Rock chips while towing

[AZMark]

I washed and put rejex on my boat yesterday and when I was doing the bottom side I noticed a ton of white specks on my blue hull. Turns out they are rock chips and they are everywhere on the boat and trailer
My suv has mud flaps and I only tow on pavement so I was shocked to see this much damage. This is after less than 1000 miles of towing on the boat.
I go through all kinds of trouble to anchor off shore and not beach this thing to avoid scratches so this is really disappointing.
I found one thread on this 6 years ago. Is it really not that much of a problem, or is it such a common problem that I’m the only idiot that didn’t think of it before the damage was done? I guess I’ll get some of the hitch mount mud flaps now.
The biggest chip appears to go through the gelcoat - do I need to fill this to avoid water getting in the fiberglass?

 

[Babin Farms]

What happened to your boat is exactly why I built this rock guard
I was concerned with rocks & debris & towing longer distances often.

I would get gelcoat to match and spend some quality time refinishing where the chips are.

 

[AZMark]

What happened to your boat is exactly why I built this rock guardView attachment 122096
I was concerned with rocks & debris & towing longer distances often.

I would get gelcoat to match and spend some quality time refinishing where the chips are.

That stops everything in your experience?

What kind of rubber is that? I was thinking of making one with tractor trailer mud flaps cut down but I like how that goes all the way across.

 

[AZMark]

I guess @Babin Farms raises another good question. If I don’t refinish all the smaller surface chips will they spread?
I’m afraid it’s way too many to touch up so it’d require sanding the whole front side of the boat to remove them. I don’t want to make all the gelcoat thinner at this point in the boats life.

 

[Babin Farms]

That stops everything in your experience?

What kind of rubber is that? I was thinking of making one with tractor trailer mud flaps cut down but I like how that goes all the way across.

I used belting from a local rock quarry. Seems to stop everything so far. I've been down county roads, city streets and the interstate with no chips in the boat finish.

 

[Julian]

No rock chips whatsoever on my boat - towed roughly 7 thousand miles. I wonder if it is a factor of the tires on your tow vehicle?

 

[AZMark]

No rock chips whatsoever on my boat - towed roughly 7 thousand miles. I wonder if it is a factor of the tires on your tow vehicle?

Probably, I have all terrains. I just stupidly thought the factory mud flaps would work but I think they’re too high up.
We also like to line our freeways with rocks here because there’s no grass like other places and the lakes are all out on highways through the desert. Windshields don’t last long here either.

 

[Babin Farms]

Good point @Julian, I usually have a more aggressive tread on my trucks. Around us we have quite a few side roads that are gravel that gets out on the main road and lots of pot holes that are filled with fresh patch that always gets thrown. I just look at my other trailers and they are all chipped up from stuff being thrown from the tires over the years.

 

[Elliott]

There are a number of after market guards like this one:

RockGARD

Welcome to RockGARD What's protecting your boating investment? About Us

www.rockgard.com

 

[Julian]

Saw one of these on the road last year.....looked functional, but I didn't understand why anyone would bother (as I've never had a rock chip) - but perhaps that is a factor of the tires I use.

RockGARD

Welcome to RockGARD What's protecting your boating investment? About Us

www.rockgard.com

 

[Elliott]

I agree - I would not buy one unless I had a problem. I rarely tow (hurricane evacuations - 500 miles round trip and to the dealer once year for service -15 miles round trip). I have no scratches or dings from anything - yet (being careful and some luck so far). My Tundra has the OEM tires and OEM mud flaps. The OEM 20 inch Bridgestone Duelers do a good job on dirt roads, but they look like minivan tires. They do not pick up rocks; I have no rock damage on my RV/Travel Trailer after 14K+ miles towing.

If I had the rock damage of the OP, I would change something or buy a RockGard type product. I would do that right after I finished having a stroke ...

 

[JBehrens]

Saw one of these on the road last year.....looked functional, but I didn't understand why anyone would bother (as I've never had a rock chip) - but perhaps that is a factor of the tires I use.

RockGARD

Welcome to RockGARD What's protecting your boating investment? About Us

www.rockgard.com

View attachment 122099

That's a beefy setup, looks a little cumbersome for landing the boat.

Saw a trailer with Rock Tamers in the parking lot last year, looks like a decent idea but not sure if it is worth the $300 compared to building something.

Mud Flaps - 2" Hub System | Rock Tamers OFFICIAL

Rock Tamers 00108 patented mudflap system is easy to attach or remove from any standard ball mount. It is the premiere Adjustable and Removable Mudflap System, designed to provide the ultimate protection for your towables from damage caused by rocks and road debris.

www.cruiserframes.com

 

[Julian]

Probably, I have all terrains. I just stupidly thought the factory mud flaps would work but I think they’re too high up.
We also like to line our freeways with rocks here because there’s no grass like other places and the lakes are all out on highways through the desert. Windshields don’t last long here either.

Based on this, I'd say protection in front of the boat is going to work better than mudflaps then.....as it isn't just your vehicle throwing rocks....

 

[Sotally Tober]

Thanks for the tip on the Rock Tamers. I have a lifted Chevy Silverado on 35s with no flaps and a black bottom boat. This will be a life saver.

 

[Dixie Highway]

Honestly I’ve towed 5-6,000 miles with all terrain tires and no mud flaps, I don’t have any rock chips. Must be the roads in AZ have extra gravel on them? All over N IL, S WI, and all the way to Florida and back twice, nothing.

 

[AZMark]

Do you guys know if you can buy color matching gel coat touch up from yamaha like you can for a car?
I probably at least need to fill the big one and this is a unique color of blue.

 

[F.M.]

I have 35" BFG AT tires and a black and grey bottom boat. No rock chips at all after 3 years of towing.

 

[AZMark]

I have 35" BFG AT tires and a black and grey bottom boat. No rock chips at all after 3 years of towing.

Well sh#t, I guess it’s not the tires then.

Don’t drive to the desert!

 

[JBehrens]

Don’t drive to the desert!

It might be the roads you are on... I have been towing both the ski trailer and boat in the desert for about 5 years now, we make a Powell trip just about every year, and I have yet to see more than one small chip on one of the jetskis. So far nothing on the boat and the Needles highway sucks.. Now the aftermarket trailer does keep the boat ridding significantly higher than the stock Shorelandr' so that might have something to do with it? Regardless, it is still worth it to be safe.

 

[Seadeals]

@AZMark what is your year/make/model tow vehicle and what brand/model/size tires are you running? I am thinking your vehicle geometry on the back end and the current tread has your hull in the “sweet spot chuck zone”. I have an F150 with 285/70R17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers and also ran the factory 20s with Pirelli scorpions, BFG KO2s and Cooper Discover ATP for 9,737 miles towing back East with none of that. Pebble size and tread pattern likely have a lot to do with it.