Trailering on Interstates

[fayliss]

I have towed boats locally for years but next month I am heading to Branston, Missouri and a thousand miles of Interstate. I have a new 187 Hurricane Deck Boat, OB and am not sure how to prepare my boat for the trip. I have installed a transom support bracket for the motor, ratchet tie downs for the boat and trailer, and safety chain on the bow , but my real concern is how do I prepare the interior of the boat for the trip? I was told by the dealer that my boat cover will never survive the trip at Interstate speeds, so uncover the boat for the trip. Is there anything else that I need to? Thanks for your thoughts.

fayliss

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

Make sure your wheel bearings are good, remove anything from the boat that could fly out and don't run with a cover. That is about it.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

are you talking about bow and cockpit covers? I tow from Denver to Lake Powell regularly with Bow and Cockpit Covers on and never had an issue 500 miles one way, I do take some added precautions though in order to help the covers deal with the constant wind buffeting.

 

[fayliss]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

LippCJ7,
I'm assuming you mean adding additional bungies or tie down over the covers to keep them from whipping??
fayliss

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

I towed my boat from Northern Minnesota to Denver - 1,100 miles, almost all interstate - without any kind of cover. No problem.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

Last summer I towed my boat to and from northern Ontario twice, once with a cover and once without. I much preferred without; the cover is a pain to keep on, strap loosen, canvas flaps in the wind... I'll be trailering without the cover this summer.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

LippCJ7,
I'm assuming you mean adding additional bungies or tie down over the covers to keep them from whipping??
fayliss

well sort of, in fact a lesson I learned from a friend was to put an inflatable tube under the bow cover, also I place a "noodle" over the window frame where my cockpit cover rubs then I place a couple inflatables tie them together and place them in the middle of my cockpit to keep the cover from flapping, I place towels under the tube in the bow area so that the tube doesn't rub against the seats. Takes a little more time but it keeps the covers supported and the interior clean, I also use that blue masking tape in areas where the covers rub the gelcoat, keep in mind were talking for extended towing, anything local I don't bother.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

We've been trailering on the interstates to our Summer cottage since 1977. The last leg is heavy with boats. The game we play is to see who can count the most life jackets, cooler lids and seat cushions that flew out of boats.

The two boats we travel with currently have covers from 2003 and about 1990. One was a factory OEM trailerable cover and the other was a custom made cover from the local dealer's vendor. Both boats are covered in the garage year round and the cover's only road use is during the yearly vacation. My local ramp is 1 mile from home at 30 mph and I don't cover there. Both covers are a little dingy from road dirt and bird poop. They only get dusty in the garage and that washes off during the downpour we usually run into on the trip. That's the other advantage, when I get there the boat is bone dry inside

I don't care about the dirt on the covers. Without the covers it would be on the seats. I DO care about the stuff in the boat - for me to stow it or put it in the car would be too much work. I like things easy, and clean.

If your dealer told you the cover would not survive, shame on him for selling you the wrong cover. Buy a trailerable cover and problem solved.

(BTW, I drive right thru Rochester on my way to the cottage)

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

We've been trailering on the interstates to our Summer cottage since 1977. The last leg is heavy with boats. The game we play is to see who can count the most life jackets, cooler lids and seat cushions that flew out of boats.

We used to do that then one year we saw a boat that had come undone from the tow vehicle then came undone from the trailer (enter expected carnage here)....

Luckily nobody was injured but the boat was at least 12"s "Shorter"

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

Cockpit covers can work at highway speeds, but they must be tight, or else they will shred . . .

I would make sure everythning is stowed and any cushions that are loose or could come loose are stowed away or put in the tow vehicle.

Towing the boat covered is a great convenience, particularly if/when it rains, as the interior will be a mess from road spray, etc. As an added measure, I usually lash the cover down with some dock lines, just in case air does try to get under it and rip it off. The lines will catch it and hopefully save the day, so you can stop and fix it.

Here is a pic of my boat with some lines over the cover (front, middle, back) to keep things secure and as an added measure of safety . . .

 

[jbetzelb]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

You going on Table Rock or where? If so are you keeping the boat on the water over nights? Like some others said, if it could blow out, tie it in or put it in the tow vehicle. There are a few good hills around Branson.

 

[jbetzelb]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

You going on Table Rock or where? If so are you keeping the boat on the water over nights? Like some others said, if it could blow out, tie it in or put it in the tow vehicle. There are a few good hills around Branson.

I see your from new York. I guess you will see plenty of hills on this trip.

 

[littlerayray]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

what about the prop does anyone immobolize it or do you put the boat in gear or just keep it in neutral i heard that keeping it in neutral on long trips does wear out gears eventually

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

You can also pull a Cargo Net over the cover to dampen the flap'n.
Or just strech the net over the cockpit to catch anything that tries to blow out.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

I see your from new York. I guess you will see plenty of hills on this trip.

Uh, did you just quote and then answer yourself??

 

[JimS123]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

what about the prop does anyone immobolize it or do you put the boat in gear or just keep it in neutral i heard that keeping it in neutral on long trips does wear out gears eventually

I used to worry about that with my auxilliary, since it drags in the water at all speeds, as well as on the highway. So, I contacted the manufacturer and they said don't worry. Its been spinning now for 29 seasons and hasn't been damaged yet. So, I guess the manufacturer was right.

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

One thing you may not realize. If your trailer has normal ST trailer tires they are only rated for 65 mph. Many people are blissfully ignorant of this and tow down the road much faster than that.

I always tow with my bow and cockpit covers snapped on tight. My average length drive to a lake is over 100 miles each way. They are 16 years old and still in great shape. I don't like loosing life jackets out of the boat. I also don't like collecting bug guts all over the upholstery.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

Hope you have good tires and a good spare, all inflated properly. Long trips at highways speeds tend to thin tire herd.

I tow with my tight-fitting cockpit cover on all the time. Longest trip was 1000 miles. Never had any issues.

Take your bimini(s) down completely.

 

[lrak]

Re: Trailering on Interstates

One thing you may not realize. If your trailer has normal ST trailer tires they are only rated for 65 mph. Many people are blissfully ignorant of this and tow down the road much faster than that.

Many people are blissfully ignorant of the ST trailer tire spec as well.

1) The rating is heat related. Exceeding 65mph for 1/4 mile on a cool day to pass someone is not going to make them explode.

2) ST tires are rated for 65mph AT THEIR MAXIMUM LOAD.

"Based on industry standards, if tires with the ST designation are used at speeds between 66 and 75 mph, it is necessary to increase the cold inflation pressures by 10 psi above the recommended pressure for the load."

So if the tire allows you to inflate by 10 psi above the 'maximum' (like the Goodyear Marathon) or the load/pressure tables for your tire show you can support your actual weight with more than 10psi below the maximum ... then you are good for 75mph. When I replace trailer tires I always go up one size or load rating over stock for this reason.

3) Yeah, a lot of people don't know, don't care, and tow at 80+. How many issues do you think this causes? I've had far more troubles with 2-5 year old valve stems dry rotting and splitting. They then leak air when moving which causes the tires to lose pressure and get hot quickly. I haven't had any actual problems with the tires themselves in the last decade. I've been replacing my trailer tires every six years and the valve stems every three!