Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I have read/heard different opinions on this.... Looking for some clarity.

I have a 09 Suntracker Regency. Can I tow with the manufacturers mooring cover?

I only tow 4 times a year. From storage to home, home to dock, dock to home and home to storage. My storage is 12 miles from my home, my dock is 8 miles from home and I never exceed 45 MPH.

Again, I have heard that you should not and that you can. I have also seen pontoons on the road being towed with and without the mooring cover.

Thanks in advance

You can, just make sure all snaps are in place, The flaps around your bimini uprights be sure they are good and tight, (mine have velcro on them). Your front will collapse a bit from the wind but just take it easy an it will be fine.

Typically the low end, thin covers that come with some of the cheaper boats aren't made for towing. Some of the higher end boats or custom made covers are thick enough to stand up to road speed driving.

I don't... Previous owner did & I had to repair the torn area & replace some of the hold down Jclips. Why chance it cover it after you get there.

Thanks for the replies.

Has anyone ever heard of a situation with "parasailing" of the pontoon boat with the cover on?

I cant remember where or when, but I heard that the air can get trapped inside the cover while moving and cause the pontoon and trailer to slightly lift and act as a parasail.

Just wonderin...

That could not happen. The boat/trailer weigh 3500# on up, the cover would rip apart first. Most covers can take it, usually what designates a cover "trailerable" or "not" isn't the cover itself but weather or not it has safety straps. Straps that secure around the bottom of the boat so in the event the cover comes un-snapped it won't fly off on to the car behind you. That's not to say it won't put extra, un-needed stress on your cover weather it stays put or not.

After a few mishaps on a previous boat with a "towable" cover, I never (NEVER) tow with a cover on. On a couple of occassions when I was making a long tow (300+ miles) and knew it was going to be raining, I secured a tarp to the helm/console so I did not get water in my gauges and stereo.

Prior to getting a slip, we traveled with our travel cover on all of the time. We probably logged well over 5,000 miles without an incident, but our tarp was taunt all of the time and seems to be made of quality material.

Evertime we towed our old boat without a cover, it seems something was always loose and blowing out.

My PC has the Dowco mooring cover. I was told by Bass Pro to never leave it on while towing...

I was also told by Sun Tracker to never tow with cover on. It would not be covered by warranty if damaged while towing.

It's just not worth risking an $800 cover to save 10 minutes taking the cover off and on.

It might hold up, but it may fly on you.

Bamaman wrote:It's just not worth risking an $800 cover to save 10 minutes taking the cover off and on.

It might hold up, but it may fly on you.

Pretty much the same. For some reason, with my first bowrider (first time out) I thought I would protect the boat so I put the cover on an down the interstate I went. Stopped about 3 time to secure the cover. The good thing was I didn't have to worry about that on the trip home cause the trip down, I ripped it to shreds. Not even sure I would trailer with one rated as trailerable. Might help if you got caught in a hail storm or a stray pebble but rain sure ain't going to hurt it.
doc

I was told the same and have towed a few times with it on. No trip was over 20mi and had no problems. With his distance and not getting over 45 I truly believe he will be save.

i wouldn't do it routinely, but for the short trip the OP is describing, probably OK.

Thanks everyone for the input. I may just give it a try when taking it to storage next week and see how it handles. I will keep a close eye during transport and inspect the snaps and other things when i arrive. If it appears to be too hard on the cover I will continue with it off.

thanks again