Every boat trailer is or should be equipped with safety chains – if yours isn’t, talk to your dealer right away to get this rectified. Without safety chains, the failure of any critical part of your trailer tongue or tow vehicle can create a massive safety threat to you and everyone else on the road.

It’s also important to know there is definitely a right way to hook up those chains to maximize their effectiveness in the event the unthinkable happens. This Mercury Quick Tip will demonstrate exactly how to properly configure the chains and will show you why you shouldn’t just slap them on and assume you’re protected.

Hooking up your chains correctly requires just a few seconds, but it can make all the difference in the world in the unlikely event they are needed.