Fear and Loathing in Trailering

[Watermann]

I have to wonder if it's just me or are their others out there who've noticed that anytime your pulling the boat and trailer that no matter how fast you're going some schlub will speed to catch you just so he can tailgate your boats outdrive. It think it happens to me almost every time I pull a boat. You know there's no way in heck the guy can see around you to know if you're going to have to brake suddenly. You also know the goof is messing with his cell phone too like 98% of the motoring public does now days. Frustrating since there is no fix for this equation and if the stern is impacted, chances are the boat is going to be a total loss.

Makes me have these visions in my head of what could happen.

 

[jigngrub]

Whenever some nimrod does that to me I slow way down, I do that to all tailgaters whether I'm towing or not.

 

[oldjeep]

Be properly insured and stop worrying about things you can't control. Also, unless you are running proper tow mirrors they are not as close as you think.

 

[GA_Boater]

When I look through my rear view mirror and can't see the grille of the following vehicle - They are too close. I start coasting and when they back off some I turn on my parking lights or lightly tap the pedal. Then they really back off.

Mirrors and insurance have nothing to do with keeping tailgaters off your tail. Unless you like to deal with insurance adjusters trying to cheat you and pay less than fair value. My opinion.

 

[ihearth2o]

This is a valid concern. I drive on a lot of two lane rural roads on our way to our local lakes. When someone tailgates me, I slow down when I get to a passable stretch of road. I may even turn on my turn signal. Then when they start to pass me, I slow down even more so they can complete the pass even quicker.

 

[Watermann]

I guess in my case fear could be compounded by the amount of time and sweat I have into a one of a kind boat. It's not just like I could drop by the boat yard with a check the insurance Co cut me and pick up another cookie cutter boat. I'm sure it's the same extra fear factor guys have who own a one of a kind car they've spent years rebuilding with their own hands. The fear of some guy with no insurance driving a 1985 Toyota Tercel smashes into it for no apparent reason. You never get back what you had and your insurance goes up. With a custom rebuilt classic car the fun is in driving it, not so much when trailering the classic boat.

 

[oldjeep]

Well, screwing around with tailgaters sounds pretty counter productive if you are concerned about the possibility of an accident. as for insurance trying to cheat you, sounds like a new company is in order.

 

[GA_Boater]

No screwing around. That would be braking hard because a dog might run front of you. And how to you choose insurance for the person hitting you?

 

[smokeonthewater]

personally I pretty much NEVER have that problem while towing.... if you have it often maybe you need to pick up the pace to get out of the way OR slow down and move right so you are passable


Really the only time I have tailgaters is when driving my beemer on the interstate... seems it attracts retards who think they are fast and think they can avoid a ticket by following someone else..... I've learned several tricks to ditch em but you aren't gonna be doing them pulling a boat

 

[moosehead]

While I've gotten more comfortable over the years, it's really hard to relax when towing. I'm mostly concerned about me screwing it up, either by driving errors, or equipment issues. No doubt, other boneheads can add to the pucker factor.

 

[Watermann]

personally I pretty much NEVER have that problem while towing.... if you have it often maybe you need to pick up the pace to get out of the way OR slow down and move right so you are passable

I always stay at least at the speed limit or a few above on the open road but it doesn't matter the serial tailgaters always catch me or I get behind a slow mover. It could be that we drive different types of roadways to the lakes, the US hwy I drive is a main thoroughfare to the Canadian border.

Not an option driving to the right of the white line on the shoulder in WA State it's illegal not to mention your best bet for picking up something in a tire and getting a flat.

 

[GA_Boater]

My trips to the lake are over two lane roads, from 6 - 20 miles long. There are very few places to pull over, no passing zones and only ditches or drop-offs with no guard rails on the side of the road. I drive at or slightly over the limit, but those behind me are in a hurry and do get too close. If they don't back-off after my slowing or the light/brake tap, I go back to my normal speed and hope they can stop in time if something happens. I'm certainly not poking along.

 

[smokeonthewater]

oh heck no I don't mean drive on the shoulder... they do that in Tx and it annoys the heck out of me... I just mean't use the right portion of your lane to encourage them to pass..... Not a guarantee but could help

 

[oldjeep]

No screwing around. That would be braking hard because a dog might run front of you. And how to you choose insurance for the person hitting you?

Have you ever had an insurance claim? If you are appropriately covered you deal only with your insurance company - they go after the person who hit you, it is why you are paying them.

 

[dingbat]

I guess it comes down to your tolerance. I live and travel in the heart of one of the most congested areas in country. Four lanes of bumper to bumper traffic running at 70-80 MPH pulling 30 foot long, #6700 boat and trailer behind me.

Tailgating, what's that? I see nothing but a big white bow in my rear-view mirror. I see nothing but the sides of a big white boat in my side view mirrors. I can't see and can't control how close people want to follow so why bother? If worst comes to worst, the boat is insured with an agreed value policy. I can tell you the amount of insurance check should something happen down to the penny.

 

[oldjeep]

I guess it comes down to your tolerance. I live and travel in the heart of one of the most congested areas in country. Four lanes of bumper to bumper traffic running at 70-80 MPH pulling 30 foot long, #6700 boat and trailer behind me.

Tailgating, what's that? I see nothing but a big white bow in my rear-view mirror. I see nothing but the sides of a big white boat in my side view mirrors. I can't see and can't control how close people want to follow so why bother? If worst comes to worst, the boat is insured with an agreed value policy. I can tell you the amount of insurance check should something happen down to the penny.

Exactly. I guess I haven't ever had a boat policy that was not agreed value, but maybe they exist.

 

[dingbat]

Exactly. I guess I haven't ever had a boat policy that was not agreed value, but maybe they exist.

http://www.progressive.com/boat/boat-insurance-coverages-comprehensive-collision/

Agreed Value — With Agreed Value coverage, we pay the agreed value of your boat-an amount you previously chose and to which we agreed-regardless of its current market value at the time of the loss. To determine your boat's value, you can refer to your sales receipt (for newer boats), an ABOS, BUC or N.A.D.A. appraisal guide or an accredited marine survey.

 

[oldjeep]

Which is what I've had on all my boats. State Farm never offered me anything other than an agreed value policy for my boats, so like you I could tell you exactly what the payout would be if my boat got totaled.

 

[thumpar]

With our boat unless we are going around a curve or the vehicle behind us is very tall we can't see it at all. The thing that gets me pissed is people pulling in front of us or changing lanes right on front of us.

 

[sportrider]

your not alone here. I just drive normally with exception to slowing down way earlier before turning off the main drag, just to give them a few extra seconds to finish texting or their phone call and realize I'm turning, just in case they didn't see my turn signals while they were reading my HID number.