The laws on boat towing can cause controversy and heated debates on different states. According to how serious and strict these laws can be, it is therefore advisable to get informed on the laws on the state you are driving through. Here are some of the things that you need to know before towing your boat on some states.
The towing speed
Every time a driver increases the speed; he/she increase the chances of causing an accident. Not only in towing but any other driving. If possible try to keep with the speed limits provided and advised by the law. Driving at very high speed is exponential lethal and dangerous and it can cost lives. Manycountries have towing speeds lowered than the normal speeds limits. For instance, in Alaska, the speed limit for towing vehicles and trailers is 72 kph. However, states like South Dakota and Mexico the towing speed is 120 kph on major highways.
The boat lengthand the height
Although many states have not given a specified length of the boat to be towed, some states have, one of them being North Carolina. The strict laws on North Carolina only allow the boat to be 10-12 meters of length and a width of 2.6 meters. Any wider would be catastrophic on a two lane road especially if two boats happen to pass each other. Also, the overall length should not go beyond 16.2 meters in most states (the overall length is the length of the vehicle and the boat end to end). The Michigan state recommends a height of 3.8 to 4.2 meters.
Brakes
Another thing to keep into consideration is the brakes. Brakes are paramount when it comes to towing. Sudden braking can be dangerous especially if you have a huge load behind you. Most states recommend trailer brakes installed if you are towing a boat heavier than the threshold. The threshold can be as low as 1500 pounds which is equivalent to 680 kilograms.
Extras
Some of the extra requirements which are requirements by most states are that safety chains connecting the vehicle and the boat should be short enough not to touch the ground and long enough not to prevent turning.
If you want to tow a boat then you must know about the laws regarding the towing of a boat. Read about how to ensure the safety of a boat in towing and what the laws say about this towing.