Towing with cover on?

[Rix86]

Do I tow the boat with this cover on?

 

[alldodge]

If under 10 miles, sure, or stay under 50mph, over that no way

 

[Scott Danforth]

I wouldnt

 

[R055]

I wouldn't go over 40mph with that cover on.

 

[Alumarine]

If you do watch out for snaps undoing and the canvas flapping.
Flapping canvas will mess things up.

 

[Rix86]

Thanks. Total noob.

 

[roscoe]

Thanks. Total noob.

Yes maybe, but you're smart enough to ask. Happy boating.

 

[89retta]

I had the same cover on my old boat. Towed it with the cover on for 1100 kms and speeds between 100-120kms per hour. Had no problems.

 

[Stingrayaxe]

I think it really depends on the cover. I wouldn't travel far or fast with the cover that is on the boat in the picture. On the other hand if you had a full towing rated mooring cover then there is not a problem. They are designed to be towed with. Even the semi-custom covers that tie down to the trailer with straps work well for towing.

 

[Silvertip]

Preventing air from getting under the cover is the key as to whether or not you tow with the cover on. A properly fitted and secured cover should not be a problem (at least it wasn't an issue for me). However the boat pictured will have a huge low pressure area behind the helm. That cover would likely balloon or pop loose at freeway speeds.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I found towing to be much less of a hassle if I just leave any covers off the boat. Making sure the cover is properly secured, that it's not beating itself to death in the wind, that straps haven't loosened/come free, or that the cover is getting ready to fly off the boat add too stress to boat towing for me. And that's with a towing cover!

I'd be worried that a nice camper top like that would quickly get ruined at highway speeds. If you're talking about a 30 mph drive home from a nearby ramp, that's another story. No way I'd put that camper top through a long trip at hi speed.

 

[gm280]

I hear both sides of the towing with cover on stories. I've hear some that have no problems while others talk about the vibration/flapping movement marring the hull to the point that they can't get the marred marks off anymore. So I personally wouldn't, but that is just my opinion.

 

[Rix86]

I doubt I can replace that cover easily. But there's not a lot of room in the boat to store the thing either.
But it would be decent protection from rain while out n about. So....torn here.

 

[Maclin]

Just thinking that what you showed us is not what I would call a boat cover. That is full camping enclosure, not meant to go faster that just light cruising speeds on the water. A boat cover meant to tow looks much different, has straps all the way around, things like that. I would not tow with what you showed much over 30mph, and then only for short distances, especially if it is aged at all.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Easy way to figure out it it's worth it to tow with that thing or not: take it to a canvas shop and ask what it would cost to make one just like that. Compare the quote from the canvas shop to what a true trailering cover would cost and determine if the difference is worth the risk.

 

[jkust]

I bet it has a tag on it warning you not to tow over a certain speed. My boats all have had the canvas package and part of that is a two piece mooring cover that I towed with regularly and they each had that warning tag with a 30mph limit but those covers were very taught and the tow vehicle really made a dead zone of not much wind action for the bow portion of the cover. Your navy/convertable top just sticks up above the windshield much further than a mooring cover which is flat.