Choosing a boat triggers a cascade of other important decisions, such as where to store it and how to transport it. Most of us want the versatility of a boat trailer, so we can take our vessel to a variety of locations. It’s important to pick the right trailer, meaning one that’s sufficiently large and solid to transport your boat safely and reliably. 

Here’s a boat trailer buying guide for some helpful tips on choosing the right trailer. We have new boat trailers for sale here at The Boat Yard in Marrero, near New Orleans, Louisiana.

Know How Big Your Boat Is

Measure your vessel with a tape measure, starting at the tip of the bow and measuring to the end of the hull’s running surface. Be as precise as possible when taking these measurements, because this determines how long your boat trailer needs to be. 

Next, calculate the weight of your boat. Once again, precision matters, so make sure to include fuel, gear, and equipment into the total weight. When you select your trailer, we recommend you don’t cut it too close in terms of weight capacity. Exceeding the weight capacity of a trailer is something you never want to risk. 

Number of Axles

With this info in hand, you’ll be able to do some research and determine whether you’ll be fine with a single-axle trailer or you need to bump it up to a double-axle trailer. Single-axles trailers are perfect for hauling small, lightweight vessels. They’re affordable, easy to maneuver, and don’t require a ton of maintenance. However, if you have a larger and heavier boat to haul, you will absolutely need a trailer with two axles. 

Best Material for a Boat Trailer

Lastly, you will face the question: What material should my boat trailer be made out of? The three main options are aluminum, galvanized steel, and painted steel, and each one has its pros and cons.

Freshwater boaters can consider a painted steel trailer. However, most of our local customers boat in saltwater, which requires you to choose aluminum or galvanized steel.

Aluminum is lighter and offers a superior strength-to-weight ratio. It’s a more expensive material. While it can corrode, it does not rust. Galvanized steel is heavier and very durable. Painted steel is more susceptible to rust and corrosion. 

Rollers or Bunks? 

Rollers make loading and unloading easier, but they don’t offer as much support as bunks. This element is important to consider if you will be storing your boat on your trailer. Over time, the weight of your boat can cause the hull to deform. Because bunks spread the weight over a large area, they cause less deformation. However, a bunk system requires you to submerge your trailer deeper in the water, which subjects the trailer to the corroding influence of freshwater or, even worse, saltwater. 

Come check out our trailers at The Boat Yard. Our staff is happy to assist you in finding the right model. We are just ten minutes from New Orleans in Marrero, Louisiana.