FOR BOATS, IT'S HAUL FOR THE BEST.

Byline: Jeremy Bagott Daily News Staff Writer

The boat trailer leads a hard life.

In proportion to the strength of its frame, it has to bear a greater load than the vehicle towing it. And it's immersed in saltwater or freshwater each time the boat is launched and recovered.

As the April 24 Eastern Sierra trout opener nears, boaters should ask some hard questions of themselves, say the experts:

Were concrete blocks placed under the trailer's frame to take the load off the tires and axle during storage?

Have all rust spots been sanded, primed and painted?

When were the wheel bearings last repacked and the break linings checked?

Whatever you have or haven't done, you'll need to thoroughly inspect the trailer before hitching it up.

Every good inspection starts with the shake, rattle and roll test, which has absolutely no link to the Big Joe Turner song. It's simply grabbing the frame and shaking the boat and trailer strenuously a number of times, then checking all rattles for loose hardware and breakage. The trailer should be off its blocks when you do this.

Follow the shake test with a careful visual examination. It is now a good time to make sure the weight of the boat is dispersed evenly over all rollers. If one roller isn't making contact with the hull, loosen its bolt, push it up against the boat, then retighten it.

Next, check the hitch cup and ball contact. The hitch cup and ball are at the heart of the towing operation and deserve a good once-over. If all looks right, stick a sliver of soap between the hitch cup and ball before hooking up the trailer; this acts as a lubricant.

Next, test the trailer lights and turn signals, then check the tires for dry rot, bald spots and flat spots. Inflate the tires to the recommended tire pressure.

Apply waterproof grease to the winch bearings, gears and lock, the keel roller assembly, the bracket pivots and any other moving parts you can find.

Repack the wheel bearings, or have them repacked professionally, and retorque the wheel lug nuts.

Finally, check the safety chain; replace it if it has been dragging anywhere along its length.

Remember to follow manufacturers' guidelines on all of the above, first and foremost.

Good fishing at the opener, and don't forget to remove the cement blocks before pulling out of the driveway.