Towing with Snap-on Covers?

[Brewer45]

I have a 2008 Monterey 214 FS that I?ll be trailering about 300 miles next month. Most of the trip will be on 2-lane highways so I?ll probably be going about 60 mph max. Anyway, I have the snap-on covers covers that came with the boat when I bought it new last year. I?ve never trailered this far before, and would like to keep the boat covered when I tow in case of rain and to keep out road grime. Is this a wise idea? Will I be beating up my gel coat by keeping the covers on?

Advice appreciated?thanks!

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Towing with Snap-on Covers?

Just make sure all of the snaps are snapped and you will be fine. I trailer to lake powell a number of times every year and it is approx 350 miles. I have never had a problem unless there are 2-3 snaps that are un done then it can buffett in the wind and the snap can scratch, but never anything serious go wrong or damage done. With that new of a boat you should be just fine.

 

[rndn]

Re: Towing with Snap-on Covers?

The snap on covers should be fine for you. I trailer mine all of the time with the snap on bow cover and have never had an issue.

 

[jkust]

Re: Towing with Snap-on Covers?

Here are my thoughts on towing. I have towed many hundreds of miles with the snap on cover. The snap on covers say on the label not for trailering. Some folks take blue painters tape and tape the point of the bow area to the cover. I haven't had any snaps give way but here is the issue as I see it. Depending on your tow vehicle, it can kick up little rocks and sand and cause damage to your gelcoat and worse if it is colored. A travel cover will cover a little of the gel usually where the color stripe is anyway but they can cause abrasion damage to the gelcoat as well. One of my last long trailering trips we encountered a torrential downpour and I was glad I had a cover on then. In that sense I go with the lesser of 2 evils. In one of my Boating Life magazines, they interviewed a professional fisherman towing his rig 20,000 miles+ a year. The gist of the article was to get trailer tips from someone who is very experienced. His recommendation was towing without a cover.