Road debris deflector for boat trailers and other towing vehicles

In combination with a boat trailer having a generally open frame for receiving the hull of a boat with the bow thereof directed forwardly towards a hitching portion of the trailer, a gravel deflector for protecting at least forward under portions of a boat hull on the trailer from gravel and stones thrown rearwardly by wheels of a towing vehicle during towing of the trailer and boat, which comprises:

• (a) a deflecting member having major portions thereof substantially flat and adapted for resting against longitudinal beams of the trailer frame and having side edge portions thereof, in at least a forward region, converging inwardly towards a transverse forward edge portion, and having a transverse rearward edge portion substantially longer in transverse direction than said forward edge portion,
• said forward edge portion being inclined upwardly and forwardly relative to said major flat portion, said converging side edge portions being inclined upwardly and generally forwardly and outwardly relative to said major flat portion and said rear edge portion being inclined downwardly and rearwardly relative to said major flat portion, said member being positioned longitudinally such that with said forward edge portion adjacent the hitching portion said rear edge portion lies generally beneath upswept bow portions of the boat carried on the trailer;
• and
• (b) means for fastening the deflecting member to forward portions of the trailer just rearwardly of the hitching portion in a position to deflect gravel, stones and the like thrown rearwardly by wheels of a towing vehicle away from a boat carried on the trailer.