Trailering with a boat cover?

[Lakeside]

We've still got our original TMS boat cover, but it's on its last legs.? We've always trailered it without any cover and so far we've been lucky at avoiding the rain.

Since we are about to get a new cover, I thought I'd ask:

Do you guys trailer your boats covered or open?

If you trailer them covered, how do you avoid trashing your cover (or the black paint on the windshield frame) at highway speed winds?

Have any of you opted for a snap on custom cover and if so, what is the benefit of a snap on vs. the TMS style cover?

Just wonderin'....

[brad]

I always trailer mine with the snap-on cover as shown in my avatar.

On a former boat, I towed it with the storage cover on a 6 hour trip and it got thrashed as well as marking up the boat.  I wouldn't recommend towing with a storage cover only the snap-on version.

Hope this helps.

Brad

[festivus]

I usually tow with the factory cover.  It did scuff up the decals at first, although it is hardly noticeable, but then the side straps ripped off, and I found that if I tightened the cinch straps, it hugs really nice.  The remaining straps on the front and rear don't touch the fiberglass at all.  I have towed for hours with a friend following me, and they said it looked fine- not blowing all over the place.  I haven't seen any wear at all on the windshield frame.  It would be nice to get a snap on...If I had my druthers, that'd be the way to go.   

[cyclone]

I trailer without a cover, snap on would be nice but sitting on those snaps when they have been in the sun sucks.

I think you can trailer with those Rankin covers, they look almost as sleek as the snap on ones but no snaps. They are 900$$

If you want a factory cover (they are top notch) you can get a new one from Toyota or if you have an E22, get one from Phill Dill boats for 150$ or so, they have a couple and are blowing them out


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[Rambling Wreck]

Let me say upfront that I have not trailered my boat so I am not qualified to even be commenting on this issue.

However, I do trailer my Waverunner. It has the slickest cover I have ever seen. Sewn into the rear of the cover are two plastic scoops (look like auto hood scoops placed backwards) that utilize the principle of creating a vacuum as air flows over them. As you get to speed, the cover gently encapsulates around the unit as if it were shrink wrapped. I don't know if you can buy a boat cover like this or maybe buy the scoops from Yamaha and sew them into the cover but they gauarantee that the cover doesn't flap around.

[toyotafreak]

Our trips to Havasu are like four or five hours altogether, and I'm not running a Duramax or V-10 in the Sequoia. I think the truck does better when the boat's covered because of better aerodynamics, but in the end it might give me one extra mpg, no biggy.

When we roll like that, I usually run a strap across the top of the cover between the very aft part of the tower base. This keeps the cockpit area of the cover from ballooning. At times, I'll also run a long strap from bow eye, across the center part of the winshield and back to the ski pole stub dealio UNDER the cover plus the sideways strap OVER the cover. Always cinch down all the straps.

I like the cover, but it's getting a little long in tooth.

[ScarabEpic22]

I trailer without a cover, snap on would be nice but sitting on those snaps when they have been in the sun sucks.

I think you can trailer with those Rankin covers, they look almost as sleek as the snap on ones but no snaps. They are 900$$

If you want a factory cover (they are top notch) you can get a new one from Toyota or if you have an E22, get one from Phill Dill boats for 150$ or so, they have a couple and are blowing them out


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I have a Rankin cover, and let me tell you, it is by far the best boat cover I have ever owned.  When I first bought my E22, Ski Masters (dealer) wanted me to try a new cover brand, so I did because it was a little cheaper.  Biggest mistake ever, the straps ran to under the swim platform making water coverings almost impossible.  Needless to say, less than a week later I had a Rankin and have been using the original one since summer 2000.  And, I have towed for about an hour and a half before with it on without any problems, but when I go from Coeur 'd Alene to Seattle I usually stuff the cover in the storage compartment.  But, it never billows when trailering, so if it is raining I leave it on.

[Lakeside]

Erik,

Could you please post a photo of your boat with the Rankin cover on?

Thanks.