Bowrider Towing

[jeepnsam]

Doing my 1st long boat tow to the Colorado River in the morning. Do you recommend towing the boat with the walk through windshield open or shut???

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Bowrider Towing

....may be marginal but with the center section closed, down force will help reduce any lift by the bow at interstate speed.
On the other hand, with the center section open your chances of a rock chip are reduced by about a third.

 

[109jb]

Re: Bowrider Towing

Based on the boats I have had experience with I would say it depends on the boat. Closed is always safe. On one boat I owned thw hinged glass satniely on 2 rubber pads that contacted the fixed windshield evenly. On the one I have now it basically sits on the bottom edge ony and that is against the fiberglass below the windshield. If left there the lower frame digs into the fiberglass.

 

[Dave.Mishchenko]

Re: Bowrider Towing

I tow with it closed and locked to prevent bouncing and possible damage.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Bowrider Towing

....may be marginal but with the center section closed, down force will help reduce any lift by the bow at interstate speed.
On the other hand, with the center section open your chances of a rock chip are reduced by about a third.

it will increase lift, same as the cabin of a car causes lift. Think of the shape of a wing, faster air moving over the top, slower air under. By closing the windshield you get a nice wing shape with high speed air moving over the top of the boat.

Spoilers only work to increase downforce when the low pressure area they create isn't directly above your entire vehicle. (there is an exception... dragsters that have spoilers on the front. They create a low pressure area immediately behind the spoiler, but also a very high pressure area a little further back when that mass of air collapses back down. Net gain in downforce)

anyway, as far as this is concerned, won't make any difference. That is what the winch and safety chain is for! Personally I tow with it closed and locked. Less chance of it getting ripped off by a gust from a semi.

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Bowrider Towing

I tow with it closed for the same reason pointed out above, so it won't bounce & cause damage.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Bowrider Towing

Closed. You get a decent enough side wind and that window can slam closed

 

[scipper77]

Re: Bowrider Towing

Closed. If you are trailering with no cover on there is less chance of the wind blowing things like life jackets out of the boat.

I think that for aerodynamics/fuel efficiency, the best way to go is to keep the bow cover on and the front window shut. I might be wrong on this but I am basing it on the fact that my boat runs the fastest like this on the water.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Bowrider Towing

Yup, closed. Mine actually has a big yellow sticker that tells you to close it any time the boat is above 25 mph, including trailering.

 

[109jb]

Re: Bowrider Towing

As far as slamming closed, the hinged portion of my windshield has a snap on the corner and there is a corresponding strap with mating snap screwed to the hull that keeps it in the open position. That said, I still try to tow with it closed. I will admit on my previous boat I would occasionally get lazy andd tow it home open. Never had a problem, but those times were always on the short 8 mile trip from the river. For longer trips I always closed it. The current boat I always close it because it rubs the fiberglass.

 

[kailec00]

Re: Bowrider Towing

Closed. That is what I was told when I got the boat. I did forget to shut it once and it bouced around pretty good. I had to pull over and shut it, thought it might break. That was on a pretty bad road though.

 

[nlain]

Re: Bowrider Towing

Closed and latched, I also to with the cover on and the bimini laid down so it does not rack back and forth while riding down the road, not good on the screws that hold the brackets to the fiberglass.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Bowrider Towing

I tow with it closed.

On the off subject of having the window locked open. I (now) either have the window locked open or locked closed. On our first trip to the lake this year we got caught in some heavy winds and a 50-60mph gust broadsided us while docking and slammed the window shut, smashing all the locks off the window. When I heard it, I thought the window had blown out (and probably could have) but it was just the plastic clips.

 

[Thad]

Re: Bowrider Towing

Based on the boats I have had experience with I would say it depends on the boat. Closed is always safe. On one boat I owned thw hinged glass satniely on 2 rubber pads that contacted the fixed windshield evenly. On the one I have now it basically sits on the bottom edge ony and that is against the fiberglass below the windshield. If left there the lower frame digs into the fiberglass.

You might want to look into adjusting the support brackets. You should be able to fix that with little more than a screw driver and a little muscle. Also, check the mounting screws under the dash and sides. My old Rinker had the same problem. Adjusting it took care of it.


To the OP;

As for open or closed. Any towing out of town, the section is closed and locked. I have also learned that when out in windy situations, section closed. We caught a side wind that slammed the window closed, AFTER it hit my daughter in the head and gave her a pretty good cut.

 

[jeepnsam]

Re: Bowrider Towing

I figured "closed" to be the best solution..now heading on my 5 + hour drive.

Thanks,
Sam