JARGON BUSTER.  All the technical boat transport terms and expressions explained CONVOI EXCEPTIONNEL French for abnormal load, this sign must be displayed at the front and rear of any wide load in France, and on the pilot car too. MUD GUARDS We always use mud guards because a motor boat will sit very close to the tyres on trailer (about 3 - 6 inch) ours are made from 4mm steel, they provide a lot more protection from a tyre blow out, and stone chips (most people just use plastic, some non at all) PERMIT Documents from government agencies that dictate our routes, permitted driving speeds and what equipment we must fit, "convoi exceptionnel" or "wide load" signs, beacons, red & white load projection marker boards and marker lights. different permits are required for each country, and can take 3 days to 4 weeks to obtain, depending on the country (i.e. Holland or Spain) PILOT CAR To warn on coming traffic, survey routes, measure bridge heights and assist in every aspect of wide load transport, including fetching bacon buttys! ours is fitted with 2 rotating beacons, front flashing lights, CB radio, bridge measuring pole, roof platform, reflective stripes, fridge, heater, cooker and sink. POLICE ESCORT Some times its required to have one, when moving a very wide boat over 4.5 meter, this then evolves a lot more planning, and waiting for over stretched police resources to be available. RATCHET STRAP 2" wide webbing strap with 2 tonne braking strain, which is tightened with a ratchet, used to stop the boat moving around on the trailer and various other tying down jobs. SHRINK WRAP Is a huge polyethylene sheet draped over the boat then heated to shrink it taught, usually only fitted to new boats at the factory, but it is possible to get it done by a man in a van. cost depends on size but its usually £500 -£800 (this one fell off after just 2 hours) SPEED LIMITER This is fitted to the fuel injector on all European lorries, and restricts the speed to 56 Mph (90 Kph) TACOGRAPH   This is fitted to all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, to record driving hours, mileage, start finish points, and speeds over a 24 hour period on to a paper disk. so the police can check up on us.   TRACTOR UNIT This is used to pull an articulated trailer, also where the driver lives during the duration of the trip. This one is our newest Mercedes Actros with a 460 horse power V6 and cruise control, air suspension, electro magnetic A.B.S disk brakes, night heater,  TRAILER Our  trailers have been purpose designed and built to carry any kind of sailing boat, motor boat, fishing boat, or canal boat. all are fitted with air suspension, for a smooth ride,  UNACCOMPANIED Sending a trailer on a ferry on its own, the trailer is left at the dock, then the ferry company will park it on the ferry, using one of their special tractor units or "tugs", ferry arrives at destination, "tug" parks trailer on dock side until it is collected WIDE LOAD Any load over 2.8 meters wide, 8'6" OFTEN IMITATED NEVER BETTERED