To Cover or Not to Cover?

[Ytmsn]

I bought a cover for my 240 that is made for road travel. I have pulled a few different boats in the past with the covers on, as long as they are "trailerable" but a guy that does a lot of fiberglass polishing and detail work told me I need to get a bow and cockpit cover because the full cover will rub and scratch when it's going down the hiway.
He suggested that I always take it off if I'm going to travel.
Seems like that makes sense.

Any of my boats have ALWAYS had a cover on, trailering or parked. For the past ten years I've had a place at the lake, and only use the trailer twice a year when I put the boat in the the spring where she sits on a covered lift all summer, and take her out in the fall where she stays in an enclosed dry storage all winter.

In the past the only road time has been from the dock to storage, maybe a half mile, or occasionally to the mechanic, maybe a 3 mile trip. I've never noticed anything on the finish, but then I don't get much over 45.

This summer I'm building a place at my house to keep her stored for the winter, so I'll be making a 3 hour trip twice a year.

So do ya'll pull down the hiway with a full cover on, and if you do have you noticed any problems?

[jhnmdahl]

I have the full mooring cover on our 210 and have towed hundreds of miles, and haven't seen any rubbing marks. It cinches down pretty tight, and doesn't move much at highway speeds.

[Big Block Power]

Ok here's my scoop on this. I am getting new bow and cockpit covers tomorrow. Not for all of the same reasons but longer distance towing yes. My mooring cover with a tower or just the binimi is a pain in the ass to install with all the Velcro. If I didn't have either than it would be ok. So I wouldn't think of towing with my factory cover with just the cinch. I wouldn't trust it. The new ones like John has I'm sure are much nicer than mine but still wouldn't. If you have to run down the road with straps going down to the trailer no way would I pull that way. If they touch the boat and trailer they will mark them up sooner or later. If your only towing it two times leave the cover off. I've towed the last two years with no covers on the boat. No issues.sure got caught in the rain a few times. God didn't like me last year for some reason I pissed him off so he pissed back on me? oh well I wiped it down when I got it home no harm done.

[Skiingstrongman]

This was my understanding that it's the straps flapping that rub against the fiberglass.

[Ytmsn]

Yeah, the straps could rub for sure. I'm not going to tow with the cover on just for that reason. I was just wondering what everyone else did.

[TwoBurgers]

If you have one of the pricey American Sewing (I think it's called) custom covers made for the Cobalt, they ratchet very tightly to the hull and fit like a glove. After three years of towing, I haven't noticed any buffet marks.
I mostly tow with the cover on for a few reasons: 1) I noticed my seats buffet when I am running down the road (enough to loosen the mounting hardware), 2) I don't like having bugs splattered on the boat windshield when I finally get it in the water, 3) I would think it is more aerodynamic to tow with the cover than without, 4) in case of rain, I know the inside will stay very clean, 5) I don't worry about anything blowing out.
Chris

[jhnmdahl]

Mine is more like Twoburgers - no external straps to flap, and cinched down tight to the boat. I have the stock Cobalt mooring cover one, which is pricey but perfect for what we need.

[Big Block Power]

Of course god it's still mad at me and decided to rain today. I had to bring my boat to the canvas shop so I put my factory sharkskin cover on that cinches on and man was I paranoid all the way there. No marks but. Just waiting for something to happen. Last time it will get pulled with that cover. The new ones are much better but this cover is about 4 inches below the rub rail and under the cobalt letters so I was watching for those to get popped off. It made it and my stress level dropped.

[liquid]

I have the bow and cockpit covers. Always tow with them on.

[ColinC]

In early May my new to me Cobalt will be shipped up from Texas to my home in Toronto, Ontario. It's a good haul, so I am wanting to have the boat covered. Seems like the Westland Exact Fit in Sunbrella will fit the bill. Will ask seller and transporter to only use the cinch strap, along with two poles to add tension.

I'm concerned about the cover flapping and leaving marks, but with no straps my gut tells me it should be OK. That said, some sober second opinions from those in the know would be great!

[TwoBurgers]

How does the Exact Fit cover "attach" to the boat?
I would estimate I've towed roughly 5,400 miles in three years between 70 and 50 MPH. The "factory" American Sewing "mooring" cover has two stainless ratchets at the rear corners that tighten a nylon band that is sewn inside the cover and sits just below the stainless rub rail. I was told to tighten the cover such that it is difficult to get a finger between the cover and the hull (very snug). As stated above by me and others, the "factory" mooring cover does not leave marks on the hull. I have heard that some have lost their snap on tonneau covers towing.
The down side it that the mooring cover is expensive - approximately $1200 if I recall.
Chris

[Big Block Power]

Myself I would have him tow it with out the cover. Just me. That cover is the same as my factory one. Westland made them for Cobalt. Unless it's raining. Then cover it if it gets parked for the night. It's going to get dirty anyways. Sure it might save some cleaning. I have had boats towed from Colorado,Texas, Kansas,to Wisconsin with no issues all uncovered.

[ColinC]

BBP - Good idea. Sunny skies, go topless!

2Burgs - As BBP indicated, the Westland is factory OEM for my 2007 212. Prices vary by material and size, but in Sunbrella it runs about $700 and for Sharkskin Supreme (Cobalt spec) it runs about $500. It doesn't have the nylon band with ratchet. Rather, it has a rope instead and some people add a cam-lock to simplify the tightening of the rope. At some point Cobalt switched from Westland to Commercial Sewing and their Outer Armor covers with vacu-hold. Some good videos on YouTube on the Commercial Sewing / Outer Armor cover:

Product Demo - Towing a Cobalt @ 65 MPH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjTHYjhz45o
(looks like they are using poles)

How to Install
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL3CPmNIW5k
(shows how tight it should be at about the 4:05 mark)

[Tuscany]

Personally, I won't travel a mile without a cover. Just my anal tendencies I guess.
I'm not one who likes road grit coating my interior.

[liquid]

Kind of with you on this one Tuscany