Towing- with or without cover?

[erbster]

Hi folks,

Opinions please: do you tow with or without the cover?

I collected my boat from HM with the cover; Bob and I fitted it. I drove it approx 120 miles home. Seemed slightly "billowy". I fitted the cover a little snugger (I thought), but during its next journey, the tail end of the cover had shredded itself- anyone else experience similar? Was I not supposed to tow with it? The only downside to towing with cover on seems to be to prevent encrusting by squashed flies....

[Ru88ell]

I towed with mine for the first time on Friday, and it has so many rips that I'll need to get it repaired now. I won't bother in future - just use it for storage.

[Dennis]

I tow without the cover if I am going to launch the boat at the end of the tow. I travel with the mast supported by the tabernacle and a simple mast/boom crutch resting in the outboard well.

However, when I am taking the boat to it's winter storage or maybe to HM for TLC, I usually leave all the spars in my garage and fit the HM cover. I also usually fit a boom subsitute (part of an old mast from a previous boat) to the tabernacle gooseneck mounting and support it on the simple boom crutch at the aft end. The cover goes over the top, forming a tent shape, allowing rain to freely run off. Otherwise I end up with gallons of water lying on/in the cover over the cockpit.

I have not experienced any billowing of the cover whilst towing, But I always make sure that it is tight and cannot flap.

Hope this helps.

[seasickwhale]

Hi all,

what are your covers made of? I am surprized you have rips when towing. I had mine made of the material used for truck covers - I have towed for appr. 6000 miles without any damage.

My cover has a ratchet-type fastener going through a "tunnel" around the bottom of the cover. This pulls the cover tight under the rubbing strake all around the hull (see http://www.capecutter19.org/forum/album ... ctureid=57 - the ratchet is right at the bow). Also I use the fastening straps under the cover as support against excess flapping.

[Dennis]

Hello Stephan

The HM supplied covers are made from PU coated Acrylic Canvas weight 520 grammes per square metre. This is very heavy and tough.

I also am amazed that anyone could manage to shred such material.

[Ru88ell]

The issue seems to relate to a) how you tie down the back, and b) if you have any sharp edges. Stephan's cover was tailor made to suit his towing arrangement, yet the standard cover is more random and doesn't dictate where the mast lies.

Also, as I tow regularly I fitted a stubby VHF antenna so that I didn't need to keep making the screw connection each time. I also have protruding bolts where the NASA wind instrument fits, and these were on the top and rubbed through.

I learned my lesson now and won't ever use the cover other than for storage. I'm hopeful that Zephyr is resistant to rain water anyway.

[Dennis]

I'm hopeful that Zephyr is resistant to rain water anyway.

Only if you tow it upside down on the trailer!

[Ru88ell]

Only if you tow it upside down on the trailer!

I have changed a few deck fittings and need to add a skim of Sikaflex to seal them, but other than that the hatch doesn't leak in a Gale 8 with very heavy rain (last Saturday). There's only the gap between the hatch and perspex panel to consider, and at 60mph I doubt that much rain will get in through it!

Zephyr is also cleaner after a journey in the rain.

[erbster]

My cover was tied as tightly as I was able to get it when I towed. Had no trouble with my previous boat.