Scout Boats 222 Abaco, Owner'S Manual

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85
The boat trailer is an important part of your boating package.
The trailer should be matched to your boat's weight and hull.
Using a trailer with a capacity too low will be unsafe on the
road and cause abnormal wear. A trailer with a capacity too
high, can damage the boat. Contact your trailer dealer to
evaluate your towing vehicle and hitch, and to make sure you
have the correct trailer for your boat.
Important Note:
Your Scout is a heavy boat and care must be taken when
selecting the trailer. We recommend that you use a bunk
style trailer that incorporates a combination of heavy duty
rollers, to support the keel and long bunks running under
and parallel to the stringers to support the hull. Avoid
using a full roller trailer that does not have bunks. Roller
trailers have a tendency to put extreme pressure points on
the hull, especially on the lifting strakes, and have dam-
aged boats. The situation is worse during launching and
haul out.
Damage resulting from improper trailer support
or the use of a full roller trailer will not be covered by the
Scout Warranty.
Note: Contact your trailer dealer to evaluate your tow-
ing vehicle and hitch, and to make sure you have
the correct trailer for your boat.
• Make sure the trailer is a match for your boat’s weight
and hull design. More damage can be done to a boat by
the stresses of road travel than by normal water operation.
A boat hull is designed to be supported evenly by water.
So, when it is transported on a trailer it should be
supported structurally as evenly across the hull as possible
allowing for even distribution of the weight of the hull,
engine and equipment.
• Make sure the trailer bunks and rollers properly support
the hull and do not put pressure on the lifting strakes.
The rollers and bunks must be kept in good condition to
prevent scratching and gouging of the hull.
• The capacity rating of the trailer should be greater than
the combined weight of the boat, motor, and equipment.
The gross vehicle weight rating must be shown on the
trailer. Make sure the weight of the boat, engine, gear
and trailer is not more than the gross vehicle weight rating.
• Make sure the boat is securely fastened on the trailer to
prevent movement between the boat and trailer. The bow
eye on the boat should be secured with a rope, chain or
turnbuckle in addition to the winch cable. Additional
straps may be required across the beam of the boat.
Note: Your trailer dealer will give instructions on how
to load, fasten and launch your boat.
BOATS HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY TRAILERS THAT
DO NOT PROPERLY SUPPORT THE HULL. ALWAYS
MAKE SURE THE TRAILER BUNKS AND ROLLERS
ARE ADJUSTED SO THEY ARE NOT PUTTING
EXCESSIVE PRESSURE ON THE LIFTING STRAKES
AND ARE PROVIDING ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR THE
HULL. HULL DAMAGE RESULTING FROM
IMPROPER TRAILER SUPPORT IS NOT COVERED
BY THE SCOUT WARRANTY.
Before Going Out On The Highway:
• SIDE CURTAINS, CLEAR CONNECTOR, BACK
DROP and AFT CURTAIN must be removed when
trailering. Canvas enclosures are not designed to
withstand the extreme wind pressure encountered while
trailering and will be damaged. Always remove and
properly store the enclosure before trailering your boat.
• Make sure the tow BALL and TRAILER COUPLER are
the same size and bolts and nuts are tightly secured.
• The COUPLER MUST BE COMPLETELY OVER THE
BALL and the LATCHING MECHANISM LOCKED
DOWN.
• Make sure the TRAILER IS LOADED EVENLY from
front to rear as well as side to side and has the correct
weight on the hitch. Too much weight on the hitch will
cause the rear of the tow vehicle to drag and may make
steering more difficult. Too little weight on the hitch
will cause the rig to fishtail and will make controlling
the tow vehicle difficult. Contact your trailer
manufacturer or dealer for the correct weight on the hitch
for your trailer.
• The SAFETY CHAINS must be attached crisscrossing
under the coupler to the frame of the tow vehicle. If the
ball was to break, the trailer would follow in a straight
line and prevent the coupler from dragging on the road.
Make sure the trailer emergency brake cable or chain is
also installed to the tow vehicle frame.
• Make sure the LIGHTS on the trailer function properly.
• CHECK THE BRAKES. On a level parking area roll
forward and apply the brakes several times at increasing
speeds to determine if the brakes on the tow vehicle and
trailer are working properly.