Towing with no cover

[Sinko]

Has anyone experienced a sunbed cover (or motor cover that is a sunbed) come loose while towing on the highway? I hear it is better to tow with no cover but I'm worried that the latch will give way one day and flip the cover up ripping the small hydraulic arms off along with the whole cover. Paranoid??

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Towing with no cover

I wouldn't call you paranoid. It is important to check things like that. Last thing you want is to damage or lose a difficult to replace boat part. I've never had much luck towing with a cover on. They always ballon up on me no matter how well I secure them. However I'm not talking about multi-hundred dollar custom covers here. So I always tow without a cover and make sure everything that could fly out or off is secured.

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Towing with no cover

Agee with EZ. I have a custom cover but, besides a block or two to get fuel, do not tow with it on. Make sure everything inside the boat is secure. Also, am afraid the cover might chaffe the windscreen, etc at freeway speeds with the pressure on it. Also, was told by dealer and my mechanic best to tow with cover off. Just my opinion.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Towing with no cover

but I'm worried that the latch will give way one day and flip the cover up ripping the small hydraulic arms off along with the whole cover. Paranoid??

Ayuh,...

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Towing with no cover

I'm in the "no cover camp". Amongst other things, vibrating straps can do damage especially if there is a snap riveted onto it.

If you aren't confident in the latch, put something there that eases your paranoia. Lockable latch?

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Towing with no cover

I have had hood on a truck come up on me, so no I won't call you paranoid.
I've also seen boat covers balloon up and or off, so I don't tow with a cover on. HOWEVER, I think there's a couple of differences with your question about the sunbed. First, the engine compartment has ventilation cowls so the is no positive or negative pressure there. Secondly, Your windshield should act like an airfoil, moving the direct flow off air up and away ( just like when you're underway ) so there should not be any air lifting the cover that way. Lastly, the hydraulics and latch should provide enough holding power to prevent the sunbed lifting enough to get any air under it, so no lift and rip.
If you don't trust the existing latch or hardware .....replace it.

 

[tpcowfish]

Re: Towing with no cover

I have always been told no cover, less drag ,better fuel economy, and agree with the chaffing of windshield and straps on boat,short trips long trips no cover, i just take it with me to cover while its sitting to repel thieves a little, Plus I raed or, heard Bass pro's comment no cover for trailering

 

[Seon]

Re: Towing with no cover

I just lost my motor cover while towing. I just forgot to remove it before leaving home :redface:.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Towing with no cover

Not quite the same but I was towing a 16 footer with a hatch cover in the splashwell. Covered the opening to let the 6 gallon tanks be put in. Blew out on the ride home.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda, if the bulldog had sneakers, if the gorilla had boobs, etc. No, I don't think you are being paranoid, just careful.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Towing with no cover

I have always been told no cover, less drag ,better fuel economy, and agree with the chaffing of windshield and straps on boat,short trips long trips no cover, i just take it with me to cover while its sitting to repel thieves a little, Plus I raed or, heard Bass pro's comment no cover for trailering

That's backwards...less drag with a cover. The open cockpit creates a vacuum and eddys so the slipstream going over the boat is more turbulent. Same reason having a camper shell or a bed lid makes a pickup get better mileage.

I use a snap on cover when I trailer. I made mine myself and put a lot of snaps along the windshield. As long as the cover is fitted properly and has protection over rub points you should be fine.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Towing with no cover

Paranoid??

How fast do you tow and is it windy there? How easy would it be for the wind to catch anything in your boat?

I've seen a bunch of seat cushions, and other assorted boat parts sitting along side the freeway/interstate that were blown out.

I've never had a problem running without a cover, though I make sure everything is secure.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Towing with no cover

If you decide to tow with no cover, please come along my vacation interstate route. I always need more new stuff...LOL Along route 81 between Syracuse and Alexandria Bay I pick up seat cushions, coolers, fishing poles, and life jackets by the numbers. We have a fun time every year seeing who can spot what first.

All kidding aside, I wouldn't think of towing without a cover. I have a custom made snap on on one boat and an aftermaket semi-custom on the other. Both are set up for trailering. My boat stays clean on the trip, no bird crap and dirt and it rains every year so the boat stays dry. WE pack lots of stuff in the boat too. Never, never had a tear or lost item and yes, the gas mileage is better too. The only problems I see with covers along the highway are on boats where the covers were not the trailerable type.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Towing with no cover

A good fitting snap cover is fine to travel with as thats what they are designed to do. A big heavy winter type cover even though it says trailerable they just dont fit well enough to trailer at 65 mph. I have pulled thousands of miles with my snap covers one on the open bow and the other goes over the windshield and covers the cockpit area. As others have mentioned seat cushions, jackets, etc will be gone if not properly secured. I agree with bruceb58 you get MUCH better wind dynamics if the covers are on and well fit. Ever been behind a boat in tow and looked at the cover its always pushed down in the rear so if no cover is on all of that wind force is working against the sunpad/doghouse/seatcusions/etc. Maybe if you have cleats on either side you could tie a rope to them as a safety strap to keep things from lifting. Or just make sure the latch is in good order.

 

[Snobike Mike]

Re: Towing with no cover

I have always trailerd with my factory snap on mooring cover.

I am curious if it's wise to do this with the tent poles in or not? Seems to be like a lot of wind pressure gets forced onto the tent pole. I know it's designed so water will flow away but 65 mph wind for several hours I'm not so sure.

Thoughts?

 

[captkevin]

Re: Towing with no cover

Have a 1999 Four Winns 20' open bow w/sport interior. Have towed it several trips without a cover & no issues. Had a custom made travel cover made that tows fine. My snap on cockpit cover refuses to stay on going down the road. Always comes off in the same place - might need some of the snap replaced but we only use it now for mooring so it works fine.

 

[Philster]

Re: Towing with no cover

When moving/towing, Pickup truck beds and boats are better uncovered for optimum fuel economy.

Air trapped will swirl around inside the open area of a boat or truck bed (gate must be UP), and air streaming over this air will be unable to drag against the boat skin or truck bed.

A cover will provide a friction surface. Air will stream over and against the cover, and there will be pressure points and friction points all along the surface. Any cover that moves/flaps creates even more drag.

It's hard to believe, but true.

Open pickup beds with the gate closed get better mileage, and boats will help the tow vehicle experience similar benefits when you tow them uncovered.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Towing with no cover

Mooring covers (with poles and such) are not intended for trailering as wind does exert a great deal of pressure on things. Covers balloon because air is getting under it. Here is an example of a no strap, snap on cover (one of several I've made for my boats over the yers). There are only two straps on this cover and those two secure the nose bra which prevents air from getting under the cover. The nose bra also allows me to leave the trolling motor on the boat when I cover it at the dock. Horizontal bows prevent the cover from pooling water. The windshield is removable on this boat and that also reduces wind drag. Good material and good design are essential for any travel cover.

 

[Snobike Mike]

Re: Towing with no cover

It's hard to believe.

I am indeed finding it very hard to believe.

 

[Snobike Mike]

Re: Towing with no cover

Tailgate up or down?

This test says down is ever so slightly better fuel mileage.

http://www.scangauge.com/support/tailgate.shtml

This one says mileage is the same:

http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/aerodynamics/fuel-economy-tip-keep-your-tailgate-up/

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: Towing with no cover

I agree with those that say covered decreases wind resistance. However, the manufacturers mooring covers are typically not rated for trailering. I take my covers off before going to the lake and back. For long hauls, I use a trailerable cover designed for such purposes and use extra hold down straps. As for stuff blowing out of the boat, I secure everything. For the cushions and transom cover, I was doing 65 mph on the water without that concern. Now, I am driving 65 down the highway, without that concern.

By the way, the covers balloon up from the negative air pressure created as the air goes over the bow & windscreen, similar to an airplane wing. That puts tremendous load on the fabric and snaps. Think of what a 75 mph wind (hurricane force) does to your typical house roof.