Should you trailer a boat long distances with the cover on or off?

Question

Should you trailer a boat long distances with the cover on or off?

Answer 1

I took my boat from Ma. to Fla. with the cover on. I went through 3 rain storms and a blowing wind and I never had a problem. I stopped every 3 hours to rest and I checked the cover and it never gave me any trouble. I was glad that I had it on during the rain storms. I would think nothing of going to Calif. with the cover on. I bought the cover for a few reasons and travel was one of them, also when you stopped for the night, it keeps people from taking things that don't belong to them. Know what I mean?

Answer 2

I don’t think so. Suppose a stray rock hits the boat and slashes the tarp open. Air goes in, air fills the space inside, bubbling the tarp (As it does to a parachute) and finally, destroying it. Here is the bad part - once destroyed it leaves the boat and it splatters on the driver’s windshield behind you, blocking his view and then the driver crashes and dies. You better have a good lawyer. Just common sense. I hope this helped...

Answer 3

There are some really good comments made here but it is truly believed that the best answer is "off" for safety reasons. We were instructed when we purchased our old 25' cuddy to never trailer with the canvas up or the mooring cover on. The reason given was that, as another has already stated, the cover could come off and cause an accident.

Think about how you see new boats being shipped . They are either open to the elements or are shrink wrapped. This statement holds true no matter what the size of the vessel is being transported down the highway. If commercially they do not ship with canvas on that to me is a pretty darn good indication of how it should be done.

One thing you may want to do too...check the rules of the road for each state you'd be driving thru. Some may actually have restrictions on having the canvas on.

If you have to err do so on the side of safety and leave the canvas off.

Answer 4

Cover off.



Unless that cover fits like a second skin, and very few of them do.

Because:

Loose covers, especially those that lose snaps, flap and flap and flap in the wind. That flapping will ruin your gelcoat. I learned the hard way.

Answer 5

depends on weather.

Answer 6

I think that with the cover on you will protect the boat from a lot of road grime.  It makes no sense to not use one as long as it fits well and is secure.

P>S>   check it whenever you stop.

Answer 7

simple answer: cover off -

those covers are not made to be on the boat when it is going 50mph down the freeway, take it off and stow it

Answer 8

I  always trailered my boat with the cover off, as canvas stretches, and the wind helped stretch it more, to where it would just flap, and had to be tied down. I just made certain that the contents were secured in the bow and in lockers, and opened the bilge drain to  take care of rain water or snow.

Regards,

Dan