Offshoreonly.com - trailering a 288 w/ factory cockpit cover ??

Troutly,
I had to bring this one up because I have also traveled many miles with the cover on with no problems until this week. I made the 2000 mile trip there no problems, and on the way back from Havasu in New Mexico, I saw the entire cover, with the two poles, fly straight up and into the median. One of the poles was run over by a semi. I retrieved the cover and second pole. The only damage was that it tore the two straps that snap around the back rails off. They stayed with the boat. Can be sewn back on easily. It also pulled one snap from the fiberglass. I got a new on in no problem. It also pulled a snap through the cover which I will have replaced when I get the straps sewn back on. It was probably my fault. I was doing about 70 and it was pretty windy out. Never had any problems before that. I'm lucky the cover didn't get run over. I was amazed how it even came off as it did.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Troutly

I have trailered all of my Formulas with the cover on (some for thousands of miles over all). I have never had any issues doing so. I do nothing more than snap the cover on, place the poles when half way done, and go. No towels, no tape, no nothing.

Now, on the Baja 252 we use to have I had to add some extra snaps to the front as it would come loose while towing. That fixed that problem.

I can see on the Sun' boats where people would be concerned with the cover rubbing against the paint on the fairing, but if the cover is fit well with the proper amount of snaps it should not be an issue. Either having the cover lined or using the towels would alleviate that concern if it proved out to be a valid one.

Also, if the cover is made out of a high quality material (the one Formula uses is very high quality and expensive) you should not have any abnormal wear if using it while towing.