Malibu Boats M235 2018, Owner'S Manual

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wheel, it would appear that you are actually turning the steering wheel to the left.
Back up in the water until the trailer’s back tire is about half-submerged in the water. If the ramp has a shallow drop, it will be
necessary to back in further; if the drop-off is more significant, you may be able to stop before the wheel is half under.
Place the tow vehicle in Park (or a forward gear if the tow vehicle has a manual transmission), and shut off the tow vehicle engine.
Set the parking brake.
After checking that the water depth is sufficient for your boat’s hull (it should not make contact with the ramp surface or ground
underwater), release the trailer winch latch-and-hook. Assuming that all tie-downs are released, back the boat into the water and
secure to a dock as described in the boat’s Owner’s Manual or anchor while you remove the tow vehicle and trailer from the ramp.
To re-load at the conclusion of your outing, reverse the process. When the trailer is in position, verify that the trailer bunks on
which the boat will rest are free of dirt, sand or other debris that could scratch the boat hull. It is a good idea to back the trailer suffi-
ciently to wet the trailer bunks completely as this will add to protection for the hull when the boat is loaded.
Directions and suggestions for driving the boat onto the trailer are provided in the boat Owner’s Manual. This requires practice to
master, but correctly loading the boat is critical for both safety and protection of the condition of the boat and trailer.
Be sure that the tie-downs are secure prior to towing.
Submerging part of the trailer in water will cause the brakes to be wet. See the Brake information in this section of
the Owner’s Manual regarding care following an outing. Also be aware that while the brakes are wet, they will not
work as quickly or efficiently as normal. As soon as they dry, the brakes should resume their normal characteristics.
When the Trailer Is Not In Use
Most boaters experience an off-season in which both the boat and trailer are not used for several weeks or months. As this period
begins, many boat owners have an annual maintenance routine performed on the boat by the authorized Malibu dealer. This is the appro-
priate time to also perform pre-storage activity for the trailer. Most of these tasks are best done by the authorized dealer at the same time
as the boat is prepared for storage.
• Have the authorized Malibu dealer:
• service or re-pack wheel bearings;
• touch-up any nicks, chips or rusted areas;
• repair or replace damaged or worn tie-downs and straps;
• lubricate moving parts so that they will be more likely to move freely when the trailer is recommissioned for use;
• check lug nuts and any other bolts or hardware on the trailer to be certain that all are secure.
• While it is good for the tie-downs and straps to be snug to the boat, especially if the boat-and-trailer will be exposed to the ele-
ments, loosening them just slightly less than you would connect them for travel is advisable. This will allow a moderate amount of
air circulation and avoid imprint of the trailer bunks.
• If the boat will be stored on the trailer, allow the trailer to rest with the tongue a few degrees higher than the aft portion of the rig.
With the drain plugs removed, any residual water can drain out of the boat.
• Release a small amount of air pressure in the tires, but make a note to reinflate to proper levels prior to any towing. Shield the tires
from UV rays also.
• At the conclusion of storage preparation, it is advisable to leave the trailer in a covered area such as a garage or pole barn-type
structure. The weather can cause damage to the trailer that is not covered under warranty.
• Relieve the load pressure on the trailer springs by using jackstands or concrete blocks to support some of the weight.
NEVER tow a trailer with faulty brakes. Whether the brakes are grabbing or failing to respond, the result is usually a
loss of control of the entire rig. This situation can result in serious injury or death to persons on-board, and damage
to the tow vehicle and/or trailer and boat, as well as to other people and vehicles on the road at the time.
Malibu Owners Manual • 2018 • Trailers • Page 5-13