Towing with Mooring Cover

[coresuper]

I am taking my pontoon on an 80 mile trip. Should it be raining, is it okay to tow it with the mooring cover on?

 

[Georgesalmon]

Depends on your speed a mooring cover is a "mooring" cover and not designed for 60mph winds. It might get ripped up.

 

[agallant80]

I don;t think towing with any cover is a good idea. You can rip the cover or one of the straps can come loose and start scratching the boat etc.

 

[JimS123]

Personally, I wouldn't be caught dead trailering 80 miles WITHOUT a cover. All my boats have "trailerable" covers. If yours isn't, have it upgraded for the task at hand.

 

[four winns 214]

Depends how secure your cover is. I have a mooring cover that fits well and the edges can be drawn tight. I've towed with it for seven years. Makes a difference on gas mileage as well.

 

[coresuper]

The cover came with the boat. It has many snaps around the top rail.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I make two 1500 mile trips in the summers, and I've done it with a cover and without. I don't use cover when traveling anymore. Too many problems with straps loosening or rubbing against the boat, and it seems like some part or other is always working loose and billowing in the wind. I ended up spending lots of time stopping to check and/or readjust the cover. Just not worth it for me. I don't know if I'd trailer with a mooring cover. I've travelled some with the bow cover on, but the cockpit cover is much larger and catches more wind. Aside from concerns about wind getting under the cover and popping snaps (picture your mooring cover flying off your boat and over the windshield of the car behind you...), thats a lot of abuse for a mooring cover. Getting beaten on by 60 MPH winds will stretch the cover out a bit.

 

[bruceb58]

A pontoon mooring cover is not made for towing since it needs to be elevated with poles to allow water to drain off typically.

 

[oldjeep]

A pontoon mooring cover is not made for towing since it needs to be elevated with poles to allow water to drain off typically.

This - unfortunately a standard pontoon cover is likely to shred itself if you tow with it on.

 

[Brian 26]

I only trailer with a cover if it's a very high quality one that fits well and even then I watch the mirrors to make sure it's not flapping. First sign of flapping and it's coming off. Many a boats have been scratched by covers whipping around. Many a covers have been shredded from towing.

I would not tow at a high speed with a pontoon mooring cover.

Also you'll get better gas mileage with the cover off. (this comes from boattest.com, of course this is debatable)