High marina fees and disappearing dock space don't bother trailer boaters. Keep the boat at home where you can keep an eye on her. Load and unload when you have time, and do all your boating chores in your own back yard. Launch in the river this weekend, in the lake next time and go to the seaside for the summer.

If fear of towing is keeping you from buying a trailerable, consider these tips.

Knowing your vehicle's towing capacity is just part of the equation. You can't go just by manufacturer claims. First, get the towing capacity of this exact vehicle the way you have it tricked-out (that includes the engine cooling options, transmission ratio, and everything other nuance). Get the boat and trailer's actual weight on a scale if possible, keeping in mind your own power options and the full load including gear, crew and a full tank of gas.

You must also know the vehicle's maximum towing capacity, gross trailer weight including a fully loaded boat, and the tongue weight. Once you have these figures, talk to a hitch specialist and get a hitch chosen and installed specifically for your tow vehicle-trailer team.

Always load the tow vehicle and trailer properly with the heaviest items going first and 60 percent of the cargo located from the front axle of the trailer forward. If your trailer has brakes, hook them up and use them.

Buying a National Marine Manufacturers Association certified trailer assures that certain industry standards have been met. Towing laws, usually based on weight and beam, vary from state to state. Be sure you know yours.

Faithful trailer maintenance is as important as vehicle maintenance. Pay attention to wheel hubs, tie-downs, and the boat bed. A spare wheel with tire is a good investment. Check trailer lights regularly by having a friend eyeball them or by parking front of a reflective surface and checking them yourself. Pay attention to the condition of the tires, keep the lug nuts tight and make sure everything is properly greased. Use corrosion protection, and park the trailer in a garage or cover it when it is not in use.

LET'S GET EVEN

When a towed boat has a mind of its own, fishtailing or bottoming out, there are things you can do to make handling easier and safer. According to Gary Van Hall, national sales manager for Air Lift Company, "When a tow vehicle rides at an attitude other than level, its drive-ability degenerates." Penalties can range from uneven tire wear to handling that's downright dangerous.

When too much weight rides on the rear springs of the tow vehicle, the front end rises. Since front tires do all the steering and some braking, you need them on the road. This imbalance is even more dangerous at night because it misdirects your headlights.

There are four options to help solve the problem: Add rubber blocks to dampen spring action, put in air shocks, replace the standard springs with heavier-duty or variable-rate springs, or install inflatable air helper springs.

Each choice has advantages and disadvantages. Rubber blocks in the coils of the spring will keep them from sagging, but they make for a rougher ride. Heavier springs also reduce sag, but reduce riding comfort. Variable rate springs increase resistance as the load increases, but replacing springs is a big (read: expensive) job.

Another choice is to install air springs, which is basically a neoprene balloon that works with existing springs and shocks to keep your vehicle level. An on-board compressor lets you adjust the balloon as needed.

Say, for example, you want to unhitch and make a quick trip to the supermarket, then re-hitch the trailer and hit the road again. The adjustment is easily made. As an added bonus, air springs help the original springs and tires last longer because they're not constantly subjected to overloading.