Man I Suck At Backing Up With My Boat

That sucks. Sorry to hear. So you bought/stole your boat from a headless guy?

 

That would be bad for some boats. The tailgate would get hit by the trailer.

 

This is good advice. I was a yard hostler at a trucking company for about 9 years, spent 8 hours a night backing up 28-foot trailers to a freight dock in the dark with about 2 feet of clearance on either side...with the gas floored. Hundreds of trailers a night, as fast as possible. Doubles are even more fun (and damn near impossible).

The other thing you should do is get used to only using your sideview mirrors, and pick a line (like concrete relief joint) or a reference point and aim the trailer's driver side tire at that. If you keep whipping your head back and forth, you get disoriented.

Also, how you approach your back up area is important. While you are still going forward and driving by it, pull into a gentle arc that allows you to see the whole driver side of your truck and the trailer before you start to back up. Then find your reference line/point, then go slow, keeping that slight arc in your rig until right near the end, when you can straighten up. Smooth and slow, no sudden adjstments. Chicks dig it.

Oh, and stick a spotter with a good set of lungs to the rear on your blind side to yell if you are about to kill or crush something.

You want a challenge? Try backing up a million dollar WWII fighter into a hangar that barley fits it...*pucker*

Man, nothing attracts a bunch of guys with open beers and opinions like another poor bastard trying to back up something that bends in the middle...

 

Lomger trailers are definitely easier. I taught my wife by having her back into several of the "trailer parking" spots up from the ramp. It was early season and she basically had the lot to herself and if she could hit the parking lines in reverse, she could make it down any ramp.

Added bonus the lot was the herring bone pattern several lanes wide. I would have her back into one, then have to turn it to hit the next set at the opposite angle. Hard to imagine unless you are looking at a setup like that.

 

I would like to report, I am 1000% better at backing up with my boat now.

Well actually, I sold my old boat and bought a new to me boat. Fits my fishing style much better. It is 2' longer.

Couldnt tell a difference backing up really. But turning corners..... Now that is much different. I've jumped 1 curb and smashed into 1 gas station pump metal protection pillar thingy within my 1st 5 mins of owning the boat. Cracked my fender on my trailer.

 

Until you get used to it glance at the side mirrors when turning to get a better feel for where the wheels of the trailer are.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM8MUlPNv9s

 

I've had it for about 2 months now, I'm kinda use to it. Still have to be careful in tight lanes or areas.

lol, here is a pic of the fender. Had to use ducktape on it until I received a replacement. Luckily, they are cheap. ~$30.

 

The duct tape kind of blends in haha. I still glance at my mirrors for the tighter turns so that if I see I'm going to hit the curb I can expect it and slow down. Thankfully most of the curbs in my neigborhood are rounded and only about 4 inches.

 

Good to hear OP is better. Practice is the best way to get it down. Just keep those turns wide

Some people shouldn't be driving with a trailer though. I was at auto zone the other day and there was a guy with a u-hual car dollie and he kept jackknifing it in reverse till he got the truck the way he needed to go. Couldn't belive it, I was just standing there shaking my head.

 

try backing a hay wagon into a barn with about 6 inches on either side. then come talk to me about backing your boat up. oh yeah im 16

 

i back my skis up just fine into the water thanks! Funny thing is my friend thought HE was bad ass so he tried loading the trailer in the water and almost took out my tailgate. Personally I dont put the tailgate down ever.

Key use your mirrors! Dont look through back window a lot its harder that way. Your mirrors are your friend!

 

6" on each side aint nothin jk man good job, especially at 16yo.

the hardest thing for me to do is back our dumptruck and trailer down a curvy road. (sometimes you get to a job and there is no turn around... ya just got to back in there or back out... depending on which one is easier... usually downhill is the way to go)

heres what i deal with daily. altho the last 1/4 of the trailer is cut off you get the idea

 

Ok you can back that boat into the water, did you forget to put in the drain plug?