Iron out the wrinkles in your trailering skills this winter so next spring's ramp loading and unloading will go smoothly. (GIII Boats PRO185 pictured)

Hooking up your boat and getting ready to go to the lake is almost as much fun as being on the water. The anticipation of a good time sends your spirits soaring, and for most anglers, that means a chance to escape to the outdoors. To make certain your day on the water starts off right, the boating experts at GIII Boats, which makes a full line of trailerable aluminum and fiberglass fishing boats, have a few suggestions on how to make your towing as smooth as your boating.

Make sure your vehicle is rated to tow the weight of your boat before you hitch it up. To calculate the towing weight, add up the weight of your boat, trailer, all the gear stowed on the boat, the weight of the person who will be in the boat during launch and the fuel that the boat can hold. The figure you arrive at will be the minimum towing capacity required in the tow vehicle you use.

When you hook up your boat, have someone stand by the trailer tongue and guide you to it. It makes hitching up a lot easier. Make sure you have the safety chains crossed under the tongue. If you have surge brakes on the trailer, attach the breakaway cable according to the directions you received with your boat. Check the brakes before you leave and again after launching and retrieving the boat. You may have to allow a little dry-out time before you head home.

Make sure the coupler is securely attached to the ball, and use any locks or pins on the coupler. Plug the wire harness in and have someone stand behind the boat and watch while you operate the brakes, turn signals and taillights to see that they all work on the trailer. Check to see that the bow strap is connected and snug and that the transom tie-downs are secured.

Adjust your mirrors so you can see 100 feet behind the trailer. Whenever you stop on the way to the lake, walk around the boat and check to see that everything is still secure. Check the wheel hubs on the trailer to be sure they are loaded with grease and not overheating.

On the ramp, don’t get in a big hurry. Make sure you are ready to launch before you get in line at the ramp. This is not the time to be loading gear from your vehicle into your boat - that’s bad manners. Some boaters suggest backing your boat down the ramp with the vehicle in neutral instead of reverse. They say this simple change makes backing even the biggest boat a snap. Others feel more secure keeping it in gear. Practice backing the trailer in a parking lot so you get familiar with it before you are on the ramp with an audience. On a wet, steep or sandy ramp, try keeping one foot on the brake and one on the gas. Release the brake slowly as you apply power. This can help let the tires grab before moving. If you have four-wheel drive, use it.

Once the boat is in the water and secured, all you have to do is park and secure your vehicle and trailer and look forward to a great day on the water. If you’re shorebound this winter and can visit the Internet, check out the www.g3boats.com Web site. It shows all of GIII’s models and has a dealer locator so you see one of the new value-priced GIII boats for yourself.