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6 Tips for Trailering Your Boat
A day spent boating is the kind of thing you daydream about—many of us crave time on the water, rocking with the waves and basking in the sun. But before getting to smooth sailing, you need to try your hand at the art of boat trailering.
If you're new to hauling a boat, these tips will help you build confidence and get comfortable with towing a boat from point A to point B. If you're already an experienced boat-trailering captain, this will serve as a helpful refresher course before your next outing.
Without further ado, here are eight tips for a trouble-free trip to the boat ramp!
Experience leads to confidence.
Practice so you can get comfortable with trailering. Find a large, open space—like an empty parking lot—and put down some orange cones or life jackets. Then spend time learning to back up, make turns and avoid obstacles.
Backing up takes extra practice.
Most people find driving in reverse while towing a boat to be the toughest, so work on honing this skill. Remember that backing up in a straight line is almost impossible. Instead, focus on moving in the right direction with slow, slight turns.
Level up your mirrors.
Big, extended side-view mirrors are definitely a great idea for trailering, especially when you tow on busy roads. Attachable side-view mirrors are available for purchase when you need to increase visibility.
Swing wide when tackling turns.
To ensure you don’t hit curbs or other vehicles with your boat, take turns extra-wide. If you can, try to prepare for turns by staying in the outside lane to give yourself more room.
Keep it roomy with stopping distance.
The extra distance between your vehicle and those ahead of you is crucial. You don't want to slam on the breaks with a boat in tow—that could cause jackknifing. So slow down and be alert… patience you must have my young Padawan.
Be conscious of large vehicles.
If semi-trucks and other big vehicles pass you, briefly lift your foot off the accelerator. This little trick will help reduce buffeting by the truck's wind and keep your rig from swaying. If you notice swaying, take your foot off the gas to minimize it.
If swaying—stop, inspect, and adjust.
Taking your foot off the gas will minimize swaying, but if it seems to be a constant problem, get out and examine your rig. Try adjusting the trailer's tongue weight—it should be between 10 and 15 percent of the rig's overall weight.
Conduct a post-arrival check-up.
When you reach your destination, feel your trailer's wheel hubs. They should be cool or slightly warm. If they're hot, there may be problems with your bearings; get them serviced as soon as possible!
10 Spring Cleaning Projects For This Weekend
Spring cleaning is all about getting our homes ready for a new season of sunshine, warmth, and time outdoors — and indoors, too — especially if that’s where you’re spending a lot of time right now. Get ready to wipe off the grime, clear out the cobwebs, and refresh your living spaces.
Add these projects to your spring-cleaning checklist, and you’ll be rewarded with a home that feels brighter, cleaner, and more functional.
Best of all, you can knock out most of these jobs in a weekend.
Wash windows, inside and out
Some say clean windows make your whole home look better, and we think it’s true.
For a DIY cleaning job that yields professional results, use a solution of water, ammonia, and white vinegar. Apply the solution to your windows with a large sponge, and remove it with a professional-grade squeegee.
Clean refrigerator and air conditioner coils
These appliances create a cooling effect by circulating air through the coils. Over time, dust builds up on the coils and decreases their efficiency, making your refrigerator or air conditioner work a lot harder.
Unplug the appliance, then vacuum out the coils with your vacuum’s crevice tool. You can also use a special refrigerator-coil cleaning brush, available at most hardware stores.
Check ceiling fans
Clean your ceiling fan blades to remove winter dust build-up.
And if you reversed your ceiling fan’s direction to clockwise for the winter, turn it back to counterclockwise for the warmer months. This sends the air straight down, creating a cooling effect.
Clean dryer vent
Cleaning a dryer vent is easier than you might imagine. First, unplug the dryer from the power source. Next, clean out the vent with a special dryer-vent cleaning brush or a vacuum.
Deep-clean carpets
Even if you vacuum regularly, a thorough carpet cleaning once a year will reach deep down into the fibers to clean out debris, dust, and food particles.
If you don’t own a carpet cleaner, you may be able to rent one from a home improvement store or even your local grocery chain store.
Inspect roof, gutters, and chimneys
Spring is the perfect time to check your roof for damage that may have occurred over the winter. If you can’t use a ladder to get up on the roof, try inspecting it with binoculars.
Check decks and patios
If the finish on your wooden deck still looks good, that’s great! You might just need to clean the deck to get it ready for summer.
If the finish appears to be worn, then you’ll want to consider both cleaning and resealing the deck. For decks made of composite material, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and preserving the deck.
Prep lawn equipment
Get those lawnmowers, weed whackers, and pressure washers out of storage, turn them on and make sure they are running properly. Sometimes a little lubricant or cleaning is all you need to get your tools back in shape.
Clean outside furniture
Use Murphy Oil Soap for wood furniture. For most other types of outdoor furniture, a solution of dishwashing liquid and water should do the trick.
Freshen up your front entrance
Sweep and/or wash the front porch and steps. Shake out your welcome mat, or replace it if it’s starting to fray or fall apart. Add a pot or two of brightly colored annuals, and your home will feel renewed!