Pontoon Tarp

[Cubbyblue22]

So a lot of these tarps that i've seen claim to be able to trailer with them on. Well I bought one not too long ago and there is no possible way it can be a trailorable tarp. I almost think you would have to custom fit your boat tarp if you ever want to be able to have it on the road. The tarp I bought would work I guess if i strapped it down to the max but it would still flop in areas where it may cause ripping in the future. Anyone else experiencing this or is there really a true trailorable tarp??

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Pontoon Tarp

I had one made but never have towed with it on.

 

[OK Toon]

Re: Pontoon Tarp

I think you are going to have to get a custom made cover if you want it to be towable. I found a local awning company that also does custom boat covers that are towable. I think the quote was $1200 for the custom fit towable cover. They wanted an extra $110 for cut outs for the bimini top. I don't tow our boat very often, I mainly wanted the cover for when it is parked and for the few times that I would be towing it. But I've decided to build a steel boat shed instead - I was looking for a welding project anyways.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: Pontoon Tarp

Unless the cover is not snapped down and custom fit, you really can't tow with it.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Pontoon Tarp

I had mine made extra heavy duty and it has 6 poles and snaps every 6 inches s I am sure it would tow just fine, the shop I had make it said it would be more than good to tow with, but I would rather not chance it.

 

[OK Toon]

Re: Pontoon Tarp

The one I had quoted, I was told they would not/do not use snaps. They don't trust snaps while towing. They install grommets that are used with straps that attach to the trailer to keep the cover on while towing.

Here's a picture they sent me of another boat they had made a custom cover for.

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Pontoon Tarp

I boats has a company that makes custom covers for travel. I got one from them for around $600.00 And I got to pick the color. My pontoon boat is a 24 fter.

 

[dls322]

Re: Pontoon Tarp

Tons of covers out there and at varying prices, but you gotta watch the "too good to be true" ones. You probably want one that's at least 600D.
If your going to use it for trailering look for on that has the straps that you run under the boat. But most universal covers will never be as good as they look in the pics....you probably wont be 100% happy with it unless you get a custom made cover, but that's big bucks.

 

[Cubbyblue22]

Re: Pontoon Tarp

Yeah I agree almost all the ones I'm looking at say they are "towable" but the one I bought def isn't. I'm not about to go spend 1300 bucks just for a towable tarp...thought these $400 dollar ones were too good to be true lol

 

[WaterDR]

Re: Pontoon Tarp

Hey, even even the $1300 ones many folks don't tow with either. Does not take much to have one tear or rip and then you are hosed.

I have owned three different toons over the years and they all had custom covers and I towed with all of them. One I dragged across country and it worked perfectly. When I bought my current toon I was advised to tow with it off simply due to the cost of replacement if it ripped.

If you want to buy a cheaper cover for towing, just keep it strapped down as best as you can and know that it won't last forever. Depending on where you are going and your speed, it may be fine. But frankly the effort it will take to strape it down may not be worth it. Nothing wrong with towing with no cover actually if you stuff is stowed away.

 

[Cubbyblue22]

Re: Pontoon Tarp

Yeah the tarp I bought has plenty of places where I can strap it down but it's still going to rip in time. Oh well right now it's just keeping the rain off it and that's what the main purpose was when i bought it.

 

[OK Toon]

Re: Pontoon Tarp

I was originally looking at replacing our custom cover that came with the boat because it snaps to the top of the fence (just below the rail). It does extend down in the front to cover the front deck that extends out in front of the fence. But the deck in the back that extends out beyond the fence, is not covered. So that part of the carpet is getting pretty nasty from being exposed to the elements (and tree droppings). The new custom cover I was looking at extends all the way to the rub rail all the way around the boat. This sounded like a much better way to cover the boat. Also, since the current cover snaps on towards the top of the rails, which are raised off the deck with spacers, this still allows rain to blow in under the rails. So whenever it is parked and covered, I have to raise the tongue on the trailer so the boat is higher in the bow -- this allows any rain that blows in to eventually drain off the back of the boat. I can't wait to get my boat shed built so I don't have to deal with this anymore.

 

[seldomseen]

Re: Pontoon Tarp

My toon is 20 feet long. I bought a 15x30 poly tarp, 52 lbs and using 1/2 inch PVC made a 20 ft long prop 6 ft high with 5 crosspieces and
im my house side yard the tarp stays on the boat with no ties. the cover completly covers the boat, motor and part of the trailer tounge

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Pontoon Tarp

Bass boats are easy to fit trailering type covers on, and the boats are very, very aerodynamic. Their covers are not very large or heavy.

Pontoon boats are as aerodynamic as an elephant, and it's virtually impossible to put covers on such a large surface that fits tightly.

Forget trying to put a trailer style cover on the pontoon. Just tow it as it is.

 

[Old Screwball]

Re: Pontoon Tarp

We've been boating for 40 years. Go fast skiing boats, now a pontoon. I've never towed covered. Road dirt gets between the cover and glass or aluminum and acts like sandpaper. Over road covers cost a pretty penny and still flap around when traveling. When the boat is in it's slip I cover it to keep birds and poop out, and mitigate any sun damage. The last 2 or 3 covers I purchased were 'end of year' close-outs at Wal Mart. Boat is going to get dirty at the lake, might as well get a head start on the way there.....:lol::joyous: