How to keep boat cover support poles upright when trailering
 

Have boat with 2 support poles holding up the cockpit cover. They tend to fall down when trailering, leading to water pooling on the cover. Anybody have any tricks to keep both support poles upright at highway speeds?

I had some in the past that had a snap on the end and one on the canvas so it wouldn't fall over. Same snaps they use to hold the covers on.

I have a feeling mine are lifting up with the air turbulence created at highway speeds. Hence they stay attached to the cover, yet come loose from the floor at highway speed, but then when I slow down they poles don't stay upright and fall to the floor.

Ultraboy,

Assuming you have poles that are affixed to the cover in some manner, and it's the bottoms of the poles slipping out from under the cover that is the problem....

We have the same problem. I have been intending to make a "harness" out of bungie cords that will hook on the legs of our bolster seats and capture the bottom of the pole, similar to how an umbrella is nested under a patio table. Imagine an "X" of bungie cords with a circle in the middle. Don't know if this would work with your particular layout, though.

Thanks. Brad.

On mine the cover is so tight it holds them down. Are you trailering with a cockpit cover or full?

Have a picture of the cover on the boat?

Are the poles adjustable??? If so extend them another inch or 2. If not, put a throwable pfd on the floor below them.

Kinda crude but here’s what I did.
Get 1gal paint can with friction fit lid.
Cut a hole in the lid big enough to put a piece of PVC in that your prop rod will fit in.
Hold PVC in place and pour concrete/mortar mix in can. (1/2 can is enough)
Pour in water, snap lid on to hold PVC straight and let it set up.
Use them on my full cover and cockpit cover.
Just set them in back of truck when cover is off.

It’s a cockpit cover. Poles are as long as I can get them to still allow the cover to snap on. If I make the poles too long the tension in the cover will not allow them to snap.

My current cover has this. It functions as a vent too but does not let rain etc in. Definitely holds the pole in place on the topside. They make feet for the poles if you have a problem with that moving as well. If your cover is loose and flapping in the wind you need to address that.

https://a.co/d/2P9vQlQ

I have those same ones, does make a difference.