I have a trailering cover question too!

[craze1cars]

My "new to me" 18 foot open bow came with a good quality trailering and/or mooring cover. This is the first boat cover I've owned that has two "broomstick" supports in the bow and in the middle of the boat to support the cover and prevent water pooling.<br /><br />My inclination is to remove these supports while trailering, as I assume they could do a lot of damage and poke holes in the wind...plus the sticks would likely fall down anyway.<br /><br />However, with the sticks removed there is quite a lot of sag in the middle of the cover and I expect it will cause significant flapping, which I know is also very destructive to covers. With the sitcks in place it's a very snug fit.<br /><br />What are everyone's thoughts (or better yet, actual EXPERIENCES) with trailering these types of covers. Thanks in advance....

 

[Mark42]

Re: I have a trailering cover question too!

I bet a snug fitting cover helps cut wind resistance while towing. I generally don't see covers on boats being towed where I live. Maybe it's because most of the time they are going to a local lake.<br /><br />I don't bother with a cover because I have never had good experiences towing anything with a cover or tarps on it. If it's the slightest bit loose, it flaps in the wind and can cause dull spots on plastic windshields, wear through gel coat and other finishes. Plus the additional wear and tare on the cover itself and stress and strain on the fasteners. <br /><br />I make sure there are no loose objects in the boat before a trip so nothing blows out, and so far I have not had any problems.<br /><br />I recommend leaving the cover off if possable when towing.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: I have a trailering cover question too!

craze, if the cover is tight with the support poles in place, I would leave them in. The cover "shouldn't" flap around then, and therefore they should remain standing & supporting the cover. If you remove the poles, you should remove the cover. If you don't support those covers with the poles, and you tow it down the road, you'll have that cover flapping like mad, and most likely damage it then.<br />From what I can tell, if you want to tow with your cover on, make sure it fits TIGHT, and that ALL snaps are fastened. That works for me, but I only tow 5 miles, with a max speed of 45mph

 

[jtexas]

Re: I have a trailering cover question too!

I have a generic cover, the raised fishing seats provide support for in storage but I take 'em down for towing. <br /><br />The one time I wanted to tow it cover-on, I ran the tie-down cords from one edge under the boat & tied off to the other edge, pulled tight. Then I ran three straps (for a 15 foot boat) over the cover & under the boat. Tied the front & back edges off to the trailer. The edges came down further than usual but were wrapped around the hull.<br /><br />200 miles through driving rain with no problems. Only reason I covered for the trip is it was going straight to the storage yard & I didn't want to have to mess with it in the rain after I got there at midnight. Otherwise, I recommend leave it off for towing.<br /><br />It will flap like crazy if you take the supports down & don't pull it tight.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: I have a trailering cover question too!

Thanks for the ideas. Surprised at the multiple recommendations to tow without the cover. My previous boat I towed with cover on all the time. It was a tight fit custom-fit trailering cover...ran it about 15 years for 1,000 mile round trips at 70 mph several times a year until finally some seams started giving loose. Then I paid $100 to have all the seams double-stitched and a few wear-spots patched, then ran it just as hard for 5 more years after that until I had to replace it. Never even a touch of damage/wear on the boat itself in 20 years with one cover.<br /><br />I guess I'd like to use this one the same. It's awful nice to be able to toss fishing poles, inner tubes, life vests, cushions, the list goes on under the cover and have no worries about anything flying out. Not to mention keeping 95% of the rain and road spray out.<br /><br />By the way, when I say "broomstick" supports, I mean that very literally. These are nothing more than shortened wooden broomsticks with nothing to hold them firmly to the floor of the boat. I'd expect them to slide out from underneath when trailering and they'd just fall over and the cover would then start flapping. I've seen some better quality "sticks" in some catalogs. Anyone have opinions on these? Or better methods? Thanks again!

 

[QC]

Re: I have a trailering cover question too!

Oh Crazy 1,<br /><br />I have towed my last two boats with custom covers and had very good luck and experience similar to your first one. I take them in every couple of years to have seams strengthened and wear spots reinforced etc. The biggest problems I have had are straps that get tired due to sun damage and the little loose ends of the straps (very short) actually put little half moon stains in the side of the hull (they flip back and forth and the black or blue straps transfer color to white). The stains clean up with agressive waxing. A loose cover would bug me though. I am not sure about the poles. Seems like they would tear through unless heavily reinforced. Trailerboats Mag has "pole" kits advertised that also use straps running the length to support the whole thing. Those look like they might work.

 

[KM2]

Re: I have a trailering cover question too!

The pole in the front might be ok. Downforce of the wind should keep it in place. Behind the windshield get pull up by the wind and will never stay in place. I have put snaps in the cover and poles to help hold them in place. If I was to do it again I would buy one of the support kits like the ones sold by Iboats.

 

[Lou C]

Re: I have a trailering cover question too!

I just made some wooden support bases for the support poles to fit into, they keep them from falling down and work out well. I have some for the summer cockpit and bow covers, and others for the heavy winter cover. Just used some scrap lumber that was sitting in the gargage.

 

[jtexas]

Re: I have a trailering cover question too!

Get a floor flange from the plumbing fixtures isle at home depot. Screw it to a square piece of wood. You decide how big the wood base needs to be. Figure out the best way to make the broomstick fit into the flange. Might find a PVC thread-to-[forget the term, the kind you attach with cement] fitting that you can glue to it. That'll give you some support.<br /><br />I'd cover it too, craze, if I had to go 1000 miles & had a fitted cover that was made for the purpose. Dontcha love when you ask "how-to" and everbody says "don't"? <br /><br />Seriously, you want to make it impossible for any slack to get into the cover, which the support poles will do at the earliest opportunity. Once it gets slack under there all heck will break loose & you might not even notice it until 300 miles down the road when you stop for a potty break and your PFD's & towables are spread out over 3 states. No slack = no problems is my take on it. good luck.