Rules, Standards, Obligations and Responsibilities: What to Know ...
To safely transport a boat, some essential rules need to be followed. A boat trailer is far more than a simple trailer. It must meet numerous requirements specific to marine application. The products of our Nautilus, Rocca and Satellite brands benefit from more than years of experience at your service.
European approvals
Each trailer must have a certificate of compliance to travel on European roads. This certificate required by the prefecture to register the trailer mentions its serial number, which will then be transferred on the log book. All our trailers of less than of payload benefit from European approval which guarantees their compliance with road use. The approval defines, for each trailer or trailer type, its construction compliance in accordance with current standards, but also the compliance of the main components such as hitches, wheeled and braking systems, indicating (lights), wheels and fenders, rear underrun protection, etc. Each trailer of a given brand is therefore compliant as long as it is built and maintained with the original components provided for by the approval. To this end, approved original components must absolutely be used to maintain the trailer. Otherwise, the trailer will no longer be compliant with road use or the manufacturer will no longer be held liable. The other safety elements are also governed by European Regulation protecting users. Standards define the design, manufacturing and use conditions which ensure the safety of individuals and the boat. European trailer manufacturers have a legal obligation to comply with these provisions, otherwise they can be held liable.
Winch: European standard EN13157 A1
The standard defines boat handling on a trailer as a lifting operation (lifting by changing horizontal and/or vertical level) and requires, in particular, a permanent safety brake (active in all circumstances when the boat applies tension on the strap), a strap or cable compliant with the Regulation, as well as that the protection of winch pinions and active elements. Our trailers are fitted with the Goliath winch, the only winch on the market providing a free unwinding of the strap (punctual brake neutralisation) and with an automatic safety rearmament device when loaded. This winch benefits, when required by the load, from a double speed to reduce both lifting and lowering forces for more comfort.
We guarantee the compliance of the winch and marking related to it.
Tie-down: Standard EN12195 1-5
Tie-down is mandatory.
- It is the responsibility of the motorist to ensure its compliance, in accordance with road safety.
- It is the responsibility of professionals to provide a solution suitable for the trailer.
The European standard defines the rules for calculating the tie-down compliance of a load on a wheeled vehicle. In principle, tie-down should allow the boat to remain connected to the trailer in all circumstances.
- The tie-down type: a point cross tie-down to fully immobilise the boat (points for rigid boats of less than tonne and tonne for semi-rigid boats).
- The tensile force: to eliminate clearances and the potential movement of the boat.
- Non-elastic straps: to eliminate mass acceleration/increase factor (stress in case of accident).
Our Nautilus, Rocca and Satellite brands are exclusively pre-fitted* with the QuickFlex tie-down system for your safety.
The QuickFlex cross tie-down system is designed to tie down and fit any type of boat up to, in strict compliance with the Regulation. This very intuitive system is set up in the blink of an eye. The powerful tensioning is performed in one click, thanks to the Goliath TS winch handle. The elastomeric straps with a metal core are non extensible. They immobilise the boat in all circumstances, especially when avoiding obstacles or sudden braking, and improve road holding. QuickFlex guarantees the compliance of the boat tie-down with the standard and relieves the user of the standard validation responsibility. QuickFlex conveniently and durably replaces ratchet straps, which are ill-suited, fragile, extensible (up to 70 cm), and whose tensile force is limited, on top of all.
Buy the QuickFlex system
