Towing and boat cover

[Phil8uga]

What is the advantage of towing with a cover? Assuming you store all seat covers that can blow out while towing. Is there a major advantage or disadvantage to towing with a cover? Just curious?


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[RDT-G23]

There is one small advantage, but when juxtaposed against the disadvatage, I'd advise against... The advantage is what meets the eye, no road dirt in your cockpit and no dirty rain-(mixed with road dirt) (should you encounter rain) in your cockpit. Downside? Fiberglass chafing is almost gauranteed. No bueno. I watch the weather and tow in good weather with no cover...

[shag]

My covers have always had an added smooth layer around the seams and when I used to tow frequently with a cover, years ago - I never experienced the chaffing that many talked about... Towed about 1.5 hour 1 way with a cover many times without a problem. The cover was designed as a 'towable cover'.

[morrow]

Towing w/o cover = permanent bug stains all over the tower/speakers/etc. I HATED cleaning bug guts off my tower. Definitely looking forward to being able to tow with a cover and the tower down on my new boat.

[bturner]

The only time I tow with a cover is when I have to tow in the rain. No matter what they say there are no real tow-able covers. Eventually something will chafe, tear or blow apart on the freeway. But that's just my opinion, I'm sure others have their own.

[Nautiquehunter]

I have been towing with covers on for 30 years with no damage to any of my boats. The key is to prevent any movement of the cover . This means adding straps and putting towels on the top of the windshield. On my 08 210 we took the ratchets off replaced them with parachute clips then added three straps going under and attaching to the other side and two in the back going through the platform and attaching to the trailer. A triangle shaped tube in the bow supports the open bow area.

[Infinity]

Above advice about the cover being nice and tight is spot on IMO. Also another thing I do (I tow with cover on when my trips are 1hr+)....is before installing the cover, I have a 1000ft roll of 18" wide saran wrap that I get from Sam's Club, I will wrap that around the boats rub rail a few times, taking the wrap approx 6" below the rubrail. That way where the straps secure the cover just under the rubrail, up to the top deck are protected and on my black hull I have never seen chafing/rub marks and have towed multiple times on trips that are 3-4hrs. If I am doing a longer trip, I also use the saran wrap to go around the tower....and then use some blue tape approx every 12" to help hold the saran wrap tightly to tower so it does not try to unravel. Keeps the bugs off and a lot less work cleaning, especially if traveling in the evenings.

[shag]

The only time I tow with a cover is when I have to tow in the rain. No matter what they say there are no real tow-able covers. Eventually something will chafe, tear or blow apart on the freeway. But that's just my opinion, I'm sure others have their own.

This is the key. A custom, tight fitting cover will work appropriately. I have mine custom made here in Orlando out of good quality Sunbrella. It is a snap cover with reinforced seams and also any area that contacts the windshield frame or other rounds. It isn't cheap but it lasts. Maybe if I towed weekly 8 hours each way - it would weather more faster, but tight fitting is key