How to Convert a Boat Trailer to a PWC Trailer

Bring your personal watercraft to the water on a converted boat trailer.

Personal watercraft (PWC) typically come from the dealer with a specially set up trailer to fit the machine. PWC trailers tend to be small, lightweight units made from aluminum tubing with carpet-covered wooden runners to support the hull, similar to a trailer built for a full size boat. Regular boat trailers may be adjusted to safely carry a PWC with a few household tools and no special parts.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Grease pencil
• Wrench set

Instructions

1. Measure the bottom width of the PWC hull at the chine, or where the bottom meets the side of the hull, with a tape measure. Measure the depth of the hull from the bottom of the V up to the level of the chine with a tape measure.

2. Center the width measurement on each cross-member. Mark the trailer frame holes that line up closest to the hull measurement.

3. Remove the runner support bracket nuts with a wrench. Pull the runner bracket bolts out of the locator holes and lift the runner off of the trailer.

4. Place the runners onto the trailer at the marks for the bottom width. Insert the runner bracket bolts and tighten the nuts by hand.

5. Measure from the top of the runner to the level of the middle roller. Raise or lower the runner until sufficient height is achieved to allow the PWC to contact both the roller and the runners. Tighten the runner bracket nuts securely with a wrench.

6. Place the PWC on the trailer and observe how the hull fits on the runners and rollers. Remove the PWC and make adjustments in small increments to the runner positions until the PWC is fully supported.

References

• Capt.TJ Hinton; Commercial Fishing Vessel Captain; Gulf Coast, Mississippi

Resources

• UniversityOfIowa: Personal Watercraft, Issues and Regulations (PDF)
• UniversityOfCaliforniaSanDiego: Water Safety Course (PDF)