Loading, towing, or launching your pontoon boat can feel daunting, especially for beginner boaters. Even more experienced riders sometimes find pontoon trailering a challenge depending on the ramp, the size of their boat, or the distance traveled.
However, following the right steps and having some practice can make pontoon boat towing a much more straightforward process. You may already be doing one or all the right steps, but checking the list of tips could still help you through. Let’s find out if you are doing it right and see how to make pontoon boat towing easier with a few minor adjustments.
How to Load a Pontoon Boat Onto a Trailer
It is not impossible to load a boat onto a trailer on your own, especially with smaller-sized pontoons. Still, having a boat buddy help you in the process can save you an enormous amount of hassle and make pontoon boat towing so much easier.
Another time-saving tip is to prepare the boat for storage before trailering. It is always a good idea to remove anchors, lifejackets, and any other loose items you don’t need on the boat during the haul before loading the pontoon onto the trailer.
Align the Trailer With the Ramp
One of the trickiest parts of pontoon boat towing is aligning the trailer with the ramp before getting the boat out of the water. Aligning your vehicle and the trailer straight with the ramp is the best way to stay on course when backing in and to avoid any sharp angles when reaching the water. This type of maneuvering may require some practice, so it is best to try it first somewhere, like an empty parking lot, to build confidence in your skills.
Align the Pontoon Boat with the Trailer Bunks
Once you align the trailer with the ramp, you can back in the vehicle, submerging the trailer just enough to have the bunks or guides visible to guide the pontoon onto the trailer. Then, you drive the pontoon boat towards the trailer at a slow speed, aligning the pontoon with the guides or bunks. Make sure the motor is deep enough to avoid scraping the ramp or damaging the prop.
Get the Pontoon Boat onto the Trailer
After you have the pontoon on the bunks, you can switch off the engine and attach a winch to pull the pontoon fully onto the trailer. If you have a boat buddy in the towing vehicle, you may ask them to move it forward until you see the back of the trailer emerging from the water. At this stage, you also need to make sure the back of the pontoon is aligned with the bunks.
If the stern of the pontoon is misaligned with the trailer, you need the driver to back down the ramp, submerge the trailer halfway into the water, get into the boat, and realign it to make sure each tube sits entirely on the trailer.
How to Tow a Pontoon Boat
When you have the boat sitting on a trailer, it’s time to make sure it’s ready for towing. Before you hit the road, here is a short checklist of what needs to be done to keep you safe while trailering.
Have the Right Vehicle and the Trailer
It is vital to have a vehicle that has enough weight capacity, which includes the trailer, the pontoon, the motor and the fuel. It’s not uncommon for boaters to pull trailers that are too heavy for their vehicles, compromising their safety, the safety of others, and the integrity of their equipment.
The importance of having the right pontoon boat trailer cannot be overstated. While scissor trailers can make loading and unloading pontoons easier, especially in shallow water, they provide much less stability and can be only recommended for shorter hauls. Importantly, the trailer you use should have the right size and weight capacity for towing your pontoon.
Ensure the Trailer Is Properly Hooked
Before you get on the road, securely attach the trailer to the vehicle. The trailer tongue should be parallel to the ground and snug on the ball when locked. The safety chains should be connected from the trailer to the vehicle, providing an extra layer of security and preventing the trailer from detaching in case of hitch failure.
Get the Pontoon Ready for Towing
You also need to fasten your pontoon with straps to keep the boat sitting steadily on the trailer. Most often, bunk trailers come with straps and it is wise to use front and back straps no matter the distance to avoid the pontoon from slipping off the trailer. If you have a scissor trailer, you will need a ratchet strap to hook it to the lift eyes of the pontoon and connect it to the trailer frame.
As you are about ready to go, make sure the bimini is in the trailering position. Depending on the distance, you might also want to have a travel cover on the pontoon to protect it from the elements.
Drive Cautiously While Trailering
Before you hit the road, make sure your trailer is plugged into the towing vehicle’s electrical system, and you have functioning lights and brakes. Here is where you would need the assistance of your boat buddy again to stand behind the trailer while you test the brake lights and turn signals.
Trailers and pontoons have low aerodynamics and often feel like towing a parachute behind you. The temperatures of your coolant, transmission fluid and oil will rise above normal levels, and fuel consumption will be considerably increased.
You will need to account for these conditions when pontoon boat towing by driving cautiously and keeping the RPMs of your engine under control to avoid temperature hikes. You also need to be cautious on long hills to give yourself extra room to brake needed due to the weight of the boat and the trailer.
How to Unload and Launch a Pontoon Boat
Unloading your pontoon and launching it into the water follows the same steps as loading it onto the trailer, just in reverse.
When you are about to launch your boat into the water, make sure you:
- Load The Boat Before Launch: Loading your life jackets and other gear onto the pontoon can be much easier while the boat is still on the trailer.
- Align the Vehicle and The Trailer with the Ramp: Lining up your vehicle and the trailer with the ramp can be tricky but is crucial for avoiding sharp angles, keeping your tires on the ramp, and staying centered during launch.
- Unhook the Back Straps on the Pontoon: If your trailer has the rear straps, it’s best to detach them before backing in into launch.
- Slowly Back the Trailer Down the Ramp: Once your trailer is aligned with the ramp and the rear straps are detached, you can back in down the ramp to get the trailer into the water, making sure you have enough depth for lowering the motor.
- Use Caution Getting Pontoon Off the Trailer: When the pontoon is in the water, you can lower the motor, detach the front straps from the boat, and start the motor, having the throttle slightly in reverse, to get the pontoon off the trailer.
Conclusion
For some boaters, leaving their pontoon boat in the water is a preferred alternative to trailering, which can sometimes feel challenging. However, pontoon boat towing, launching it into the water, and getting it back on the trailer does not need to be stressful and can be mastered with practice.
Having the right pontoon boat trailer and a boat buddy willing to assist you can make all the difference for easier pontoon boat towing. You can get further tips and learn more by asking advice from experienced boaters or reading the Pontoon Boats Forum on this website for detailed guidance on pontoon boat trailering, piloting, and maintenance.
Written by Eugene Ohotnikov, a yachting writer and editor-in-chief for a luxury portal, Moneysaurus.com. Currently living on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, Eugene is not foreign to boats and is often seen gliding the waters across the Valencian coast.
