Towing a 2016 G23 with factory boat cover at highway speeds

[sarasetp]

Do you tow with the Factory Boat Cover on at Highway speeds?

Do you prefer to tow with or without the boat cover on?

Does the boat cover stay on well even in cross winds?

Does the boat cover scratch the gel coat/metallic coat at highway speeds?

Do you have any tips, tricks, or things is should avoid or know?

[nyryan2001]

Warning-

You'll hear from folks on here its ok- it not. Don't listen to folks who trade their boat in every year and get the dealer to detail and buff out all the scratches and fix their issues. If you keep you boat long terms, you cant get away with that type of use and expect your boat to look good long term.

It will chaffe the gel on the gunnels.

It will chaffe the paint and finish on the tower and the windshield frame.

Maybe for short 30-50mph tows it'd be ok. Not highway speeds 60-75mph. Also it will barely stay on, the Velcro sides aren't designed well, wind will rip them open.

[Bevostein]

I agree 100%. The zippers by the tower on my cover let go at highway speeds and flapped enough to chip the paint on the tower. I will not tow with the cover on again


Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

[Neverenough]

Agreed on a 230. I wonder if tower down is better?

[aguyupnorth]

I have always towed my 2013 MC with my cover on. I take a roll of mover's saran wrap and wrap around the rub rail 2x then put the cover on. no issues ever. I'm curious to see how the nautique's cover will tow. I have not towed with a nautique cover.

[charlesml3]

I think we're all saying here that even though they say it's fine, it's best if you just don't. There's no good reason to leave it on.

[NautiqueJeff]

Towed all the way to NC from FL last night like this.

If I am towing any distance at all, I always cover the boat. The cover moves very little, and the tower-down cover doesn't have the velcro to worry about.

[sarasetp]

NautiqueJeff is that a factory boat cover with tower down? Is that new. I thought that the last factory boat cover tower down for a g23 was in 2014.

[NautiqueJeff]

I grabbed a couple of them before they stopped making them. They are the only way to go if you trailer with the cover on. No bugs on the tower, and a slight aerodynamic advantage!

You can still get one from SewLong, and their materials are arguably better than the factory Commercial Sewing covers, although they are heavier and take up more room to store.

The one in the picture above is a 2014 Nautique cover made by Commercial Sewing. If you look closely, you can tell that the cleat pockets on the cover don't line up with the new cleat locations for 2017, but other than that, it still fits perfectly.

You might enjoy this thread, where I discuss the tower-down cover options since 2013.

https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...3-2016-changes

[TexasA&M]

I didn't realize that they had tower down cover options... that is very sharp! It keeps the tower nice and secure while towing as well.

Anyone know if they have these for older models? I guess I can always contact commercial sewing and see about having one made.

[kodiak]

I tow with my cover on down to Lake Powell and back (600 mile round trip) going through the mountains it will always rain at some point during the drive. I always tow with the anti pooling poles on and also stuff a bunch of inflatables in the bow, it fits nice and tight. There is some wear around the material on the tower for sure. I have been doing this for 3 years and make 3 to 4 trips a year down to Powell, the cover is still in good shape.

[Neverenough]

I love the tower down and wish I had one!!!

[TexasA&M]

I love the tower down and wish I had one!!!

Side note - where in Ft. Worth are you and what lakes do you frequent?

[Neverenough]

North west of town in Azle. Mostly Eagle Mountain but we venture out sometimes.

How about you?

[TexasA&M]

I'm on Lake Worth, so just a few miles from you. I've got my boat in a slip though, so we never venture to other lakes (although I've always talked about pulling it out to clean it real good and then taking a day trip to Eagle Mountain).