat length from the transom (back). This tension strap should be tensioned diagonally from back to front.
  • Use the special eye bolts where possible . If a boat has special points such as a cleat through which a tension strap can easily be passed then that is the best option.
  • Make sure you pull the strap of the tension belt as far as possible through the ratchet before using the ratchet. This prevents too much strap from getting caught in the ratchet.
  • Check that the boat can no longer move sideways, otherwise the boat is not properly secured to the boat trailer.
  • Always secure a RIB boat to the polyester hull rather than over the tubes (to prevent wear and leakage and therefore a loose RIB).
  • Reinstall the light bar and check that the lighting works.
  • Secure hatches and loose equipment as these items may fall or blow out of the boat.
  • Rinse the trailer if it has come into contact with salt water, especially the inside of the brake drums.
  • Drive a distance with the trailer and brake accordingly to prevent problems with the brakes.
  • Consider purchasing an anti-sway coupling (stabiliser coupling). This will help you to bring the trailer back into balance if it unexpectedly starts to sway due to, for example, crosswinds or poor road surfaces.
  • Open the bilge plug at (usually at the bottom of) the transom (back) of the boat so that any water present can drain out.

Your boat in and out of the water with a crane


Sailing boats, but also the somewhat heavier motor boats, sometimes prefer to be lifted in and out of the water with a crane. Of course, the right solution has been made for this type of boat. The emphasis with this type of loading system is on a stable position of the boat on the various stamps and supports and of course on the easy placement of the lifting straps.

Points of attention and tips when hoisting are

  • Make sure all straps/belts and the winch strap or cable are loosened and safely stowed. When a boat is lifted it is important to position the lifting straps so that the boat's center of gravity is well balanced.
  • A boat trailer for sailboats can be equipped with a centering system to guide the keel. This option ensures that the chance of damage is greatly reduced.
  • Rest the keel of the boat gently against the keel rollers at the front and slowly lower down until the boat is resting on its support blocks under the keel and/or hull.

Some boats cannot stand on their keel or cannot lean on a hull. Ask your boat builder what is best for your boat. At Marinaut we can flexibly adjust the setting of your trailer to the weight that your hull and keel are allowed to carry.

Securing your boat

In order to have and maintain a pleasant and safe driving experience, it is crucial to properly secure the boat to your boat trailer. After all, the mass of your boat in combination with the speed can cause a lot of damage if the boat accidentally comes loose from the trailer. In addition, a wobbling and sliding boat can have a huge negative effect on the driving characteristics of your boat trailer.
Some points to consider when securing your boat:

  • Just like with your car, you may not have any sharp parts below a height of 2 meters.
  • Tighten your winch strap/cable firmly so that the bow of your boat is tight against the bow support. Please note, with an electric winch there is often enough force to deform the bow support, pull the eye out of the boat and/or break the cable. So do not pull too long, on is on and tight is tight. We always recommend placing an extra safety chain in case the winch, winch strap or cable fails during the ride.
  • Use at least two extra straps/belts to keep your boat in place. Place these straps all the way across the fore and aft deck and secure them to the strap eyes of your boat trailer.
  • Tighten the straps firmly and check regularly while on the road that the tension straps are still at the correct tension. Make sure that excess pieces of rope or tension strap are safely stored or tied up so that they cannot drag on the ground or get caught in the wheels.
  • Make sure that loose cargo in the boat itself does not shift and that the boat is loaded evenly on both sides.
  • Deviations in left and right weight negatively affect the driving behavior of your boat trailer.
  • Don't just put another boat on your boat trailer. Sometimes this will work fine but often boats deviate too much from each other which means that your trailer no longer meets the requirements, the trailer may become seriously damaged and dangerous situations may arise.

International driving with your boat trailer


A boat trailer may, provided it is loaded according to the registration number and pulled by a suitable vehicle, drive throughout Europe. However, in each individual country, or sub-area within a country, additional requirements and obligations may be imposed on your boat trailer and your car and trailer combination. This concerns local laws and regulations that countries and sometimes even municipalities may impose and which you must comply with at all times. For example, in Germany it is mandatory to have and use wheel chocks and in France you are allowed to drive 130 kilometers per hour on the highway with a trailer, if the weather conditions permit. In order to prevent misunderstandings and unsafe situations, as well as (high) fines, it is advisable that when you travel internationally with your boat trailer, you carefully read the local laws and regulations and respect them. Legislation and regulations concerning vehicles can change over the years. You must keep yourself informed of this. You can of course have any (mandatory) adjustments made in order to keep your boat trailer up-to-date.

Uncoupling the boat trailer:

  • Put the boat trailer on the handbrake if available.
  • Place wheel chocks on a sloping surface to prevent the trailer from driving away. Then release the boat's handbrake to prevent the brake from getting stuck. This is a common situation during long-term storage. Preferably also place braked trailers on a bottle jack so that the wheel is slightly off the ground to prevent long-term one-sided loading.
  • Disconnect the breakaway cable and lighting plug.
  • All KNOTT tow ball couplings are equipped with a safety control indicator. This consists of clearly incised symbols, which are covered with a red-green-red label with the same symbols, and of a pointer. If the label is damaged, it is removed and the incision used, or the label is replaced, whereby the dividing lines of the label and the incision must correspond.
  • To open, pull the clutch handle up and then swing it forward. (The clutch will automatically remain in the "open" position with the pointer pointing to the red field with the large "X").
  • Move the coupling handle up and then forward to open the coupling. Then turn the nose wheel up, then the coupling handle stays up and the boat trailer is uncoupled.
  • STOP! Under no circumstances may the trailer be driven in this position.
  • NB! Do not put your fingers in the open tow ball coupling! Even a small amount of pressure on the ball cap can activate the spring-loaded locking mechanism and lead to injury to your fingers.

Storing your boat trailer

If you park your boat trailer for a long time, it is advisable not to put it on the handbrake but to block the wheels against rolling away, for example with wheel chocks. It is also advisable not to leave your boat trailer in the full sun for a long time because of the drying out of rubber parts and the damage of UV light to rollers, rubbers and plastic parts. When storing your boat on the trailer, it is always good to protect the nose wheel from constant load pressure and to regularly let the wheels roll a little to protect the tires from wear and becoming square.

General rules and tips


It can often be a "coming and going" at trailer ramps, which can make you feel forced to quickly get your boat out of the water. Because an accident can happen in a small corner, we find it important to draw your attention to a few general rules and tips.

  • Always ensure a good overview, know how long your car and trailer are and use that knowledge when manoeuvring.
  • Trailer ramps are often very slippery, make no mistake about it. You will not be the first and certainly not the last to get soaked or worse, hurt yourself badly. Use your boat trailer in the right way to get in and out of your boat safely.
  • Beware of (small) children, they often frolic around you and the boat and trailer. Make sure that bystanders keep a safe distance and certainly do not stand behind or between a (reversing) driving combination.
  • Check that the stop/plug of your boat is properly mounted. This is often opened in the storage to remove rain and pipe water. When a boat fills up with water and has to be pulled onto the trailer to prevent sinking, for example, this can cause serious damage to the trailer because the boat is then much heavier than the trailer is designed for.
  • Never drive your car onto the green (mossy) slippery part of a trailer ramp. The chance that you will no longer have grip and therefore slide down the slope or not get up is then very big.
  • Always use a proper towing vehicle that has the right capacity to do the job. Leave your waterproof LED lighting on, especially in the dark or at dusk you can see the trailer in the water much better from your boat.
  • Always lock your trailer properly, also connected to the car. After a wonderful day of sailing, there is nothing more annoying than coming back to find that your boat trailer has been stolen.

Always use a proper trailer ramp, low grass edges or a few tiles in the water are not a trailer ramp. Remember that every shore sometimes carries a few thousand kilograms (car, boat and trailer).

CVO (Certificate of Conformity)


Your boat trailer is a European product and you can therefore obtain a license plate in all countries. To obtain this license plate you need a CVO (Certificate of Conformity). This CVO is supplied with the boat trailer and is 100% unique. A CVO is also only issued once, so keep this document safe. With this CVO you can apply for a license plate per country via the national issuing authority. Additional rules may apply per country.


Maintenance and Service of your stainless steel boat trailer (if applicable)


Stainless steel is often wrongly seen as rustproof steel. However, stainless steel stands for rustproof steel and is therefore not entirely maintenance-free. In order to keep maintenance to a minimum, there are products available that can protect stainless steel from external influences for a long time.
Due to external influences, such as flash rust, but also acids and salts, rust deposits or staining is possible. However, this is very easy to remove with a scouring pad and/or stainless steel cleaner.
NOTE: If deposits, in whatever form, remain on stainless steel for a long time, this can cause damage to the stainless steel to a greater or lesser extent. This can compromise the safety of the trailer.



What can you do yourself?

The most important thing you can do yourself is to keep a close eye on your boat trailer and sound the alarm in time when the boat trailer starts to perform differently. This prevents high repair and/or additional maintenance costs. You can easily perform the following light maintenance tasks yourself a few times a year.

  • Checking the tire pressure
  • Grease the ball coupling, but never an anti-sway coupling
  • Rinse your boat trailer with tap water to remove dirt, mud and brine
  • Always rinse the trailer thoroughly immediately after using salt and brackish water
  • Lubricate the brake cables by spraying grease into the grease nipples or spraying penetrating oil where the inner cable enters the outer cable
  • Lubricating the handbrake lever, apply some grease to the gearing
  • Check the wheel bolts, they must be tight (110 Nm)
  • After the first ride(s) of a maximum total of 500 km, it is mandatory to check and carry out the following:
  • Check wheel bolts (110 Nm)
  • Adjust the brakes, the initial wear (running in) has taken place and this needs to be adjusted once.
  • For further maintenance intervals to ensure optimum use of your boat trailer, please refer to the maintenance plan in this manual.

    What major maintenance work needs to be done on your boat trailer?
    To ensure that your boat trailer continues to perform flawlessly year after year, it is necessary to offer your boat trailer for an annual service. The following maintenance points must then be taken care of:
  • Checking the tires and rims
  • Lubricating the wheel bearings or changing the oil in the wheel bearings
  • Check brakes, replace and adjust brake pads, discs or shoes if necessary
  • Check lighting, check spiral cable and check contacts for corrosion
  • Check the various metal chassis parts for damage, possible corrosion and check the bolt connections for the correct tension
  • Check axles (suspension)
  • Check and lubricate the nose wheel, overrun brake and the various rods and cables
  • Check the loading system (the various rollers, supports and winch straps) and replace where necessary
  • Treat the various materials such as stainless steel, zinc and powder coating with preservatives to extend the lifespan and visual appearance of your boat trailer

MOT for your boat trailer


At the time of writing, it is not yet mandatory in the Netherlands to offer your trailer under 3500 kilograms for an annual or biennial MOT as with your car from a certain age. However, the legislator is busy with this. Given the many accidents that occur annually, often due to overdue maintenance and the large number of unprofessionally made and maintained trailers that drive around on Dutch roads, this is not an unnecessary luxury.
In other countries, there are often already APK obligations.

  • Safety and warranty regulations
  • Make sure you have read and understood the manual.
  • Do not remove or mutilate any safety devices, markings, stickers or other indications. Use your boat trailer for its intended purpose. The transport of boats within the limits set on the CVO, the registration number and the law.
  • Never exceed the load capacity or the maximum permissible nose weight.
  • With a boat trailer you can drive 90 km per hour in the Netherlands, if there is a speed 100 certification this is 100 km per hour in some countries.
  • Beware of pinching when securing winch straps, tension straps and/or other fasteners. Beware of possible slipperiness due to water, mud, sand, ice or other circumstances when using a gangplank or the gangway.
  • Never, ever use the gangway while driving. It is strictly forbidden for people and animals to sit on your boat trailer or in your boat while driving with your boat trailer.
  • Regular driving with your boat trailer is better than long periods of inactivity. It is advisable to protect the axles and nose wheel from continuous stress during inactivity by stamping your boat trailer.
  • Keep yourself informed about changing laws and regulations regarding trailers and don't be surprised.
  • It is better to store your boat trailer on a paved area than on a grass field, for example.
  • Before launching your boat, let your axles, brakes and wheel bearings cool in the air. This will significantly extend the life of these moving parts.
  • When dismantling or scrapping your boat trailer, hazardous substances and recyclable materials may be involved.

Injury

You don't want to think about it, but unfortunately an accident is often just around the corner. Because the boat trailer is often produced completely modularly, the various parts are relatively easy to replace.



Insurance

Insuring a trailer, including your boat trailer, is not mandatory, but it is recommended. Your boat trailer is standard WA (damage to third parties) co-insured when it is connected to your car. However, it is not the case that your trailer is automatically co-insured Allrisk or Casco when your car is insured in this way. You can take out a theft and/or damage insurance separately for your boat trailer.

Operating and maintenance instructions KNOTT chassis components with operating instructions:

The following operating and maintenance instructions with operating instructions concern KNOTT chassis components. They form part of the warranty conditions ; in addition, the relevant operating instructions of the manufacturer must be observed. In order to maintain safety during operation and in traffic, maintenance work must be carried out at the prescribed intervals. Maintenance, repairs and replacement of wearing parts on the chassis and in the brake system may only be carried out by a qualified garage. Only original KNOTT replacement parts may be used, in order to
 a) to guarantee function and safety,
 b) to maintain warranty and guarantee claims,
c) maintain the operating permit in accordance with national and international regulations
 The brake system, in particular the overrun device, the wheel brakes and also the drawbar are tested according to the valid EC guidelines and may only be used in the approved combination. KNOTT chassis consist of the tow ball coupling, the overrun device, the transmission system, the wheel brakes in combination with KNOTT rubber, torsion and steel torsion spring axles and, if applicable, the drawbar, the tie rods or the side members.

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A boat trailer is intended to transport vessels within the limits that are set for the various types of trailers. These limits can be found in the price lists and on the various type plates. They are also stated on the enclosed CVO (Certificate of Conformity). Exceeding the limits is punishable and can lead to high fines, or even worse, cause serious damage to boat, car, person and/or animal.
It is advisable not to change the combination of boat and trailer just like that, because that almost always requires a new adjustment of the loading system and axle system and/or brake system. It is also possible that when changing the towing vehicle (the car), a readjustment will have to take place in connection with the legally determined maximum nose weight.