trailering with cover
- Thread starter h82punt
- Start date
Trailered our Sundeck 500mi or so to the gulf a couple years ago no problem. When we left to come home we had been on the road about 10 min & lost the bow cover. About the time I realized it was gone another motorist came up honking his horn. He had seen it blow off, stopped & picked it up & brought it to me.
Make sure everything is tight & secure.
Make sure everything is tight & secure.
Sundancer
Well-Known Member
- Jul 20, 2005
- 2,909
- Boat Info
- 34 year old CLASSIC 300 DA, towed almost anywhere behind the Duramax Dually Crew Cab.
- Engines
- 16 cyl, 700 cu. in./Alpha I's
I wouldn't pull with any cover. Many have stories where the cover blew off, or it partially came open and the snaps battered the fiberglass. The story above is rare where someone BRINGS your cover to you. Most will just laugh and call you an idiot when you cover blows off! A full trailer cover can rub where it attaches. I know many people trailer successfully with the cover on, some even claim better gas mileage. If it snaps off and something happens will you know or see it? How many times have you seen a boat with the back flapping in the wind. The owner doesn't even know.
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Nehalennia
Well-Known Member
- Aug 22, 2007
- 10,006
- Boat Info
- 2001 310DA twin 350 MAGs, Westerbeke 4.5KW
- Engines
- Twin 350 MAG V-drives
I tow frequently with the cover on. On my last boat, my tonneau cover came loose a couple of times. On this boat I had the canvas shop install more snaps which has proven to be much more secure.
Alex F
Well-Known Member
- Nov 14, 2006
- 9,166
- Boat Info
- 2005 420DB with AB 11 DLX Tender, Raymarine Electronics (2x12" MFDs) with Vesper AIS
- Engines
- Cummins 450Cs, 9KW Onan Generator, 40HP Yamaha for tender.
h82punt,
I think finding the answer to your question is easy. If you have different covers, then I say the better you cover the boat the greater chance you have to bring her to the final destination without damages. On my 175BR I had only cockpit cover with bow cover and did all the towing with it just fine. Longest distance from NJ to FL (2600 miles round trip). On my 240DA, in addition to cockpit cover I had mooring cover that covered the boat from bow to swim platform. This was the cover I've used for winter and very long distance towing. It worked great.
Like other members had suggested, make sure that all snaps are working and holding well on cockpit cover, if this is the choice you're making.
I think finding the answer to your question is easy. If you have different covers, then I say the better you cover the boat the greater chance you have to bring her to the final destination without damages. On my 175BR I had only cockpit cover with bow cover and did all the towing with it just fine. Longest distance from NJ to FL (2600 miles round trip). On my 240DA, in addition to cockpit cover I had mooring cover that covered the boat from bow to swim platform. This was the cover I've used for winter and very long distance towing. It worked great.
Like other members had suggested, make sure that all snaps are working and holding well on cockpit cover, if this is the choice you're making.
berth control
New Member
I have tried it both ways a couple times. Others mentioned the issues with covers blowing off. I think it is hard on the cover too. I now trailer without my cover, my dad always uses his. I guess it's just personal preference. In my sig. pic, i was just about to travel from home in Michigan to the Florida Keys, no cover.
Alex F
Well-Known Member
- Nov 14, 2006
- 9,166
- Boat Info
- 2005 420DB with AB 11 DLX Tender, Raymarine Electronics (2x12" MFDs) with Vesper AIS
- Engines
- Cummins 450Cs, 9KW Onan Generator, 40HP Yamaha for tender.
+1,
Unless you feel like giving a full detiled wash not just to the exterior, but to the inside cockpit as well, then I suggest to tow with as much cover you have, just make sure it's secured. If anyone towing long distance without covers, then they just either do lots of cleaning when reaching their distanation or they just don't care. So, if you care about your boat, then cover it as much as you can. This will only protect it better.
There's a big difference between boat owners who pay thousands for boat covers and those that pay $50 for tarps or other cheap covers.
Sundancer
Well-Known Member
- Jul 20, 2005
- 2,909
- Boat Info
- 34 year old CLASSIC 300 DA, towed almost anywhere behind the Duramax Dually Crew Cab.
- Engines
- 16 cyl, 700 cu. in./Alpha I's
I guess we're lucky that we don't tow on dirt roads in the rain over here! :grin:
berth control
New Member
unlvrebel
New Member
Yeah, I'm kinda with you... :smt017 I have gone both routes - with cover and without. From Clearwater to Key Largo. I've never run into significant road grime on my boat. My tow vehicle, yes. Boat not so much.
Nehalennia
Well-Known Member
- Aug 22, 2007
- 10,006
- Boat Info
- 2001 310DA twin 350 MAGs, Westerbeke 4.5KW
- Engines
- Twin 350 MAG V-drives
Sundancer and I live in the same state but he's on the East side and I'm on the west. His side is much, much drier than mine. When I'm over on his side (haven't been there with this boat yet) I trailered with and without the cover, didn't need it because it never rained. On this West Side of the Cascades we can be up north in the San Juans and it'll be nice and sunny. As we head home we can see the gloomy clouds and know as we get closer to home it may be pouring rain. I'll always put the cover on so that everything in the cockpit doesn't get soaked if we run into the rain.
To me the cover is the sacrificial component to keeping the boat protected. Yes, it's a nice cover, but I'd rather replace it that a windshield or have the boat get soaked/dirty or whatever.
I don't think it's a matter of someone caring any more or less, but I think it does depend on the elements near where you are trailering.
To me the cover is the sacrificial component to keeping the boat protected. Yes, it's a nice cover, but I'd rather replace it that a windshield or have the boat get soaked/dirty or whatever.
I don't think it's a matter of someone caring any more or less, but I think it does depend on the elements near where you are trailering.
Alex F
Well-Known Member
- Nov 14, 2006
- 9,166
- Boat Info
- 2005 420DB with AB 11 DLX Tender, Raymarine Electronics (2x12" MFDs) with Vesper AIS
- Engines
- Cummins 450Cs, 9KW Onan Generator, 40HP Yamaha for tender.
unlvrebel,
I have no doubts that in the sunshine state on a nice day it's very possible to travel couple hundred miles without getting your boat dirty. But, this is just dependency on local roads and wheather conditions.
I was towing my boats for amost 10 years. When I planned my trips I didn't ever consider whether the roads are clean or will I be hit by rain or whatever. These things I can't control, thus by covering my boats all I know is that only exterior might be effected by whatever is on the roads. I've towed anywhere between 1000 Island Canada to Naples FL from NJ. All I can tell you is that there's no possible way you'll have clean boats upon arrival.
So, if you guys are depending on local roads and weather conditions, then it's very different. But, my goal is always about keeping my scheduled trips on target despite those variables.
If you're travelling to your local ramp which might be only 20 min away, chances are you don't need to worry about the cover that much. I was only making my statements in referense to long distance towing.
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Sundancer
Well-Known Member
- Jul 20, 2005
- 2,909
- Boat Info
- 34 year old CLASSIC 300 DA, towed almost anywhere behind the Duramax Dually Crew Cab.
- Engines
- 16 cyl, 700 cu. in./Alpha I's
We tow anywhere from 70 to 200 miles ONE way on any given weekend. I know people don't believe it, but we don't get rain on the East side of the state. Most of this side gets 7 - 11 inches of rain annually, and most of that comes between October and March. It's never been a concern and in all the years we've towed, I think it rained once or twice while on the road. The boat was wet, but not dirty inside. I don't see what that will hurt. I'm sure in other parts of the world, if it rained and you were driving through it you would end up with a mud covered boat. Yes, I can see that being an issue. Putting a cover on, so I can take it off with no benefit is an excercise in futility. When we towed it to the San Juans last summer, we did so without a cover. Didn't notice any dirt and it wasn't raining. If I had to contend with issues like that, I'd probably put the 300 DA in a marina somewhere! I just prefer to load the boat in the driveway and unload the boat in the drive way when I return. No towing cover required.
I had a trailering cover on one of our boats and it rubbed through the colored layer of gelcoat. It was fitted for the boat and yet it still rubbed and flapped around. It was a $700 cover in 1990 and was touted as the best. I wasn't impressed and haven't needed one since.
I had a trailering cover on one of our boats and it rubbed through the colored layer of gelcoat. It was fitted for the boat and yet it still rubbed and flapped around. It was a $700 cover in 1990 and was touted as the best. I wasn't impressed and haven't needed one since.
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