Towing the line

I HAVE BEEN on a long search for a better tow vehicle and it is pleasing to see an article in Boating New Zealand which tells it like it is around trailer brakes.

What I have found bewildering is that in an environment of continual improvement in vehicle safety, the New Zealand trailer boat sector seems to be overlooking this important safety feature. I can only guess it is to keep window prices low.

Marketing practices like “can be towed by your average family car” are giving false messages to the public – and of greater concern is that these rigs are marketed for first-time buyers who may never have towed anything larger than a small box trailer.

I am certainly glad we started with a 4.4m boat and moved up to 5.9m, not only for ease of learning on the water, but probably even moreso on the road. Driving that first boat at 840kg without brakes in the wet had me on edge, so our 5.9 has a braked trailer.

The CPC Standard could be a good mechanism to improve the safety of trailer boats on the road as well as on the water, so I have made a suggestion to NZ Marine and Coastguard to consider this.

Perhaps a voluntary agreement to market all rigs above 500 or 750kg as fitted standard with brakes – those with large tow vehicles could always option out.

It would be great to see Boating NZ spreading the safety message further, on the road as well as on the water.

Mike Mead, Farm Cove

Greg Dutton, director of DMW Trailers and chairman of the Trailer Manufacturers Group, NZ Marine, replies – While, as a trailer manufacturer I agree with your thoughts, the compliance/ management of boat trailers (all light trailers) is of course done by the LTSA/ VTNZ and would require a law change to alter the status quo. Any marine industry help, education or support can only be good.