Tom-N-Jerry’s Boats - Selecting the Right Brakes for Your Boat Trailer

Having the right brakes on your boat trailer are important. If you need to add brakes to your trailer, the team at Tom-N-Jerry’s Boats can help you find the right brakes. There are two different types of brake systems that you can choose from, surge brakes and electric brakes. The surge brakes are self-contained within the trailer and don’t need to be connected to the car via electrical or hydraulic connections. They are a passive system that only begin to work when the car starts to slow. The electric systems are controlled by the car. These require an electric brake controller, which is located in the car. Federal law requires every boat trailer to have a system that automatically applies the brakes in the event the trail detaches from the tow vehicle.
When looking at the various trailer brake options, you need to think about whether you want disc brakes or drum brakes. Disc brakes will require a higher static brake line pressure than drum brakes. If your trailer has drum brakes, you can easily replace these with disc brakes and have the following advantages:

• They are self-adjusting.
• They are less likely to fade when you are descending a mountain pass.
• They have greater stopping power.
• They have fewer parts, requiring less maintenance.
• They are easy to inspect without having to remove components.

The staff at Tom-N-Jerrys Boats have more nearly four decades of experience in the marine industry. They can help you decide which brakes will work best for your situation and help you install them if necessary.
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Tom-N-Jerry’s Boats - Basic Things to Keep Your Outboard Running Strong

Every year, outboards advance in sophistication, but still require regular maintenance to keep them running at peak efficiency. The knowledgeable technicians at Tom-N-Jerry’s Boats have been servicing outboards for nearly forty years and know these basic things to help keep their client’s outboards running strong.

• You need to check the gasket and latches of the cowl from time to time. The rubberized gasket around the base of the cowl works to seal out water.
• Flush the engine with fresh water after each outing. This will help to flush away any salt that may have built up on the powerhead.
• Periodically inspect and lubricate the throttle and shift. The points that connect the cables to the control box and engine need special attention.
• Don’t use fuels that have more than ten percent ethanol.
• If steering becomes sloppy, check the fluid level of the hydraulic steering system and bleed the lines.
• Check the blades of your propeller on a regular basis. Dents, dings, or a slightly bent blade all impact the performance of the boat.
• Change the lube in the gear case of the lower unit per the recommended service intervals. Be sure you are using the appropriate oil to avoid any problems.
• Replace the water pump impeller and related parts according to your boats service schedule.

Many of these items can be easily taken care of on your own. For those items that are a little more complex, contact a reliable service provider like Tom-N-Jerry’s Boats in Mount Vernon, Washington.
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