For those operating a marina, boatyard or indoor boat storage facility, having the right equipment on hand is critical. While smaller boats can be easily handled as needed, larger and heavier boats will be much easier to move with a self-propelled boat trailer.
There are different options or factors to consider when choosing a self-propelled boat trailer. For boatyards handling multiple boats, it may be a good option to consider a few different sizes of trailers to move boats of different lengths and weights.
Having different sizes of self-propelled boat trailer also makes moving around a boatyard or indoor storage facility much easier, especially when you are working with multiple boats in a relatively small space.
The Size Factor
As mentioned above, different sizes of trailers will make a difference. A mid-sized trailer that can handle boats of twenty feet up to forty-five feet and 40,000 to up to 70,000 feet are the most common. Then, for the larger boats, it is possible to find a self-propelled boat trailer that has the ability to move boats up to eighty-five feet in length and weighing up to 200,000.
Larger trailers for heavier boats are going to be less effective for moving and turning in smaller spaces. However, typically these large boats are not going to be stored in the same way in indoor facilities or in smaller boatyards, so these issues often cancel each other out.
Features to Consider
Operator location and visibility will be a big factor in any design of self-propelled boat trailer. The operator should always have a clear line of visibility for moving the boat, and many of the top designs offer an open-bridge type of configuration for complete visibility.
Additionally, consider the type of engine on the trailer, as you want to have enough power to easily start and move even under load. Look at the drive type, with four-wheel drive offering the best performance under any environmental conditions or under any weight of boat. Some models are even designed to be submersible for use on ramps, something that may be a very important consideration for marina use.
One of the best uses of technology on many of the new designs of self-propelled boat trailer models is an onboard video camera and monitor. This gives the operator even more information when moving the boat, something that is essential with the larger boats and trailers.
