How to keep boat cover support poles upright when trailering
#1
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Joined: Jun 2007
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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?
#3
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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.
#4
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Joined: Jun 2021
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From: SW Ohio
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.
#7
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 627
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From: Indiana
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.
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.
#9
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 864
Likes: 250
From: Portland, OR
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
https://a.co/d/2P9vQlQ
Last edited by Diamond Dave; 05-20-2024 at 02:42 PM.
#10
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,296
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From: Merritt Island, FL
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
https://a.co/d/2P9vQlQ




