Trailering with or without cover?

[canuckjgc]

Ok I've got my 16' open Lund SSV almost ready to go for the weekend thanks to this board.

Last question - is it worth trailering with a cover? Or do they flop around and mess-up the nice red finish on my boat? The trailering cover is $150 and I'd rather not buy it if most people don't bother with an open skiff.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

I have never had ANY kind of luck trailering with a cover on. It's like trying to tow a hot air ballon.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

agreed

 

[lncoop]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

Ya mon.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

I tow regularly with my bow and cockpit cover on, But I don't use a full cover until I get home. Sometimes when we have the kids I will tow home with the boat open to help it dry out, it just depends on how much water I feel has gotten into the boat during the day/weekend

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

Covers are like parachutes when towing. I tow with mine off and cover it up when parked.

 

[jkust]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

I know pro fisherman that tow many thousands of miles without a cover by design. I tow my sig boat with a snap on cover which is inappropriate for that type of cover but I am a rebel. The snaps are looser from years of towing but it so often rains when I tow, the cover keeps the rain out and stuff in also. I see so many ill fitting trailerable covers that look like a hot air balloon going down the road that If I was to use a trailerable cover, I'd have it custom made. Most of the time the boats are beaters and so a little rub damage isn't a concern for many. My biggest concern and problem are the pebbles getting flung up at the front of my boat making small marks on the gel. Mud flaps do nothing to stop it and I've used two tow vehicles with the same results. If I was to worry about anything it would not be covering but stopping the rocks from damaging the hull. It may be silly but I cover the front of my Chaparral in the chip zone with blue painters tape for long tows and it works great. It takes all of 5 minutes to re-apply before trailering home.

 

[produceguy]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

I tore my cover around the straps going down the freeway.

Now, I leave it at home.

 

[ttugrad]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

I have a custom heavy canvas cover that I tow with. When they are secured and fit properly you have no issues.

 

[canuckjgc]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

Ok thanks, no cover it is. I'll strap down gear so it doesn't fly out.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

All depends on the speed and what's in the boat. Just local for the day, no covers. Highway speeds and all the crap for a weekend then the cover goes on. If there are going to be trees at the dock then the full cover, if no trees then the cockpit cover. Both covers were made for the boat, both are snap down, and both trailer very well, no flapping, they just suck down at speed.
The custom made covers are more money but they are well worth it and will last a long time if you keep them maintained. imho

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

I have the custom fit cover from the mfg for my boat, and I still won't tow with it. There is ALWAYS going to be a piece of canvas flapping or rubbing somewhere, and that is all it takes to rip your entire cover to shreds.

 

[FichtFan]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

We always tow with a custom cover we had tailored to our boat. It keeps the rain and road junk out and off of the sides of the boat. It also keeps out mischevious people. Out of sight out of mind I believe. Obviously someone can open it up easily but its more difficult than reaching in, grabbing something, and waliking off if your parked at the store to quick run in and get ice.

 

[df909]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

I bought a cover from Bass Pro for $150-200 (can't remember) and I always tow with the cover on. I'm worried about cushions and crap flying out. I haven't had a problem and the cover is about 1.5 years old I average about 60ish on the freeway. The cover is made to be used while towing and had like 14 straps.

 

[TyeeMan]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

IMO trailing with a cover is an art. I tow with a cover all the time and my gas gage will tell me it's well worth the time to cover up. If I'm only going a few mile I wont cover up though. The KEY to trailering with a cover is A. a good fitting cover, preferably custom, and B. Properly tying down the cover. I've had cheap covers before and thats all they are is cheap. They never have enough webbing to properly secure it, then they balloon up and rub all your paint off. For my 1850 Tyee I paid $575.00 for a custom, and it's the best $575.00 I ever spent. I tow at 75+ mph (usually not by choice, just going with traffic) and the boat goes through the air like a bullet. And also as mentioned before, it keeps the honest person honest.
My cover is not conventional cotton canvas it's a polyester marine grade "canvas" that is rot resistant, water proof, shrink proof, and generally bomb proof. Snap er down and away we go.
I would get yourself a good cover, perfect your tiedown procedure using nylon webbing and buckles, not bungee cords, and guarentee you'll be happy as a clam.

JKust - I've seen guys get custom "bras" made for the front chip zone of their boat. I don't see it very often, maybe once or twice a year. Sounds like you take good care of your stuff, might want to look into that. Check out topgunboatcovers.com in Shokopee Minnesota. He makes my covers for me, I bet he could make you a bra for your boat.
That web site also has a description of the bomber fabric he uses for covers.

 

[jkust]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

JKust - I've seen guys get custom "bras" made for the front chip zone of their boat. I don't see it very often, maybe once or twice a year. Sounds like you take good care of your stuff, might want to look into that. Check out topgunboatcovers.com in Shokopee Minnesota. He makes my covers for me, I bet he could make you a bra for your boat.
That web site also has a description of the bomber fabric he uses for covers.

Thanks I'll look into that. It's overdue and the painters tape is a bandage at best for a bigger problem. I have a new tow vehicle I will use from here forward (identical to my last vehiche my wife rolled this winter) but it now has running boards which I know stops the front wheels from kicking up debris onto the lower part of the doors and so am hoping they do something/anything to mitigate the boat situation.

 

[444]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

I ruined the nice factory snap on cockpit cover than came with my 1977 glastron gt-150 clone built by vanguard. Snapped it on, hit the highway and towed it serveral times and never had a problem. Then one time on the highway comming home from the lake the cover blew out and shredded along one of the seams. It could probably be repaired but will never be the same. I don't think I'd tow with a cockpit cover ever again. A full cover so air couldn't get under it, maybe. But I'd be afraid of the sharp edges of the boat wearing holes through it.

 

[jkust]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

I ruined the nice factory snap on cockpit cover than came with my 1977 glastron gt-150 clone built by vanguard. Snapped it on, hit the highway and towed it serveral times and never had a problem. Then one time on the highway comming home from the lake the cover blew out and shredded along one of the seams. It could probably be repaired but will never be the same. I don't think I'd tow with a cockpit cover ever again. A full cover so air couldn't get under it, maybe. But I'd be afraid of the sharp edges of the boat wearing holes through it.

When using my snap on two piece mooring cover for trailering I mentioned above, I haven't had any wind under the cover issues but I will still use painters tape to tape down the very front of the bow cover to the boat. I read that tip somewhere. With my snap on cover I mentioned, some of the snaps don't click down as hard as they used to and there is the slightest bit of rub damage on a few spots of the white gelcoat. The damage is very easily buffable but non the less, still some rubbing even though the cover barely touches the boat. I can only imagine how much rub damage I'd have if I used a poor fitting cover or poorly strapped down cover.

 

[SwampThing]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

I bought a cover from Bass Pro for $150-200 (can't remember) and I always tow with the cover on. I'm worried about cushions and crap flying out. I haven't had a problem and the cover is about 1.5 years old I average about 60ish on the freeway. The cover is made to be used while towing and had like 14 straps.

I've got the same cover. I've had it going 75mph for over 4 hours with no problems. I did put two pieces of foam on the top corners of windshield for peace of mind though. The day I bought it we were on a trip north for some Salmon fishing. I was so glad I bought it, it rained 4 inches of rain in about 1.5 hours that day. I couldn't imagine all that rain and highway grime all over the inside of my boat.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Trailering with or without cover?

When we make the trek to our vacation spot each year we make a game out of the drive. He who counts the most PFDs and cooler covers lying alongside the road wins. If there is no traffic behind us we stop and pick them up. I NEVER buy new PFDs. I have a bunch of top-of-the-line models that even match the boat....LOL.

Early on I found that improper bungie cords or webbing can discolor a motor cover, or a seat top. Now I use custom made covers and fit them to the boat myself. Never an issue. Wouldn't even think of trailering without a cover.