Boat Overs and Towing/Traveling

[hellbents-10]

Looking to travel a little more with the Tuff this year and currently have no covers for it. I know a ill fitting travel cover can do as much harm as good as well!

Who travels with just a custom cockpit cover?

Who has a custom made travel cover?

Any experiences that would have you having one or both made for your boat?

My boat is inside of my barn for 99% of its life and only stays outside in the water a few nights a year. When I do travel it can be from 4-20hrs on the road though. My canvas shop said they could make a cockpit cover that would work for road use as well. I have a hard time spending money when it does not make the boat faster hahahaha!!!! Also I have to save $$$ for more Tuff's.

Noticed my mistake in the title, maybe the admin can fix it for me?!

[LakeFever]

High end bass boats have some seriously nice towing covers. It is no easy feat to get a cover that wont wind scratch the hull. I tow open and keep a california duster with me for quick dust cleaninh upon arrival. 20 hrs though? Dang thats haulin miles

[David]

I have not towed with my SS2000 cover but I think it’s made for towing. The inside is a soft towel like material. There are a ton of tie down straps.

[4Speed]

I have a snap on cockpit cover for my STV Euro and tow with it when rain is in the forecast and when I travel on a 5 mile dusty dirt road to get to my camp. I also cover my motor cowl with a Mercury Racing felt lined cover when on the dirt road. The cock pit cover fits as tight as a drum head and is actually a pain on the aZZ to get on. I don't recall the snaps/ inch but its aggressive (a lot of snaps). I tow on tar at 65-70 and no gelcoat wear or scratches. I also have a full cover that I use when in the garage.

[MattGreen]

I'm in the process of a having full boat cover and cockpit covers custom made for my Checkmate. Fitting day is Monday actually. I'll provide some updates when done.
I've destroyed a brand-new cheap "universal" cover in about 12 hours of highway driving due to poor fit and combined with too much flapping so you're asking a good question about a custom job.

Matt

[Pulse186]

The cover Progression made for my 22 was designed with towing in mind, it comes down to cover sides and the the straps go under the hull to keep the wind out. Towing with only a cockpit cover can be a dicey proposition because if any of those snaps pop the cover will peel off in a hurry.

I have also found that putting one or two straps over the cover in the cockpit area really helps keep the cover from flapping, they don't have be cranked down just snug enough that they don't move.

Hopefully you get that cover sorted before summer! looking forward to seeing the Tuff in Little Muscamoot :)

[idvette]

I have a cockpit cover on my virage, and only take it off at the ramp on the way in, then back on when I pull out. Gotta protect that 30 yr old vinyl lol... Nobody likes drilling holes in a hull, but the snaps hold fine up to 120 km/hr

https://youtu.be/YTm7w0IwmOY

That video is from my old house, it lives in a garage now, but I still keep the cover on.

[bouyhead]

The cover Progression made for my 22 was designed with towing in mind, it comes down to cover sides and the the straps go under the hull to keep the wind out. Towing with only a cockpit cover can be a dicey proposition because if any of those snaps pop the cover will peel off in a hurry.

I have also found that putting one or two straps over the cover in the cockpit area really helps keep the cover from flapping, they don't have be cranked down just snug enough that they don't move.

Hopefully you get that cover sorted before summer! looking forward to seeing the Tuff in Little Muscamoot :)


https://i.imgur.com/VDcBt68.jpg

I have the identical cover on my 22 Progression. The longest haul was 6+ hours, all highway running 65-70 MPH. No issues whatsoever

[Pulse186]

I have the identical cover on my 22 Progression. The longest haul was 6+ hours, all highway running 65-70 MPH. No issues whatsoever

It was 11 hours getting home from Progression and Kevin also sewed up a tarp that matched the canvas cover just in case there was rain. Other than a little billowing both covers were fine.

I'm in love with this boat, lol

[moatorbotin]

I am in the camp of "I'd rather clean it than take the chances the cover scratches it during transport"

[hellbents-10]

Well OK I plan to only use the travel cover when the weather is bad.

Here is my first test even with the draw string and straps tight it packs a ton of air. I am thinking about cutting a vent over the rear hatch area to create a vacuum and see if it stays down. Has anyone tried this?

[MattGreen]

I got this made last week (21 Checkmate Starflite):

516700516699516701


It barely moves in the wind - took it to 70mph. Down around the chine it has a hem with an embedded ratchet strap so you can cinch it up pretty tight. It would probably do quite well even without all the tie-downs actually. For insurance, there's two more transverse pockets with embedded straps that wrap around the boat (I will be switching these from blue to black). There's two vents sewn-in right behind the windshield that you can't see in the photos. I can't remember the name of the material off-hand, but its fairly heavy with the soft felt on the back. This company does boat covers as a side-job, their main business is over-the-road custom tarps/covers for oil and gas machinery so they only do stuff full-bore. It was not cheap but really good value.

We have a lot of gravel on our roads due to the snow so I also had a belly cover made to prevent gel coat chips. This feature is quiet common up here. It's a separate piece held on with straps and velcro under the main road cover.

Matt

P.S. Pretty godamn jealous of those in the south boating already - it was about -5F (-20C) the whole week I was getting this fitted !! :eek:

[hellbents-10]

I did not pay much $2200 for the travel cover but I am disappointed as it was supposed to go down to the bottom like yours and the P22. Guess I need to save my money and look for another company to take a stab at it.

[Pulse186]

I did not pay much $2200 for the travel cover but I am disappointed as it was supposed to go down to the bottom like yours and the P22. Guess I need to save my money and look for another company to take a stab at it.

A vent in the back of the cover and 2 straps lightly cinched over the cockpit will prevent almost all that billowing.

[TooStroked]

Well OK I plan to only use the travel cover when the weather is bad.

Here is my first test even with the draw string and straps tight it packs a ton of air. I am thinking about cutting a vent over the rear hatch area to create a vacuum and see if it stays down. Has anyone tried this?
I would be very leery about towing with that cover. First, the straps and clips are right on the hull sides. The wind will surely cause those to flap and damage the gelcoat. Second, the height of the center support pole is just about guaranteed to billow - as you have found. As has already been mentioned, if you want to tow with a full cover, you have to get one that extends all the way down to the trailer and it has to be made out of heavy material.

So what do I do? I have a full cover that comes down to my trailer - but it's just for when the boat sits in our driveway. I wouldn't dare tow with it because it was not designed for it. (Not heavy enough material.) I have a tight-fitting cockpit cover that I tow with. The front is snapped on at the base of the fairing and it extends all the way back to the top of the stern. It has one center support pole with a lengthwise wooden batten / spine that's about 3 feet long. It doesn't flap or billow when I'm towing - even at highway speeds.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/e60/tfwarda/IMG_1473_1_.JPG

[moatorbotin]

I would be very leery about towing with that cover. First, the straps and clips are right on the hull sides. The wind will surely cause those to flap and damage the gelcoat. Second, the height of the center support pole is just about guaranteed to billow - as you have found. As has already been mentioned, if you want to tow with a full cover, you have to get one that extends all the way down to the trailer and it has to be made out of heavy material.

So what do I do? I have a full cover that comes down to my trailer - but it's just for when the boat sits in our driveway. I wouldn't dare tow with it because it was not designed for it. (Not heavy enough material.) I have a tight-fitting cockpit cover that I tow with. The front is snapped on at the base of the fairing and it extends all the way back to the top of the stern. It has one center support pole with a lengthwise wooden batten / spine that's about 3 feet long. It doesn't flap or billow when I'm towing - even at highway speeds.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/e60/tfwarda/IMG_1473_1_.JPG

I had a similar cockpit cover with my 24LD and the front snaps would come undone. Only tried it twice. I had to duct tape it down and then clean that mess up when I got home.

[TooStroked]

I also have to original (1992) vinyl cockpit cover supplied by Progression. It uses the same male snaps that the acrylic cover in the picture uses. The big difference? (Other than the fact that the vinyl cover is waterproof.) The vinyl cover blows off - starting at the front - at about 20 MPH. The acrylic cover has stayed on at 80 MPH.