Towing with the Cover

[highrock]

I have to take my boat to the dealer this Friday for some warrenty work and it may be raining. How many of you tow with the cover on the boat?

I have the basic grey cover with 3 poles and tower cut outs. It has nylon straps that attach together at the tower and can be sinched down there along with spots to put bungees from the cover down to the trailer.

I dont want the boat out in the weather but dont want to tear up the cover either. It will take about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours to get there.

[jmo]

RE: Towing with the Cover

Might depend on how securely your cover fastens. I tow with mine all the time since it snaps in place nice and tight. When coming home from the lake (30 minutes) I will leave the cover off so it drys out faster - provided its not going to rain...

[ClemsonDave]

RE: Towing with the Cover

Yep, depends on the cover. Just remember, it is easier to let it dry out than it is to buff out scratches from the cover flapping around. I have a Rankin cover and it tows perfectly.

[SkiTower]

Re: RE: Towing with the Cover

Just remember, it is easier to let it dry out than it is to buff out scratches from the cover flapping around.

I don't tow with the cover. The thing is made to get wet, not scratched.

[DanielC]

RE: Re: RE: Towing with the Cover

With the basic canvas cover, leave it off. Most of the rain will blow over the boat anyway.

[BKinSoCal]

Re: RE: Towing with the Cover

Just remember, it is easier to let it dry out than it is to buff out scratches from the cover flapping around.

I don't tow with the cover. The thing is made to get wet, not scratched.

I couldn't agree more. I never tow with the cover on as the cover is not soft and will leave scratches...at least mine isn't soft. The boat will dry...

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: Re: RE: Towing with the Cover

With a cover like yours, it is probably best to leave it off. That being said, I have towed thousands of miles with covers that snap under the rubrail and stay tight with no straps. The straps you have WILL damage your gelcoat.

[highrock]

RE: Re: RE: Towing with the Cover

Thanks for the backup guys, going to go ahead and take it off for the ride down. I dont normally ever tow with the cover and basically never have to tow since we have a boat ramp at our house.

[sodbuster88]

RE: Re: RE: Towing with the Cover

When you are at the dealer see if they will give (or sell) you a shipping cover. It is a felt lined white plastic cover that drapes completely down to your bunks and secures with draw cord and incremental covers. My dealer uses them to transport boats when the snow flies... It will not hurt your boat.

[sodbuster88]

RE: Re: RE: Towing with the Cover

correction....

...draw cord and incremental tethers or tie-downs....

[harddock]

RE: Re: RE: Towing with the Cover

most boats these days just get shipped shrink wrapped and it's not really reuseable. but if you ever read my posts I've been wrong before.

[apexrig1]

RE: Re: RE: Towing with the Cover

i have pulled my boat in the rain with the cover on. Never again road grime is NOT easy to clean! It gets In EVERY thing! Maybe pulling with a gas truck would be better. But throw diesel soot into the mix. Not fun, not fun

[sodbuster88]

most boats these days just get shipped shrink wrapped and it's not really reuseable. but if you ever read my posts I've been wrong before.

Yep...very familiar with the shrinkwrap. The cover I was able to get my hands on is a Transcover made in Elkhart, IN. It is re-usable, a little more robust, lined with felt and vented. I have pulled my boat in rain for hundreds of miles with this cover and doesn't hurt a thing. See photos...

[Mikeski]

Interesting, a Supra cover works on a 216???

[SkiTower]

Sod, isn't that jack wheel supposed to be pointing down????