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Boat TraileringMistakes to avoidC

hances are unless you have permanent dock-ing for your boat, you will need to transport the vessel to and from your water launch

area of choice this season. Doing so will require hitching a boat trailer to your vehicle and towing the boat.

To ensure that your trailering experienc-es are safe and effective, be careful to avoid these mistakes.

* Don’t forget to check trailer tire air pressure levels. Tires lose air pressure on their own. A trailer that has been sitting around all winter is likely to have underin-flated tires come the spring boating season. Driving on underinflated tires can lead to blowouts quite easily.

* A blowout is certainly a problem, but a person can become stranded if they don’t have a spare trailer tire, which is often a common trailering mistake.

* Losing a tire is a headache. However, losing your boat and trailer can potentially be dangerous -- not to mention expensive. Highballing is an industry term to describe

an improperly hitched trailer. It occurs when the coupler rests on the hitch ball rather than sliding down fully into place. If the coupler comes loose, you can lose your trailer provided you don’t have safety chains in place as well.

* Salt water and electronics often do not meld, therefore trailer signal lights often burn out and go unnoticed. This can pres-ent a safety issue, especially if driving at dawn, dusk or in the evening. You want to ensure your trailer is seen. Always check

your trailer lights before embarking.

* A boat trailer adds considerable length onto the vehicle. You may not be accus-tomed to driving in this manner, mean-ing you’ll have to make wider turns and drive more slowly. Many a trailer has been caught up on sidewalks, curbs, and almost flipped for failing to take turns at the proper speeds or distance.

* Trailers present visibility problems, particularly when backing up. Don’t forget to get out of your vehicle and check for obstacles (such as bicycles or toys) before backing up your trailer into the driveway.

* Another important factor is to choose a trailer that fits your boat. If it is too small or too large, it might not work effectively or distribute the hull weight properly. It should also be long enough to eliminate any overhang of the boat transom but short enough to accommodate a propulsion unit of the boat in its fully extended or “down” position.

Follow proper trailering tips for a fun and safe boating season.

Make it a safe and fun boating season this year by avoiding common trailering mistakes.

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12

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Articles:

Boat Trailering Mistakes to Avoid 2

Drive PickupsSafely 6

Drive Jumble 7

Things That Mar anAutomotive Paint Job 12

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1 3/29/2012 5:02:56 PM


1 3/29/2012 4:26:53 PM


Drive PickuPs safelyA

round 3 million pickup trucks are purchased and used for various reasons across the

country each year. With so many light trucks on the road, the wise driver can take heed of safety pre-cautions when driving this type of vehicle.

Pickup trucks tend to be the safer of the two vehicles in a col-lision with another car. This is called "passive safety." The larger size and the higher stance means the vehicle will probably suffer less damage than the smaller car. Its height also puts it on par with the bumpers of other trucks and SUVs.

However, pickups do have some disadvantages that will need to be taken into consideration in order to drive safely. Pickups have a higher rollover potential than passenger cars. Therefore, turning should be done slowly and corners shouldn't be taken like one is driving on a racetrack. According to the Department of Transporta-tion's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, in 2007, the most recent year from which statistics are available, rollovers accounted for 59 percent of SUV fatalities, 46 percent of pickup truck deaths and 25 percent of car fatalities. Although pickups have a lower center of gravity than SUVs, they can still rollover if driven aggres-sively.

Another thing to consider is the heavier weight of a pickup, which causes the pickup to have a longer stopping distance. This means pickup drivers will need to add an even greater space cushion between the pickup and other vehicles on the road to be able to avoid road hazards.

Something else to consider is that pickups are not designed to be

nimble, overly responsive vehi-cles. They are primarily designed for hauling. That means swerving around obstacles isn't achieved as easily as it may be in a passenger car. Again, this drives home the point of leaving more space to react to the road.

Pickup drivers should also note that many pickups, with the exception of a few, are rear-wheel drive vehicles. This means that the back wheels power the forward movement of the truck. When the cargo bed is full, this can work out fine. However, when the cargo bed is empty, the front half of the truck tends to be the heavier part of the vehicle, and essentially the lighter half of the truck -- the empty back -- is pushing the truck along. On slick roadways this can cause fish-tailing or poor breaking. An easy fix is to keep some sort of cargo in the bed to weigh down the rear of the vehicle, but this isn't some-thing all drivers remember.

The height of pickup trucks (and SUVs for that matter) create blind zones in the back of the vehicle and below the front grill. The organization Kids and Cars, which works to improve child safety, says that roughly 90 children die each year when drivers back over them while they are in blind zones. Items lying in the driveway, such as bicycles and toys, may also be the victims of blind zones. Pickup drivers should be aware of blind zones and make efforts to check these areas before backing up or pulling out. Backup cameras can also provide assistance.

Pickup trucks are largely used for transporting personal belong-ings or for commercial purposes. They are much safer to drive when pickup owners know the particulars of truck design and maneuverability.

6 3/29/2012 4:20:38 PM


Drivers who prefer pickup trucks can drive safely if they understand the

differences between pickups and cars.

Answer:

DRIVE JUMBLE

sacaert

ekrab

hdsielnwdi

tigdhleah

What the student was

hoping to get for graduation.

Unscramble these Jumbles, arrange the circled letters to form the answer to the cartoon.

egnien

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1 3/29/2012 4:23:42 PM


Things that mar an automotive paint job

Most people purchase a car for its looks and performance. However, unless the auto is kept in a garage

and never driven, it is impossible to keep it in pristine condition. In many cases, damage to the clear coat or enamel paint on the car is something vehicle owners expect.

A car owner who decides he or she wants the car to remain in the best shape possible will have to take an active role in maintenence and damage prevention. One of the key things to remember is to never allow any substance to remain on the paint for too long; otherwise the risk for damage increases. Also, it may be very difficult to clean if the offender is allowed to sit on the paint. Here are some other factors to consider.

UV lightJust as UV light can affect skin, hair

and other parts of the body, it also can affect the paint on a car. UV rays oxidize the paint and cause a white, powdery film to form on the car. Washing the car frequently enough and applying the best quality wax will help keep UV rays from penetrating through the paint.

Over sprays Life does not stop to allow cars to drive

through, particularly when it comes to construction zones. It’s possible for a car to be doused in paint spray, tar, concrete, and other chemicals that are routinely used in construction. Do not allow these substances to harden on the car. Rinse promptly with automotive soap. Try to avoid construction zones whenever pos-sible.

RainBoth acid rain and regular rainwater

(and other sources of water) can dissolve paint over time. The U.S. Geological Survey has said that water is a universal solvent because it can dissolve more sub-stances than any other liquid. Whenever the car becomes wet, it should be dried with a towel or chamois and not allowed to air dry.

Natural substancesTree sap, bird droppings and splattered

insects contain compounds that can erode the paint on a car. Avoid parking under large trees where sap and bird droppings may be prevalent. In terms of

bug splatter, try to wash it off as soon as possible to alleviate damage.

EggsOftentimes, rambunctious children

think it is funny to egg a car. However, the enzymes and sulfur content in eggs can cause paint and clear coat to dis-solve, leaving white spots in the wake of the egg. Because egg can be sticky and very hard to remove once dried, it is helpful to wash it off as soon as possible. It takes only a few hours for the damage to be permanent.

BleachAlthough a bleach-and-water solution

is often heralded for its ability to clean many things, it should not be used on a car. Bleach is an oxidizer and it will pit metal and discolor paint. Be careful with pool chemicals as well, as chlorinator is usually regular household bleach.

There are many things that can damage a car paint job. Although it’s impossible to shield the car from everything, there are precautions that can be taken.

Washing off harmful substances promptly can reduce the chances of damage to a car's paint job.

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drive Vol. 3 Issue 7 (04/06/12)

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