Queen’s Cup T-Shirts
 By: Helen “Cookie” Mueller, PC It’s Queen’s Cup T-shirt time again at South Shore Yacht Club. This year thirteen designs were entered into the contest sponsored by the Auxiliary. Kyle Putney submitted the winning entry. He received a check for $150 from the Auxiliary for his efforts. The Queen’s Cup merchandise will go on sale in early June. Merchandise will be sold on the following dates: Auxiliary Meeting June 7 Wednesday evenings June 8, 15, 22, 29 Friday evenings June 3, 10, 17, 24 Father’s Day June 19 All day on June 30th and July 1st Prices are as follows: Short Sleeve White T-shirt - $17 Long Sleeve Tek Shirt, red, royal or silver – $29 Ladies sleeveless shirt, navy blue - $25 Ladies full zip, long sleeve fleece, blue - $38 Men’s full zip, long sleeve fleece, blue, grey - $38 Queen’s Cup Navy Baseball Cap - $10 This is the largest fund-raiser of the year for the Auxiliary. All of the proceeds from the sale of the Queen’s Cup merchandise are returned to the Club in the form of donations toward major Club projects. You can pay cash, house charge or charge your purchases. Show your support for the Club and the Queen’s Cup Race by purchasing several items today. Anyone wishing to help with the sale of shirts should contact Pat Rakowski at prakowski@wi.rr.com or Cookie Mueller at cookiemueller@wi.rr.com |
From the Helm
 It’s raining and 44 degrees, a frustrating spring for anyone trying to get work done on their boats and even more frustrating for our derrick crews. Our guys, Bob, Dennis, Jim and Wayne have endured awful weather conditions to get nearly one hundred boats launched in a two week time period. The weather was so bad that Waterfront Chairman had to extend the launch period by a week also delaying grounds clean-up by a week. Let’s hope we’ll be rewarded by a great summer season. Our gold letters and ship’s wheel are back gracing the lakeside of our Clubhouse. Thanks to the efforts of Bob Gaertner the SSYC letters got a bright new coat of gold paint and Mary Richter refinished the ship’s wheel with 16 coats of Bristol Urethane Finish. Thanks to Bob and Mary the great look has returned to the front of our Clubhouse. A whole bunch of volunteers showed up for Grounds Chairman George Artka’s Grounds Clean-up Day. Thanks to all who’ve turned the grounds to Summer mode and spruced up the gardens and lawn. Also Gary Mattson PC and his team built six more picnic tables. Everyone is happy about that with the possible exception of the Dock Masters who usually are tasked with moving them around the grounds. Another example of what I think sets us apart from other clubs. We’ve been hit with two “Mothers Day storms” this Spring and in the peak of these storms a group of your fellow members were out on the docks adding lines to some boats and adjusting lines on others in an effort to keep boat damage to a minimum. Several boats did sustain some damage but no where near the amount that would have occurred if not for the efforts of these caring members. I’m aware of who some are but I’m sure if I attempted to print names here I would miss a few and I don’t want to do that, so I’ll just say thanks to all who were involved. General Manager Pat Nora and Entertainment Chairman Luke Radomski have a full summer of fun events in the works; make sure you’re at YOUR Club to enjoy them. Watch for e-blasts, posters or pick up a complete 2011 Events List at the Club Office. Of course the event that kicks-off our Summer is the Review/Blessing of the Fleet. This year's event is scheduled for Saturday, June 11. The Second Annual Pig Roast will cap off the afternoon. See more information elsewhere in this issue of the Compass. Also while the theme of the ‘review’ remains Bristol, we’ll be accepting donations for the Honor Flight Program. If you haven’t heard, the Honor Flight Program provides a free day long trip for World War Two veterans to visit ‘their’ memorial in Washington DC. We’ve have a few of our military veteran members who belong to the Greatest Generation take part in the flight including our late Past Commodore Orv Lemke. In the meantime, let’s hope that summer weather arrives soon so we can begin to enjoy our time on the lake. See you at the Club. Click on the photo to see more pictures of the Grounds Cleanup Work Party 
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Midwest Women’s Sailing Conference
By Helen “Cookie” Mueller, PC
On Saturday, May 14th the 1st annual Midwest Women’s Sailing Conference was held at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center. Thirty knots of wind, pounding rain and two foot waves in the harbor were no match for the enthusiasm of the one hundred women that participated in a full day of sailing and boating related workshops.
Members of the Milwaukee Bay Women’s Sailing Organization and women sailors from the Milwaukee community spent one year planning and organizing the conference. Dawn Riley, internationally recognized sailor and acclaimed author, was the keynote speaker for the conference.
The Sailing Conference attracted attendees and instructors from Wisconsin and Illinois. It featured twenty-two workshops that were taught by women, for women. Workshops covered a variety of topics ranging from sail trim to engine maintenance.
The Midwest Women’s Sailing Conference offered women in sailing an opportunity to learn and network with other women sailors. No matter what the skill level, educational and mentoring experiences existed throughout the day.
With year one successfully completed, plans are in the works for next year’s conference. Watch for information in the Compass and plan on attending the 2012 Midwest Women’s Sailing Conference! Click on the photo to see more pictures of the event.
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From the Manager
 Greetings, Let’s hope the weather will start to improve quickly, we have had more than enough of the “cooler near the lake’ forecasts. Join us Saturday June 11th for The Annual Review of the Fleet followed by a Pig Roast and live entertainment. The review begins at 3PM followed by the pig roast at 5PM. In response to some recent member inquiries about the pricing structure of beer here at SSYC. I did some research and came up with the following information. Example: The SSYC price for a ½ barrel of Louie’s Demise is $225 or $8.75 per pitcher. I contacted 6 Brew Pubs and checked on their equivalent pricing for a ½ barrel. Only 2 Pubs allow ½ barrel parties. St. Francis Brewery charges $280 per ½ barrel. Mo’s Irish Pub charges $350 per ½ barrel. Milwaukee Ale House Charges $13 per pitcher for Louie’s Demise, this brings the price of a ½ barrel to $390. Rock Bottom Brewery charges $12.50 per pitcher or $375 per ½ barrel. Water Street Brewery sells beer by the pint (16 ounces) or Mug (22 ounces) this puts the ½ barrel equivalent at between $450 & $558 depending on the size glass used. The equivalencies are calculated using a 15.5 gallon per ½ barrel or 1,984 ounces per ½ barrel This works out to 30, 60-ounce pitchers per ½ barrel. (Actually 33 pitchers but we allowed for 10% spillage). Additionally, none of the Pubs contacted would allow a party to bring in food of any type other than a cake or dessert item. As members I will let you draw your own conclusions about the fairness of pricing at SSYC based on the information supplied. NEW DINNER MENU WILL START FRIDAY JUNE 3RD - MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW. Our kitchen staff is more than willing to accommodate any special dietary needs and prepare your dinner in a preferred manner, such as broiled versus fried. Just ask your server and we will make every effort to meet your requests. Please note that some requests may require a day or two of lead time. See you at the club Pat |
Short Bights
By Bruce Nason, Commodore
Have you ‘visited’ Google Earth lately? The images of Milwaukee and our Club are now more recent.
The previous image was taken early in the year prior to the remodeling more than five years ago perhaps 2003. The new image was probably taken in late spring of 2010. We look a whole bunch better with boats in the slips and the remodeling completed!
Another wheel chair has been donated. David Fuller has donated an additional wheel chair giving us a total of two. Both chairs are ‘stored’ in the downstairs cloakroom.
For some reason we overlooked our membership in the Yacht Clubs of America organization for the previous two years. That oversight has been corrected and we now have renewed our membership and although we are not listed in the 2011 Handbook for Reciprocal Yacht Clubs we are eligible for those privileges and in a few weeks we will be getting guest cards for those planning trips to other cities. Check with General Manager Pat Nora or Amy and Kristin in the Club Office.
We also are a participating member of Boat US enabling members who choose to join a discount on membership.
This is the last Compass before our kick-off to Summer, Review/Blessing of the Fleet, so mark the date on your calendar, June 11. Besides the blessing, boat parade and cannon salutes for the second year we’re have a picnic featuring a roast pig. Make your reservation soon. There will also be an opportunity to donate to the Honor Flight Program honoring World War II veterans.
With the grounds now open a brief reminder please park only in designated auto parking spots. Remember, only one vehicle per member is allowed and a parking sticker must be displayed. Also, if a vehicle is parked for more than five days you must register with the Club Office and leave your keys. And don’t forget that if you vacate your slip for more that 48 hours you must inform the Dock Masters of your departure and planned return per the agreement you signed in the Slip Contract. It’s also a good idea to leave an itinerary with the Dock masters.
We’ve had a fantastic winter of evnts but I think we’re all ready for Summer to arrive.
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SSYC Auxiliary
 By Jan-Marie Weiler
The Queen’s Cup sale has begun! You can find this year’s merchandise on sale Wednesday nights and on the weekends. Remember the need for fleece on Lake Michigan, no matter the season, fleece is the fabric to wear out on the lake. You’ll want to mark this year with the identifying tee-shirt and it is even a trademarked shirt. What class! This is our main fundraiser and through the funds raised we generously give back to the club and the community.
The upcoming Auxiliary picnic is bound to be a celebration of seeing old friends and welcoming back those members who saw the need to escape the Wisconsin winter. Why one would want to do that, I just can’t fathom! Remember to RSVP for any dinner auxiliary events. Simply call the club office and get your name on the list. Dinner is at 6:00 with a white elephant exchange following the short meeting.
We’ll take a break from auxiliary meetings in July so that you all can do some cruising, travelling or enjoy what we deserve to be the best summer ever! Remember all the yacht club events from Powerboater’s Thursday activities (everyone is invited to those, you just have to bring your friendliness with you), lots of racing and of course the parties that go along with them, and you can’t pass up the delicious food served in our restaurant.
The August 2nd and September 6th meetings will start at 7:00 p.m. Our hostesses will have treats set up before so we can visit and partake the goodies our members bring to share. Sue Ring-Wagner will have entertainment lined up. It’ll be a grand time to be together. The October Shipmates Night on October 4th will feature club members Ken and Sandy Dziubek’s world cruising adventures. This year we will travel with them to some new ports of call. This is guaranteed to make you sharpen those geography skills that have grown a bit dusty from lack of use.
Auxiliary members can bring items for our donations to Daystar. You can leave them in the club office or bring them to the meetings. Marilyn Bruesewitz will generously deliver them for us. Let Sue Manske know of any member’s sunshine needs. We are looking forward to seeing all Auxiliary members walking the docks enjoying those fantastic sun rises and sun sets over the yacht club.
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Entertainment Committee
 The Entertainment Committee has been hard at work over the spring planning the wonderful summer events that contribute so much to the spirit and comaraderie of SSYC. We kick off the season on June 11th with the Review of the Fleet. Last year we added a Pig Roast component to the event. There was an email sent out recently with the details but just in case presale tickets will be available at the Club office during regular business hours for $10.00 per individual. Tickets will be available until the close of business on June 10th. Director Tom Gale has once again agreed to emcee the event. He has asked that if you plan on participating in the review that you take a few moments to complete the information sheet that can be found by clicking on this link Review of the Fleet Form
Please feel free to have some fun with your responses to some of these questions. Boats should start gathering at 3:00 p.m. in the usual spot. I would also like to say thank you to all of the Captain’s and Crew that participated in last year’s event. The turnout was amazing and I can only hope this year is just as good. (Side note…according to Weather.com it is supposed to be 75 and sunny! Seriously)
Also at this years event Commodore Nason will be collecting donations for the Honor Flight program. For those of you who are not familiar with this program the Honor Flight is an organization set up a couple of years ago that is dedicated to providing our nation's veterans with the respect and reverence that they all deserve. The organization particularly honors those veterans of WWII who so bravely severed our Country. Please contact Commodore Nason if you wish to donate prior to the Review of the Fleet.
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Double Handed Fleet
By Bruce Nason, Commodore
Save the date, Friday afternoon, June 17, for the first Double Handed Race of 2011. That’s a change from the published date on the SSYC Race Schedule. This year we will again be having four races. You should also note that the July race date is moved a week ahead to July 15. The NOR and SIs are available in the Club Office. Of course the post race snacks and beverages will cap off each Friday. Carolyn is planning those great ‘sliders’ for the main course on June 17. If you’re new to SSYC or somehow aren’t aware of this fun event, sailboats with only two persons onboard have a fun race on the SSYC fixed race course, four Friday afternoons. Back on shore, under the tent there’s an awards ceremony and really good snacks. Come on, be part of it! |
Power Boaters
 In last month’s events, I forgot to mention that Dave Dorner helped with the March 26th wine tasting. He filled in for the Benscotters, who were still in Sunny Florida.
Please plan on attending all of the weekend’s events, starting on July 2nd through the 4th. This event includes a nautical flea market, an auction, a breakfast buffet, steak fry and an All American Picnic. This will be a busy weekend at the club, as it follows the Queen’s Cup.
The first Powerboat's Thursday was held on May 26th. The turn out was wonderful for the Chili Dump and Flare Shoot. Unfortunately, the wind took over, and we were unable to safely handle the aerial flares so that will occur at another time. Keith Ponath had his fire equipment ready, but that too had to be placed on the “back burner”. Craig and Joan Lake headed up this educational evening. Wayne and Lynn Happel and Dave and Judy Dorner took charge of the chili preparation and the rest of the food, including appetizers and dessert assignments.
Plan on attending our Spaghetti Night dinner on June 9th, hosted by the Merryfields, Artkas and Nasons.
The United States Safety Check is being held the day of the Review of the Fleet. It will occur between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Please see Dan Danowski or Erv Bluemner if you would like to have your vessel inspected.
Don’t forget the up-coming “Friends and Family Nights. These Thursday events will be the "Grill Your Own" events set for June 23rd and July 28th. The Graubner, Lustigs and Wagners are handling the June 23rd evening, and the Happels and Grabowskis are running the event on the 28th of July. Please feel free to contact any of these volunteers or myself if you have any questions or suggestions. Don’t forget to invite your “friends and families.”
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have an interest in running an event, or if you have any suggestions for ways we can improve any of our former events. New ideas are always welcomed, as are new boating friends. Watch for e-blasts on additional details for all of our happenings.
Hope you are in the water, and that the sky and seas cooperate with making 2011 another great summer at South Shore Yacht Club.
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Cruising Club Update
by Don Doggett, Fleet co-Captain
Aloha Cruisers! Despite the weather related cancellation of Spring, the SSYC Cruising Club still managed to make it to the 2nd Annual Kick-off/Raft-up on Sunday, May 22nd. Even though many boats have still not made the spring time splash, sailing vessels Summer Hours and Brave Heart brought a fair share of cruisers to the raft-up, and were joined by a couple driving up. All had a good time grilling and sharing boat drinks.
The summer trip planning has begun so keep a look out for our cruising email or watch for the posts on our Facebook page. Join the SSYC Cruising Club group or send your email to Don Doggett at dondoggett@att.net to be added to our mailing list.
We are tentatively planning a short weekend cruise on June 4th, so anyone interested can email Don Doggett or meet at the SSYC horseshoe dock at 10:00am June 4th.
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AIR SHOW NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!
AIR SHOWS SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR BIRD STRIKE TEAM!
Actual Photo from the 2010 Air Show
Hi, my name is Paul Rogers, President of the Milwaukee Air & Water Show. Over the past three years, we have experienced three bird strikes to military aircraft including the Thunderbirds,F-15 Demo Team, and Navy Blue Angels. Each aircraft struck a seagull during the air show at the lakefront. The Thunderbirdstrike flamed out an engine. Last year, Blue Angel #5 took on a bird which destroyed the right engine. The F-15 was impacted by a seagull on its wing surface, resulting in significant damage.
For the air show, it’s imperative this year that we clear the area of seagulls as best we can, before and during the air show. We are working closely with the USDA, and the Air Force Bird Strike programs. The USDA will be present at the lakefront to direct operations, beginning August 1st, the week prior to the air show, until the end of the air show on August 7th. As a local boat owner, we are asking for your assistance to help USDA officials with the bird removal program. We need people to provide boat transportation and also help to dispense pyrotechnics, air cannons, and other bird removal means at their direction.
Please contact myself at 414-482-2069, email at prog@milwaukeeairshow.com
or Russ Berg 414-397-4151, email at intervestmail@yahoo.com to sign up for the schedule to assist the USDA with operations. We need your help this year to help make the air show safer, and a big success! Thank you, and we are looking forward to your participation!
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House Committee
 It was decided that the replacement of the carpeting will take place after the Queen’s Cup and LMYA events. This will save some wear and tear on the new the carpet.
A couple of months ago our downstairs food cooler failed inspection. Trying to correct the problems would not guarantee that it would pass feature inspections and to install a new one it would have to be custom made because of the size which is small 4’x4’x6’. For this summer it was decided to use rented coolers to deal with the summer demand for cooler space. Then in the fall address what the needs are for cooler space.
The SSYC letters on the Club's lake side have been redone by Bob Gaertner and the ships wheel has been redone by Mary Richter. The sign over the front entrance is being redone by Jerry and Pat Rakowski. There are hooks being added in the bathrooms with the help of Bob Gaerther and Heidi Gaerther. Jack Gosline fixed a couple of bad spots in the floor of the Lily E room. I would also like to thank other members that continually do repair and projects at the club. Boating season is starting so here’s hoping for a great season with some warm weather and sunshine.
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What’s Your Favorite Flag? Yellow Flag!
 In the MBOS Sailing Instructions section 13 states-
13 PENALTY SYSTEM
For the PHRF sections 1 through 4, the Scoring Penalty, rule 44.3, will apply. The
penalty will be the greater of two (2), or the number described in 44.3(c), places.
In the SS/SSS Sailing Instructions section 12 states-
12 PENALTY SYSTEM
The Scoring Penalty, rule 44.3, will apply. The penalty will be the number of places equal to the greater of 3 or 20% (rounding 0.5 upward) of the number of boats starting in the section.
Rule 44.3 is a gift that we have in Milwaukee Bay that many racers aren’t aware of. It allows an offending boat to display a yellow flag at its first reasonable opportunity and take penalty rather than being protested and risk being disqualified from the race. An example would be if you port tacked your competitor and he hosts the red flag and announces that he is protesting you. If you host a yellow flag till your finish, you have stated that you have committed an error and will take the penalty that is stated in Rule 44.3 a and the SI’s. The other alternative is to withdrawal from the race or risk being disqualified in a protest hearing.
I keep my “Yellow Flag” next to my “Red Flag”.
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T-10 Fleet to Host North American Championship Regatta
 By Christopher Moll, Fleet Captain
The Milwaukee Bay T-10 fleet along with SSYC is proud to host the 2011 T-10 North American Championship Regatta. We are very excited to host this prestigious event once again at our yacht club. The regatta will be held August 11-14, 2011 and we plan to have 30+ boats here competing for this exciting national championship. This will mark the 4th time that this event has been hosted by the Milwaukee Bay T-10 Fleet & SSYC since its inception in 1978. Much of the planning for this event has been completed over the winter and spring and we are very excited about this upcoming event.
The T-10 fleet is also gearing up for another exciting season of Saturday racing with the PHRF fleet which kicks off on June 4 with the Skelding regatta. You will see several T-10’s on the race course again this summer both on Saturday’s and on Wednesday nights.
Please contact me if you are interested in getting involved in this exciting one-design fleet either as crew or as a skipper. We would love to have you join us. (BluemoonT10@aol.com).
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Helping Hands
By: Carolyn Nason
Here are a few helpful hints:
Spray your burgee before raising it. A product called McLube (a dry lubricant) recommends that you spray it on your burgee before you hoist it. The burgee will last a lot longer and stay cleaner. Try it on your fenders too-they’ll stay cleaner longer!
Don’t forget how useful rubber bands can be on boats. Snip a few wide rubber bands to create flat strips. You can super-glue them to the bottom of anything (think: cutting board) making it slip resistant.
Curious about your online identity? Go to www.webmii.com. It’ll check Facebook, Google, Yahoo!, Bing, and Twitter all in one easy swoop.
When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.
Minimize dock line chafing by slipping on an old inner tube from a bicycle tire.
Check out this really neat website: http://stoodthere.com. “Stood There” lets you submit photos of the coolest places you’ve ever visited. And guess what made the list? That’s right, Milwaukee’s own Harley Davidson Museum!
Here’s an inexpensive way to polish and clean wood on your boat. Mix two parts lemon juice with one part olive oil in a spray bottle. Spritz on the wood surface and wipe dry. The acid will get rid of any dirt and the oil will keep the wood from drying out.
Just in from Martha Stewart: keep potatoes from budding by placing an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
Searching for a farmer’s market? Try http://apps.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/. It lists markets all around the country with websites if they have one. Check out the cool map too!
Finally, have a safe and fun boating season. Don’t let this happen to you.
As always, keep your hints coming.
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Summer LMYA at SSYC!
 Hey folks, the biggest party week this summer at SSYC will be June 27th through July 4th! It all starts with boats coming in from all over Lake Michigan for oldest fresh water race in the world, the Queens Cup, hosted and held at SSYC. But this year on Friday July 1st, as the race fleet heads for Michigan at 5:30pm, another PARTY begins. The bar and restaurant will restock for the arrival of the Lake Michigan Yachting Association Floatilla (LMYA). SSYC will again host the LMYA weekend party starting at 6:30pm.
Cruisers from all over Lake Michigan will once again drive and dock at the “Party Port”, South Shore Yacht Club for music and games all weekend. The fun starts Friday night with Club dinning and our new popular event “Klub Karaoke” at SSYC. Saturday Morning after the breakfast buffet it’s time for the bargain capital of Bay View with SSYC’s annual “Flea Market”. Bring your extra boating gear to the Flea Market and pickup a couple of bucks.
Saturday Noon is the Russ Berg world class grilling team, cooking burgers and brats to perfection, followed by the LMYA meeting and a wonderful “Weather Tips” presentation.
Saturday night is the steak fry, followed by live music, dancing and contests in the Club.
Sunday morning after breakfast in the dinning room, it’s local afternoon tours before Chef Peter’s “All American Picnic” at 5pm. Following Sunday evening’s great 3rd of July fireworks on the Lake Front, it’s live music and dancing again at SSYC.
Monday morning July 4th, SSYC will host a continental breakfast before the cruising fleet departs for their home ports to celebrate the Nation’s Birthday.
It’s the biggest party week of the Summer at SSYC. Mark your calendars for the Queen’s Cup and LMYA right here at Party Port headquarters,at the Harbor of Hospitality.
Download the Entry Form
Tom Gale
2011 LMYA Chairman
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Fish On Fish Off 2011
 This year’s Fish On Fish Off fishing tournament will be held on July 16, 2011 with a rain date of July 17.
This event will be our seventh annual fishing tournament. Our club started this event so we could be the harbor of hospitality to other clubs throughout Lake Michigan. One of our goals for running this tournament was to have other yacht clubs feel welcome as our guests and hopefully use our facility during the year. It also gives us an opportunity to showcase our club and make new friends.
Last year South Milwaukee Yacht Club dominated the fishing event. As many members know since the tournament started South Shore Yacht Club has placed second every year. Hopefully the 2011 tournament will have better results for our club.
After running this event for the past six years I have seen a dramatic increase in participation for this event. I want to thank all of the members and their families for making this event successful.
This year as in the past, the fishing tournament is open to all recognized yacht clubs on Lake Michigan. The entry fee for the tournament is $35.00 per boat with a 100% payback of the entry fee. Any boat that is participating in the contest will be given free dockage during the weekend of the tournament. There will also be a lunch offered after the tournament is over. Hopefully this year we will have other yacht clubs also participating in this event.
Included in this article are pictures of past Fish On Fish Off tournaments.
Download an Entry Form or pick one up at the main office.    
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United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
ANNUAL UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY VESSEL SAFETY CHECK (VSC)
SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2011 – 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
It’s time to launch our boats and have them safety checked to make sure we have all the necessary safety equipment on board. This annual event will be held on June 11, starting at 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at South Shore Yacht Club. Coffee and donuts are available to all that participate. Attached is the requirements check sheet for all items needed to obtain your VCS decal. It seems that from previous years the most common problems are out-of-date flares and fire extinguishers. A sign-up sheet will be located on the south patio the morning of the event. If you have any questions, please call Dan Danowski at 262-786-6449. |
Boating Report
By Gerry Hussin
When was the last time that you really inspected your trailer. We spend a lot of time on our boats but what about what carries them.
Trailer tires – treads very rarely wear out but the tire deteriorates so should be replaced every 5 years
Wheels – last longer but are they dented, corroded, have bad rims
Hubs/Bearings/Seals – should be taken apart and regreased after inspection. A small amount of water can cause corrosion so inspection is essential. Spindles/bearing protectors – when the wheels are off, inspect the spindles, particularly the shoulder where the rear seal rides. Nearly all spring loaded bearing protectors require routine inspection and service
Brakes/couplers – trailer brakes as least twice a year, depending on the amount of traveling done. Make sure the brakes are engaging. Check the hydraulic actuator, refill with oil if down, check for leaks
Bunks/Pads Roller guides – Make sure the rollers are not cracked and are running freely. Bunks are easy to repair and remember they carry the load. If the roller breaks, the metal parts will be contacting the hull.
Suspension/Frame and axels – Check the leaf springs for signs of corrosion or cracks. If the springs are heavily rusted, have the suspension inspected by a professional. Frames and axels endure years of use. Corrosion or vibration can lead to damage.
Finally wiring and lights. Poor functioning lights are a never ending source of frustration. Many time the source if problem is caused by corrosion. Check the grounding leads. Stone damage may cause water to leak into the system and corrosion starts.
With a boat off of the trailer, inspections are easy but often neglected which can lead to a bad day of traveling.
Above excerpted from Trailer magazine
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