How do you minimize gravel road dust when trailering?

[rlrobinhood]

Hi all,

Subject pretty much says it all. I'm new to boating and live on a gravel road. The nearest reservoir's only access is on gravel as well. So, for me a trip to the lake is 40-miles (round trip) of gravel. I have tried trailering with no cover and once with a rather loose cover that flapped around a fair amount. Both methods produce a fair amount of dust in the boat.

Any advice or comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: How do you minimize gravel road dust when trailering?

What kind of boat? Is it one you can get a washdown pump and just hose it down when you get there? Otherwise, a tight fitting TRAILERABLE cover. (those aren't generally very cheap though)

 

[roscoe]

Re: How do you minimize gravel road dust when trailering?

Only tow the boat on rainy days ??

A good tight cover will minimize the dust and dirt.

Sorry, just something we have to deal with.

 

[rlrobinhood]

Re: How do you minimize gravel road dust when trailering?

What kind of boat? Is it one you can get a washdown pump and just hose it down when you get there? Otherwise, a tight fitting TRAILERABLE cover. (those aren't generally very cheap though)

Its a 1988 Blue Fin Sportsman 1900. It just drives me nuts to sit down on a boat seat and then have dirt all over you. I'll have to look into the tight fitting trailerable cover. Are they effective and whats a price range to expect?

You mentioned a washdown pump. What are these? I'm assuming pumps water out of the lake. But I guess I'm more curious as to how you use them? Do you just spray everything down in the boat (of course avoid things like electronics) and wash it back to the bilge pump and then use the bilge to pump out the wash water?

Thanks again, just very new to the boating.

 

[Don Hansen]

Re: How do you minimize gravel road dust when trailering?

I have to drive down 5 miles of dirt road that's so dusty during dry weather that I've been surprised that there was someone behind me. I have a tight fitting cover for my boat and have never had a problem with dust in the boat. Actually until I saw your post I had never thought much about it.

DLH

 

[H20Rat]

Re: How do you minimize gravel road dust when trailering?

You mentioned a washdown pump. What are these? I'm assuming pumps water out of the lake. But I guess I'm more curious as to how you use them? Do you just spray everything down in the boat (of course avoid things like electronics) and wash it back to the bilge pump and then use the bilge to pump out the wash water?

That is exactly what it is. In my boat, the carpet snaps in, and its nothing but fiberglass below that. I usually trailer mine with a trailer cover on it, but for the times I don't, I use the washdown. Pull the carpet out, and then just hose it out with lakewater. It ends up in the bilge and then is pumped out.

 

[T_Herrod]

Re: How do you minimize gravel road dust when trailering?

Invest in a good cover. Mine cost about 250 bucks but it's worth every dime. North Iowa is full of gravel roads so i know what you mean about dust. Or you could drive really slow so you don't make any dust.JK