Are you looking into buying your first boat in Ontario? Make sure your first and consecutive boating trips go by smoothly, safely, and without a hitch. Read the Pride Marine Group dock guide beginners below! Still in the market for your first boat? See our collection of boats for sale in Ontario here and get the Pride Marine Group experience today!

Prepare and Prevent

Before you trailer your boat to your vehicle, there are a few things you need to make sure of. Firstly, make sure you vehicle is suitable for trailering your specific boat. Does your car have enough power to tow a boat of this weight and size? Is the trailer ball size correct? Are your wire connections set up perfectly? Do you have the correct tire pressure? Is the tongue size correct? Once you have double (maybe even triple) checked all of these details, you are ready to start trailering your boat.

Safely Trailering your Boat

Now you are ready to trailer your boat. Back up the vehicle to match the trailer up with the hitch. Lower your trailer directly onto the hitch and lower the tongue latch. After inserting the lock or pin, make sure to connect the wire harness and attach the chains to the receiver. Lastly, turn on all lights and bulbs to ensure that they are operational.

If you are new to driving with a boat in tow, practice for a few days in sparsely populated areas. Learn to make a variety of turns, how to stop, and how to back up. If you neglect to practice, you might find yourself at a dock with no knowledge on how to back up to it!

Into the Water

Finally, it’s time to take your trailered boat out onto the water. Make sure to have a partner available to help you lower your boat. First things first, make sure to put the drain plug into the bottom back of the boat and remove the ratchet straps. Attach some buoys to the sides of the boat to avoid scratching and denting when tieing. Make sure to back into the water slowly to avoid any mistakes. When you’re in, remove the safety chain and begin to winch the boat the remaining way out.

Still in the market for your first boat? See our collection of boats for sale in Ontario here and get the Pride Marine Group experience today!