Towing Long Distances??

[rdlangston13]

I've never towed with the cover on and have always been afraid of it beating the gel coat silly


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[pogofx]

I stopped towing with a cover after trying it for a few years. I spent too much time messing with the cover at every stop on the long trips. Also got tired of ripped covers and marks on the gel coat from some part that got loose that I couldn't see while on the road.

[moombadaze]

I've never towed with the cover on and have always been afraid of it beating the gel coat silly

David, been using my cover for 3 yrs now when I tow 5 to 8 hrs one way, a couple times a year. Absolutly no issues that I can see of gel damage, and I look too.

I just tighten the single strap that goes under the rub rail as tight as i can get, the 5 straps on the rear just get snugged up and make sure the little hook straps are under the rub rail and it's ready to go. The Evolution cover needs no adjustment in route.

[rdlangston13]

i guess all signs are pointing telling me to buy an evolution cover. ugh

[Ian Brantford]

My dealer put on the factory cover before towing it 500 km to my local marina. Then I had to pay a local detailer several hundred to very carefully wet-sand the black strap marks out of the yellow hull. Without the straps to hold it down, I can easily see it ripping free due to wind. So, no, don't tow with the factory cover on. Stow anything that might blow out or get a proper towing cover.

I like the idea of adding hinges or velcro for certain seatcushions to prevent blowout. I currently just take the couple with potential for loss and stow them in the observer's storage compartment.

[parrothd]

My dealer put on the factory cover before towing it 500 km to my local marina. Then I had to pay a local detailer several hundred to very carefully wet-sand the black strap marks out of the yellow hull. Without the straps to hold it down, I can easily see it ripping free due to wind. So, no, don't tow with the factory cover on. Stow anything that might blow out or get a proper towing cover.

I like the idea of adding hinges or velcro for certain seatcushions to prevent blowout. I currently just take the couple with potential for loss and stow them in the observer's storage compartment.

You just need to make sure the straps don't flap and markup the hull, better yet get someone to make a sock to cover the straps. Or you can buy them... And those marks come out easily with a little elbow grease and rubbing compound..

http://www.macscustomtiedowns.com/product/115/TieDowns

http://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-...EM06305-2.html

[Ian Brantford]

You just need to make sure the straps don't flap and markup the hull, better yet get someone to make a sock to cover the straps.

I have done that one time with some temporary protection, used at very low speed, when I had to tow in poor weather. However, I had not control or warning of what was to happen when the dealer sent it to me. Imagine being greeted by the sight of your brand new boat from the dealer, damaged by his negligence.

Or you can buy them... And those marks come out easily with a little elbow grease and rubbing compound..

That did not work for me. Only the most superficial part of the marks could be removed that way. 500km of towing had those marks in pretty deep. Even with a professional doing the work, it was a near miss to not require repainting.

[pogofx]

I guess the real question on the cover is what are the benefits of towing covered, and do they outweigh the potential risks or problems? Keeping the cover on will help keep out the elements (sun/rain), keep some of the bugs splatters off, and help keep loose items in the boat. The potential risks are gel coat rubs, torn cover, and the lost time and irritation messing with the cover durning the trip. I've never had a cover as good as this Evolution cover sounds. It sounds like it may eliminate a lot of those risks and if that's the case towing covered may be the way to go. I'm on my third boat (first Moomba) and it has always been easier for me to tow uncovered. All of my covers were custom, factory covers designed for towing and none of them worked well on the long trips.

[KEH]

I totally agree with Ian.

I had a similar experience when I picked up my new boat. Dealer happily helped me secure the mooring cover with the straps provided. One hour into a twelve hour drive I checked the security of the cover and to my horror I discovered the straps had burned strips into my gel coat. In addition the upper part of my gel coat had significant rub marks from the cover. The next eleven hours were towed without the cover on with me wondering how much this was gonna cost me. Lucky for me I found a good gel coat repair guy and a few hundred dollars later my boat looked new again. Only after I got home did I read in my manual:

Your mooring cover is not designed for trailering. Trailering
with your cover installed may cause premature cover failure
and boat damage. This damage is not warrantable.

It's right there in black and white.
Being new to boat ownership I was pissed at the dealer for not warning me.
Sure you can tow with the cover and take all kinds of extra precautions, but I never will again.
Sooner or later you are gonna cause some damage.
Wrap the stuff you want to keep the bugs off and pull or secure the cushions that feel too loose.
It's cheaper and less work to clean your boat after a long road trip rather than take it for gel coat repairs or speed hours polishing out rub marks.

[phospher]

why does it seem people always have issues with their trailer tires? I would expect the tires to be as reliable as car tires. Are the tires of cheaper quality? Do they handle more weight( i have single axle with 2008 Outback DD)? What is it with these things? BTW, we never tow with a cover, if it rains, so be it.