The 60,000 members of the BoatU.S. Trailering club know that a boating trip can be ruined long before their boat hits the water if precautions aren't taken to safely prepare the tow rig. "When Something Goes Wrong," a report in the February/March issue of BoatU.S. Trailering magazine cites the top three reasons for roadside breakdowns.

#1 reason: Flat Tires: You can take care of your tires but you can't always take good care of the road surfaces your tires travel upon. Almost half (43%) of all calls for assistance can be chocked up to the simple but age old problem of flat tires. Ironically, it's one of the easiest to fix when you have prepared for it. Have both a trailer and tow vehicle spare with you and practice changing them. For example, a tandem axle trailer can easily be driven up on a curb so the flat tire is off the pavement.

#2 reason: Bearing Failures: The second most common reason (20% of all calls for roadside assistance) is trailer bearing failures. The BoatU.S. Trailering club recommends that bearings be inspected and repacked at a minimum each time the tow vehicle has its oil changed. A trailer that is rarely used may need to have bearings inspected and repacked as often as one that is used often. When traveling long distances, bearings should be inspected at every gas station fill up and checked for leaking grease, hub heat buildup, smoking or wheel noise - indicators that something is not right.

#3 reason: Tow Vehicle Problems: The third most common problem phoned in to the BoatU.S. 24-hour Dispatch Center doesn't involve the trailer, but the tow vehicle. Fifteen percent of all cases were the result of running out of fuel, being locked out of the vehicle, or the need for a jump start.

Other remaining reasons included axle problems (8%); wheel and rim problems (4%); and stuck on the boat ramp (2%).

"The findings show that some breakdowns are preventable and some are not," said BoatU.S. Trailering's Associate Publisher, Beth McCann. "The best way to protect yourself is to ensure your on-the-road 'motor club' provides for both a trailer and tow vehicle."