A Course for Safe Boating

California Boating

Chapter 3

Vessel Operation

TRAILERING

AND

STORAGE

All trailers owned and operated in the State of California, and

used to transport boats of any size, must be registered with the

California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

The Boat Must Fit the Trailer

The length of the boat determines the length of the trailer.

The beam of the boat determines the width of the trailer.

Your boat and its contents should not weigh more than

80 percent of the trailer’s weight capacity.

When the boat is placed on the trailer, make sure that the rollers and

supports are adjusted to fit the shape of the boat’s bottom. And be sure to

secure the boat to the trailer.

Trailer equipment

Your trailer should be equipped with the following:

Brakes (these are optional, mainly for heavier trailers)

Lights

Trailer hitch

Brakes for Your Trailer

Usually, small trailers do not have brakes of their own. But larger trailers

need special brakes. You have two main choices in braking systems: surge

and electric.

Surge brakes work from the trailer’s momentum. When you apply the

brakes on your vehicle, the trailer surges ahead slightly and the trailer’s

hydraulically operated brakes take hold. Trailers equipped with surge brakes

also have an emergency release cable that must be attached to the towing

vehicle. If for some reason the trailer breaks free of the towing vehicle, the

brakes on the trailer will engage.

Electric brakes go on when you apply the car’s brakes. This system works

well on the road, but not as well when backing up.

Lights for Your Trailer

In California, your trailer must be equipped with taillights, brake lights,

turn signals, and clearance lights. If possible, mount your trailer’s lights on a

removable board, because water, especially salt water, is hard on trailer lights,

and some light fixtures are not waterproof.

WEBSITES

For more information about

trailering, visit

Trailering

For information about boat

registration, visit