Boat Covers

[grouser]

Thanks for the good info gents !!!!

[Gonefishing]

Yep don't tow with cover on. I learned the hard way. Didn't see any problems while towing. But when I got to the cap site and went to take the cover off I found that the front snap had come loose and the side of thee cover from flapping in the wind had ripped.

[grouser]

OK how about when the Bimini canvas is STOWED in a boot??? Is that secure enough or not??? Can you make it safe to tow with a boot on???
If you could have a choice to lay the booted canvas on the frame on top of the fence would you lay it .....
forward flat
angled up and forward
bachwards flat

[Drago]

I have no idea what our play pen cover is made of. It is going on 8 years in full sun and feels same as when new but has some color fade. I was warned not to trailer with it on the boat but have trailered thousands of miles with it on. The one time i did not, the seats were completely covered with dead, dried Love Bugs. What a huge pain to clean off. The way ours snaps low in the front, I think, would make it nearly impossible to come loose.

I would never recommend trailering with the play pen cover on but have done so for years. I would also never recommend trailering without two spare tires.

[ROLAND]

OK how about when the Bimini canvas is STOWED in a boot??? Is that secure enough or not??? Can you make it safe to tow with a boot on???
If you could have a choice to lay the booted canvas on the frame on top of the fence would you lay it .....
forward flat
angled up and forward
bachwards flat

\

Grouser... I never two with the playpen cover on... did once, but noticed all the stress the wind was putting on the cover and snaps... as for the bimini canvas.. I tow all the time with the bimini canvas tucked away in the boot.... I normally tow with the bimini railing set up on the "short arm" rail... so the bimini rail is only about 2 or 3 inches up.. not laying flat on the fencing... never had an issue doing it this way.

[grouser]

Thanks,,,, sorry for all the newbie question,,, I lost a seat bottom already and have a fear of losing more on every trip to the ramp

[BobG]

We have a custom made cover from Paul's Custom Canvas, in Denver.

It has tie-down straps to the deck, about every foot.

In addition to being towable, without incident, it can stand up to the FEET of snow we get all the time.

Cost? $1,250 and worth every penny.

[Cowracer]

Never tow with the playpen cover on. You'll destroy the cover or, yep, a car following. If you are going to trailer with it covered, buy a trailering cover. Sunbrella is not trailering cover material. It will stretch and tear. My drive home from Michigan pulling my first new pontoon taught me that! 150 miles into the trip, the poles were loose and fell, after being tighted several times. I took it off at a rest stop in Gary Indianna. After that, it never did tighten up right.
The good trailering covers are made of fabric backed vinyl.
Plus towing your boat naked is a lot easier on the billfold for fuel usage, too. Open the gates and let the air fly through!

Or the poor bastard on the motorcycle behind you. I have ridden street bikes for 20-odd years, and the only 2 things that really spook me anymore are deer and loose billowing tarps/covers on vehicles. I got a feeling if one came off and you rode into it, you ain't riding out the other side...

Tim

[jediger]

I've been known to get out the large rolls of green painters tape for really long tows. Just cover the sections of the boat you suspect will take the worst hit from the bugs and let her rip...