With the advent of navigation, every water motor is faced with a logistics issue: an inflated boat takes up too much space in the garage, and pumping on the shore takes precious time and energy. trailer It seems like the perfect solution for carrying an inflatable boat, but it carries serious risks. Damage to the balloons about the roughness of the side or improper attachment can turn a trip to the water into a repair epic.
Many owners believe that because the boat is inflatable, you can carry it "as if it doesn't fall down," which is a dangerous misconception. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a durable material, but it is afraid of sharp edges, friction on dry surfaces and excessive pressure in point contact areas. Standard trailerThe cargo-intended platform requires preparation to become a safe platform for your boat.
In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of transportation, from the choice of the type of trailer to the legal aspects. You will learn how to protect the bottom from abrasion, correctly fix the vessel with belts and avoid fines from inspectors. Competent training will take no more than 15 minutes, but will save the life of your boat for many years.
Selection and preparation of trailer board
The first thing a boat will encounter when laying down is the sides of a vehicle. If you use a standard truck with metal or wooden sides, their surface may be too aggressive for PVC. The metal often has burrs, rust or sharp corners, and the tree eventually dries up and becomes splintered. Any unevenness under the pressure of the boat's weight and vibration when moving will cause puncture.
To protect you, you need to have a soft layer, and pieces of old linoleum, carpets, or special car mats are ideal, and you need to not only lay them on the bottom of the trailer, but also wrap them on the inner sides. Point-of-contact PVC with metal is not allowed. If the sides are high, the boat can rely on them when rocking, so the protection must be continuous.
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⚠️ Warning: Never use materials with an abrasive structure, such as a rough sac or a net-rabbit, for lining. Even short-term friction at 60 km / h will wipe the balloon to the hole.
Pay special attention to the corners of the trailer. This is where the most pressurization occurs. The corners can be wrapped in soft foam or rags, fixing them with tape. This will create a buffer zone that will take the hit when the load is laterally shifted. Don't skimp on paving, it costs more to restore the cylinder than a piece of carpet.
Rules of laying and distribution of weight
After the surface is prepared, the stowage stage begins: the inflated boat (with the bottom and transom mounted) should be placed strictly in the center of the trailer axis. This is critical for the stability of the vehicle on the road. Shifting the center of gravity to the left or right can lead to the trailer skidding, especially on wet roads or when braking sharply.
The boat trawl should be located closer to the trailer's drawer, if the design allows, or hang from behind, but not more than 2 meters (according to traffic rules). The main thing is to ensure that the cylinders fit evenly to the surface. If there are voids under the boat, it will "play" when moving, which will lead to rapid wear of the material in the places of deflections.
It's important to consider sailing. Inflatable boat, especially with the installed bank-and-floorboardIt has a large area and can catch side winds. When laying, try to minimize the volume, but do not overdo it with pressure. Over-pumped cylinders in the sun can burst, and under-pumped ones can deform. The optimal pressure for transportation is just below the working one, about 0.2-0.22 atm, if the rigidity of the structure allows.
Fixing technology: belts and knots
The most important step is to fix the cargo, and the use of ropes to fasten the PVC boat is strictly prohibited, and the rope has a small contact area and works like a knife under load, cutting soft material. textile-belt with a snoring mechanism (rattle) or tension buckles.
The boat needs to be secured at least four points: two belts across the hull and, if possible, two longitudinal straps. The transom belts should pass through the cylinders, but not through the sharp corners of the transom or seats. The belt at the point of contact with PVC must be fitted with a soft pad — a piece of rubber, dense fabric or a special cover, which will distribute pressure and prevent squeezing.
☑️ Checking of the anchorage before departure
Stretching your belts carefully. Excessive forklift force can warp the side or squeeze out the paioles. The boat should sit tight, but keep it firm. If after 10-20 kilometers of travel you stop and check for tension, the belts may loosen slightly due to shrinkage of the material — that's okay, pull them up at the first opportunity.
Protecting the bottom and transpranza on the way
The bottom of the boat is the most vulnerable part when transported on a conventional trailer. Even with a lining, vibration from the wheels is transmitted to floorboards (aluminum or plywood sheets inside the boat). When shaking frequently, the floorboard compounds can shift, creating pressure on the PVC tissue from the inside, leading to microcracks and scuffs.
The trawler also requires protection. If it is out of the trailer, it is subjected to aerodynamic load. For long boats, it is recommended to use an extension cord or special supports to keep the transom from dangling. Otherwise, the attachment of the transmolent to the cylinders (slings, stickers) are subjected to enormous loads.
Do I have to lower the boat completely?
It is not necessary to fully lower the boat for carriage by trailer if the distance is short. However, in hot weather (> 25 ° C), the pressure inside the cylinders increases, it is recommended to blow a little air in front of the road to avoid rupture of the seams from overheating in the sun.
To further protect the bottom, you can use special transport casings made of dense fabric, which are worn whole on the boat, and they protect not only from mechanical damage, but also from paint burnout and ultraphylete, which destroys the polymer when you are in the open for long periods.
Comparison of types of boat trailers
Not all trailers are equally good for inflatable vessels, and the table below compares the different options so you can assess the risks of using the equipment you have available.
| Type of trailer | Risk for PVC | Required refinement | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo (metal board) | Highly | Full carpet/sweetened sheathing | Only after the reworking. |
| Cargo (wooden board) | Medium. | Laying of plywood and carpet sheets | Perhaps with caution. |
| Specialized (boat) | Low. | Roller/kilblock protection | Perfect. |
| Platform without boards | Medium. | Restrictives and soft bottom | Requires a reliable attachment |
As you can see from the table, trailer But if you don't have one, a conventional convertible or a gandolet will do just fine if you're trained, and the key is to avoid direct contact between the metal and the sides.
If you use a roller trailer, make sure the rollers are plastic or rubberized. Uncoated metal rollers will quickly disable the bottom of the boat. Also check the condition of the kilblock - it should be smooth, without chipping or cracking.
SDA and GIMS requirements during transportation
The transport of a boat by trailer is regulated by the rules of the road, first of all, this concerns the dimensions. If the boat (together with the engine) protrudes beyond the dimensions of the vehicle by more than 1 meter at the rear or 0.4 meters on each side, you need to mark the cargo. reflector ("Big cargo") and flags of red color in daylight, as well as lanterns or catafos in the dark.
The speed of a road train (car + trailer) is limited: in populated areas it is 60 km / h, on suburban roads - 90 km / h, on highways - 90 km / h (for cars with a trailer), exceeding the speed with unreliablely fixed cargo can lead to its fall and create an emergency situation.
Before leaving, be sure to check the operation of the trailer lights. Collars, stop lights and dimensions should burn in sync with the car. Lack of a turn signal is a common cause of fines and accidents.
Also remember the category of rights: To drive a car with a trailer, the maximum permissible mass of which exceeds 750 kg and the total mass of the road train exceeds 3,500 kg, you may need a category «BE»However, for most light boat trailers (up to 750 kg), the usual category “B” is sufficient if the total mass does not exceed 3.5 tons.
Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
Experienced water-engineers know that the devil is in the details. One of the most common mistakes is ignoring the condition of the trailer wheels. The rubber on old trailers will dry up, and at speed the wheel can burst, leading to a sharp roll and damage to the boat. Always check the tire pressure and the presence of a spare wheel before a long trip.
Another mistake is mounting the motor. If you're driving a boat with the engine installed, be sure to remove the transom wheels and securely lock the deadwill upright or remove the engine altogether. A motor that dangles on the transom will loosen the mounts and may break off on the move.
⚠️ Warning: Do not leave the boat on the trailer in the scorching sun in a long parking lot unattended. Internal pressure can rise to critical values, and hijacking a laden trailer is more difficult than the boat itself, but the risk of theft still exists.
Avoid abrupt maneuvers and braking. The trailer's inertia is high, and when a sharp jerk is made, the boat can take off even with good belts if they were poorly stretched. Smooth acceleration and early braking are the key to the whole boat.
Safe transportation of PVC boats is possible on any serviceable trailer, if you exclude direct contact of fabric with metal and use only textile belts with soft pads.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions
Can I transport a PVC boat with an installed engine?
Technically, you can if the motor is securely fixed and the transom can withstand weight, but for long trips, it is better to remove the motor to reduce the load on the transom and the center of gravity. If you are carrying the motor, be sure to remove the wheels from it.
Do I need to register a trailer in the traffic police?
Trailers weighing up to 750 kg are not subject to registration, no numbers are required, and if the mass exceeds 750 kg, registration is mandatory, as is the presence of a license plate on the trailer.
How often should I check the tension of the belts in transit?
It is recommended to stop every 50-70 km or after passing a section with a bad road.
What is the best way to keep the boat from the sun and dust?
Use special covers made of breathable fabric (Oxford impregnated) plastic film is not suitable - it creates a greenhouse effect under it, which is harmful to the adhesive seams of the boat.