trailering with cover on????

[kevfran99]

I have a few questions for you guys about your cover and trailering. I'm not sure of the brand of cover I have. It came new with the boat. It does need polls to stay tight enough for the rain down here. I really like to trailer mine with the cover because I hate getting somewhere and then having to clean the boat each time. I do put several bungies on each side to make sure it stays on. oh, and it's the draw string kind.

1. Do you trailer with you cover on?

2. If you have polls, do you take them out before you leave?

3. How bad will this diminish the life of my cover if I do trailer it with the cover on?

[inboard60]

RE: trailering with cover on????

I would only trailer with one that was custom made for trailering. I had a MC 197 promo one time with a special "trailering cover. It still had some small adverse effects on the boat. You just have to weigh how much you want to arrive clean against small "rubbing marks" where the cover no matter how tight will move in the wind. Just my opinion.

[210GA]

RE: trailering with cover on????

1. Do you trailer with you cover on?

No, I'm afraid the sides of the cover right above the black molding and right under the black molding will get beat to death.

2. If you have polls, do you take them out before you leave?

I don't trailer with the cover on.

3. How bad will this diminish the life of my cover if I do trailer it with the cover on?

Wouldn't think it would hurt it to much; you don't trailer yours but a few miles, right?

[SuperDave]

RE: trailering with cover on????

1. Do you trailer with you cover on?

yes .. i have but it was made with snaps.. custom cover i guess..

2. If you have polls, do you take them out before you leave?

i have left them in just to keep it tighter

3. How bad will this diminish the life of my cover if I do trailer it with the cover on?

i have seen no change in mine.. i keep 303 on it at least once a year

[SkiTundra]

RE: trailering with cover on????

Unless you cover is specifically designed for it I don't think I would. The cover can rub against the gelcoat making it look bad and possibly doing more serious damage. The air pressure that could develop underneath could cause the cover to blow off, not something the people behind you would appreciate.

[BigBald]

RE: trailering with cover on????

I avoid it as much as possible. I like being able to see thru the windshield to the car behind me. And I think the cover will rub the gel coat. But, occiasionally, when it's raining then I will run with the cover on.

[Quinner]

RE: trailering with cover on????

If you need to trailer often get a good trailer-able cover and use it when you have to, if the weather is dry don't use it. Sustained 60-70mph winds are going to effect any cover and possibly your boat, some covers more so then others.

[ksarbau]

I towed one time with my Rankin cover. The gel coat was fine, but the cover did wear on the windshield frame and the tops of the bow seat back cushions. I'm not really sure what i should have done differently to avoid that. Needless to say, I will not be towing again with the cover on.

[east tx skier]

I did it once with my old MC. Basically, if the cover is not made for trailering (few seem to really be trailerable), it will move up against the gel coat as you drive. As the cover ages, it gets dirt in the fibers. This basically acts as a fairly course sandpaper against your gel coat. In my case, it took a fair amount of time to buff out. I would rather tow through a downpour than trailer with a cover that isn't drum tight.

I just bought a new cover that is supposedly trailerable and is drum tight (no poles required) made by Coversports. If I think I'm in for some weather, I will probably try my luck at trailering. But if it's a nice day, I probably will remove it at the house rather than at the lake.

[SkiTower]

Never. It's not the damage to the cover, though that is bad enough. It's the damage to the boat from the constant rubbing.

[jchamlin]

I would say most off the shelf covers would not be good to tow with. When I first got my boat, I was afraid to tow with the cover on, but my dealer said it was all good. BUT, my cover very custom and canvas...also had side skirts. I towed with the skirts on too...never had a problem and protected the boat very well. I have never noticed any scratches or gel coat wear as a result of towing. As a qualifier, I don't tow long distances...maybe 20 or 30 miles.

Sadly, the cover is worn out (after 9 years) and I'm looking for a new one. To remake my current cover is too expensive for me right now.

If you're tightening your cover with bungies, I'd be wary of trailering long distances. Can you post some pics?

[apexrig1]

I will never again tow my boat with the cover on again. I did it once tied it tight and even put some ratchet straps all around to hold it super tight. Wind still got in and scratched it bad where every strap was. Was told it was a towable cover.....thinking they were wrong

[east tx skier]

I will never again tow my boat with the cover on again. I did it once tied it tight and even put some ratchet straps all around to hold it super tight. Wind still got in and scratched it bad where every strap was. Was told it was a towable cover.....thinking they were wrong

Do you know who made your cover?

[TravisFling]

I always tow without a cover. I take it off and put it in the bed of my truck, and then put it back on as soon as I get home. I have towed to cumberland several times (5 hours) and I leave the cover off. Once you're moving, at least with mine, even if you go through a storm, the water doesn't really get in the boat. I leave the plug out when I tow as well, so that up and down hills and "hidden" water hopefully gets a chance to get out. Also I think it's nice to air the boat out every once in awhile.

[skijones]

When we go to Norris, 6 hours, I allways tow with the cover on. Usually have so much gear(tubes, skis ect) on board, I am afraid they would blow out. My cover is vynal(sp?) with snaps and I bungee it over the platform. I do put wire loom over the windshield to prevent wear, but my gelcoat(on a 99 SNOB) looks great.

The cover stays tight and have never had a problem.

I did see somewhere a boat that burnt up because someone threw a cigarette out the window and ended up in boat. Hope that never happens!