You are probably thinking of buying a boat and joining in on the fun you see people having every weekend at the lake, skiing, tubing, and fishing. However, you’re likely a little nervous about the process of getting your new boat to the lake. How do you tow a boat? Is there a checklist boat owner’s should follow? What vehicles can tow my boat to the lake? Don’t worry because thousands of people dive in for the first time every year. 

The first thing you’ll need to do when you pick up your new boat is connect the boat trailer to your vehicle’s trailer hitch. The website Boats offers this simplified list for this process:

If you’ve never towed a trailer, it’s advisable to get some practice beforehand. First, scout out a parking lot with wide-open space and a time that it’s empty. Then rent a trailer (including the insurance) for a few hours when you know your parking lot is vacant. Next, take some orange cones or boxes to simulate other cars at an intersection or the sides of the boat ramp and practice navigating those obstacles. 

Boat towing season for most parts of the country only involves the summer months. Discover Boating tells us that before boating season, or otherwise annually, you should inspect the brakes on your tow vehicle and boat trailer and ensure that your trailer’s bearings are adequately lubricated. Discover Boating also provides the following checklist:

Boats come in many different lengths and weights. While you could easily tow a small rowboat with nearly any vehicle, a large cabin cruiser may require the towing capacity of a semi-truck. Your fishing or skiing boating needs will likely fall in between these two extremes resulting in the need for a truck-based SUV or a half-ton pickup truck. 

Examples of truck-based SUVs include the 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe and the 2022 Ford Expedition. Half-ton pickup trucks include the 2022 Ram 1500 and 2022 Toyota Tundra. These and other similar offerings will likely meet your needs for towing the average fishing or ski boat weighing up to 7,500 pounds. 

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