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Bow Eye Length: A measurement taken from
the transom to the bow eye for purposes of
determining trailer length and winch stand
placement.
Bow Pulpit: A small platform sticking forward past
the tip of the bow of the boat.
Bow Stop Roller: A roller on the trailer’s winch
stand that the bow of the boat rest against.
Brackish Water: Polluted water or mixed
freshwater and saltwater.
Brake Controller: An electrical brake controller
mounted inside the cab of the tow vehicle that lets
you manually activate the brakes and also houses
the inertia sensing device. (See Inertia Sensing
Device)
Brake Flush Kit: A garden hose adapter kit that
attaches to drum brakes that allows fresh water
to be flushed into the drum brakes to rinse out salt
water, brackish water or small debris.
Bunks: Generally made of wood covered with
carpet. Provides the main support under the boat’s
hull while on a bunk style trailer.
Channel Glide Bunk Covers: A slippery channel
shaped plastic like material that goes over the
existing wood bunk to make launching and loading
the boat easier by reducing friction between the
boat and the carpeted bunk.
Coupler: Coupler Locking Device: A lock or small
nut & bolt through the locking hole on the latch of
the coupler that helps to prevent the coupler from
coming off the hitch ball.
Coupler Safety Chains: Safety chains running from
the coupler or actuator area on the trailer to the
hitch area of the tow vehicle.
Fishtailing: The boat and trailer swaying from side
to side while being towed.
Fore: A nautical term referring to the front area of
the boat.
Gross Vehicle Weight: The actual combined weight
of the trailer, boat with motor, fuel and gear.
Gross Vehicle Weigh Rating (GVWR):The
maximum allowable combined weight of the
trailer, boat, motor, fuel and gear.
Hitch Ball: The ball shaped part of the hitch on the
rear of the tow vehicle used to connect the trailer.
Hydraulic Surge (Drum Brakes): Drum brakes on
the trailer using the hydraulic surge method to
apply the brakes.
I-Tube: An unique extra extrusion is added to
the aluminum tube to help protect and hide the
wiring and brake lines inside the non-corrosive
environment.
Inertia Sensing Device: This is part of an electrical
unit used with electric brakes that senses the
vehicle slowing down and activates the trailer
brakes automatically. It is generally mounted
inside the cab of the tow vehicle. (See Brake
Controller)
Keel: The fore and aft center line of the boat, the
lowest point of the hull on a V-bottomed boat.
Launch Position: Having the trailer deep enough in
the water that if the boat were launched it would
have enough water to support the boat without
making contact with the ground or cause any
damage.
Load Guides: Attachments to the side of the trailer
that have rollers, bunks or PVC tubes that are near
the side of the boat to assist in keeping the boat
centered on the trailer while loading or launching.
Mooring Line: A rope or line attached to the bow
of the boat so that a person has control of the boat
after it is launched off the trailer.
Port: A nautical directional term for left or left side.
Roller Pattern: The spacing the rollers have on the
underside of the boat on roller trailers.
Rollers: Round cylindrical rolls that support the
boat and roll when the boat is being launched or
loaded on a roller style trailers.
Safety Chains or Cables: A general term used to
describe either the safety chains located on the
winch stand that attach to the bow eye of the
boat, or located near the coupler or actuator and
attach near the hitch area of the tow vehicle.
Saltwater: Water with salt content in it.
Side Rollers: Refers to roller style load guides. (See
Load Guides)
Spindle Nut Retainer: A steel cap that fits over the
spindle nut used in conjunction with a cotter pin to
keep the spindle nut from unscrewing.
Spring Suspension: The springs work together to
provide an absorption for the boat and trailer
during towing. The springs come in many different
applications depending on the capacity rating
required.
Starboard: A nautical directional term for right or
right side.
Stern: A nautical expression referring to the back
end of the boat.
Swing Tongue: A tongue installed on a trailer that
has the ability to fold so that the length of the
trailer would be shortened for storage.
Tie-downs: A securing device that attaches to or
near the rear transom of the boat and downward
to the trailer to help secure the back end of the
boat to the trailer.
Tongue: The most forward portion of the trailer
that has the coupler or actuator attached to it.
Tongue Weight: The amount of weight the tongue
is carryng if weighed at the actuator or coupler.
Torsion Axle Trailer: A trailer using torsion as a
means of suspension rather than leaf springs.
Trailer Tow Vehicle: The vehicle that pulls the boat
and trailer.
Trailer Actuator: The part of the trailer that is
bolted or welded to the tip of the tongue of the
trailer that houses the hydraulic reservoir and
several other components of a hydraulic brake
system. This also is the part that attaches to the
hitch ball on the tow vehicle.
Trailer Coupler: The part of the trailer that is
bolted or welded to the tip of the tongue of the
trailer and attaches to the hitch ball of the tow
vehicle.
Trailer Tongue: See “Tongue”
Transom: The near vertical rear end of the boat
where the outboard motor is generally attached,
or the lower unit of the inboard outboard motor is
generally attached.
Transom Drain Plugs: In the lower rear transom
area that when removed will drain excess water
from the boat after the boat is out of the water on
the trailer. Drain plugs must be kept in the transom
drain plug holes whenever the boat is in the water.
Tuff Coat: A professionally sprayed-on
polyurethane finish that protects the trailer from
rock chips and nicks.
Vee Block: A “V” shaped block on the trailer’s
winch stand that the bow of the boat rests against.
Underwater Launching Lights: This is a optional
feature for most SKEETER trailers. This system
works off a sensor installed on the rear of the
trailer that works as a ground and as the trailer
backs into the water, the lights go on and light up
the bunk like a runway and turn off immediately
when the trailer exits the water. Set usually consist
of 3 lights on each of the two rails.
Weight Carrying Hitch: A hitch that distributes
some of the weight of the boat and trailer into the
frame of the tow vehicle.
