Towing with/without a Cover

[Rainmakr]

Do you tow your boat covered/uncovered? I have been towing with the shipping cover and was wondering if it will shorten the life of the cover. Also, any issues with towing boats without the hinged seats (will a seat fly out if the cover isnt on)? Thanks!

 

[AZDANSX230HO]

I always tow with the cover on so my rear seat cushions do not fly out, I have the Yamaha Cover with the suction cups that create a vacuum and holds the cover tight on the boat going down the road, never any issues with my 2006 SX230 or my 2008 SX230 HO.

 

[Rainmakr]

I always tow with the cover on so my rear seat cushions do not fly out, I have the Yamaha Cover with the suction cups that create a vacuum and holds the cover tight on the boat going down the road, never any issues with my 2006 SX230 or my 2008 SX230 HO.

Thanks for the response. Does towing at highway speeds have any affect on the life of the cover?

 

[Bruce]

I have towed at 92 mph with the cover on. The 2007 factory mooring cover for my SX230 gave out in 2015. The replacement factory mooring cover has over 5,000 miles of mostly freeway on it and still looks like new.

Most of my tows are less than 10 miles and my boat lives in a garage bay so the cover is only used for long tows where I want to keep the boat clean and avoid loosing the cushions.

 

[Rainmakr]

I have towed at 92 mph with the cover on. The 2007 factory mooring cover for my SX230 gave out in 2015. The replacement factory mooring cover has over 5,000 miles of mostly freeway on it and still looks like new.

Most of my tows are less than 10 miles and my boat lives in a garage bay so the cover is only used for long tows where I want to keep the boat clean and avoid loosing the cushions.

Thanks Bruce. I was given both the shipping cover and the black yamaha mooring cover when I bought the boat. I have only been using the shipping cover. Planning on using it until I can't and then switch over to the mooring cover.

 

[mraz72]

I have a snap cover and I mostly tow with the covers off, I remove all cushions that could fly out and tow away unless it looks like it is going to rain, then i leave the snap covers on.

I want to get the yamaha mooring cover and use that for towing and only use the snap covers at dock. I feel like towing with the snap covers on will stretch them out and ruin them...

 

[AndyD]

Just be sure if you're towing with the cover on then take the anti-pooling poles out. It will extend the life of the cover. With these covers creating a vacuum in the boat it puts a lot of extra pressure on these two points and can cause tears. Storage=poles in; towing=poles out.

 

[Speedling]

Snap on bow cover only up to 80 mph every trip to Lake Michigan. No seats fly out, not even chip wrappers fly out and i keep the door shut just in case. My fenders sit under the bow cover.
More concerned with tower bolts than something flying out of boat.
I do plan on getting a nicer custom cover made due to the tower

 

[mraz72]

Thanks Andy, I'll do that in the future, I left the poles in place on this last trip.

 

[2kwik4u]

Does towing with the poles out count on the smaller 19'ers as well? I've been towing with my cover on and the poles in since we bought it in April. Noticed today I have a few small holes starting on the cover near where it contacts the base of the windshield.

If I'm over stressing it with the poles in there, I'll take 'em out and toss 'em on a shelf. The boat lives in the garage, so no need for the cover unless I'm towing, or I move it out to work in the garage for a few days.

 

[Khalid]

I used snap cover to tow it long distances. Everything stays inside and boat stays clean

 

[swatski]

I like to use the shipping cover for long trips (trailering) and premium cover for mooring. The shipping cover (tighten up real snag) does not scratch or dull the gelcoat like the premium can. Works very well.

Will towing with the cover on shorten the cover's lifespan? Absolutely - yes.
But to me - those covers are essentially expandable (albeit expensive) - I'm protecting the inside of the boat.

--

 

[GoVols01]

My previous boats only had snap on cockpit covers, which are for mooring only. The cockpit covers can fly off at highway speeds, which mine began to once, so I quit trying to use them for towing, which lead me to uncovered towing. When towing uncovered, you must be sure to remove all snap in carpets and seats that aren't bolted down, as THEY WILL fly out! This was a PITA because the carpets were wet at the end of the day and we'd have to throw them in the back of our SUV with all the rest of our crap. This would get the carpets in the SUV wet too.

When I bought our new boat, I was sure to get the shipping / mooring cover. Now, I leave everything in the boat and simply cover it up. Haven't had a single problem and it's nice to not have wet crap in the back of the SUV, other than the kids.

 

[Speedling]

My previous boats only had snap on cockpit covers, which are for mooring only. The cockpit covers can fly off at highway speeds, which mine began to once, so I quit trying to use them for towing, which lead me to uncovered towing. When towing uncovered, you must be sure to remove all snap in carpets and seats that aren't bolted down, as THEY WILL fly out! This was a PITA because the carpets were wet at the end of the day and we'd have to throw them in the back of our SUV with all the rest of our crap. This would get the carpets in the SUV wet too.

When I bought our new boat, I was sure to get the shipping / mooring cover. Now, I leave everything in the boat and simply cover it up. Haven't had a single problem and it's nice to not have wet crap in the back of the SUV, other than the kids.

Seadek. Never had a seat budge any

 

[GoVols01]

My buddy had his center carpet between the consoles fly out of his 2013 242. Right before I traded our Regal, one of the hinged seats started popping up really hard while on the interstate. It did it a bunch of times the last few outings, so it was only a matter of time before the hinges broke. Also got tired of all the bug splats on the boat's windshield and seats when we finally arrived at the lake. I had to clean them several times before my kids or wife would sit in the seats. It's small annoying things, but they add up.

 

[mraz72]

My neighbor (in my wet slip at the Marina) has the mooring cover on a 242 limited e-series. Nice looking cover, has ratchets to secure it, seems to me that would be the way to go towing these boats.

I don't like uncovered (rain, bird crap, idiot throwing a soda like a grenade into the boat lol)

 

[Speedling]

My buddy had his center carpet between the consoles fly out of his 2013 242. Right before I traded our Regal, one of the hinged seats started popping up really hard while on the interstate. It did it a bunch of times the last few outings, so it was only a matter of time before the hinges broke. Also got tired of all the bug splats on the boat's windshield and seats when we finally arrived at the lake. I had to clean them several times before my kids or wife would sit in the seats. It's small annoying things, but they add up.

Huh, maybe the hinged seats allow them to come up easier? In order to take my rear seats up i need to basically open the engine hatch. It could be yall are driving too fast too but i doubt you are going THAT much faster than me!

 

[Speedling]

My neighbor (in my wet slip at the Marina) has the mooring cover on a 242 limited e-series. Nice looking cover, has ratchets to secure it, seems to me that would be the way to go towing these boats.

I don't like uncovered (rain, bird crap, idiot throwing a soda like a grenade into the boat lol)

I hear ya on that. I have a cover for when not tailering. I used to have a snap on cockpit but it ripped first time on road. I have had bad luck with covers so i said forget it.

 

[Lola Kearney]

Ensuring the safety of your boat through boat covers is thereby a good way to keep it strong and look as new as it could be. I had hauled my boat by the professional boat delivery hauler who knows how to properly support the boat and how it should be balanced, stabilized, and secured. I had also ensured the safety of my boat by covering it with boat covers which can keep it strong and look as new as it could be.

 

[Rainmakr]

For those of you who tow without a cover, do you leave the middle window open or closed?