Towing boat on highway with convertible top up

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ddurand

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Is there an issue with towing a boat at highway speeds with the convertible top up rather than taking it down and folding it up for the trip?

If its just a matter that it will beat up the canvas a bit, its an older top and getting ready for replacement in a year or two.
 
Don't do it. 30-40 mph, as a boat would do, is marginal; highway speeds--no way!
 
If I plan on going faster than I would normally drive the boat, I don’t leave it up. If it’s a short haul at lower speeds, why not?
Jim
 
While my boat does hit about 52 mph at wot, and I have been known to do it with the Bimini top up - it’s whipping around like crazy, and I generally don’t stay at wide open for more than a few minutes,

“Highway speed” - nope, although not entirely sure because you didn’t describe your “convertible” top. is it canvas, or some other cloth material? If so, no.
 
I mis-read the question. I thought it was the car with the rag top, and could not understand why you would slow down.

<sigh>

I did once tow an 18 ft Hobie at highway speeds, but the trampoline made an inverted wing and gave the trailer huge downforce. It seriously hugged the road...
 
Keep the location of a canvas shop handy so that you can drop off the boat at the end of the trip.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Radioactive

I mis-read the question. I thought it was the car with the rag top, and could not understand why you would slow down.

<sigh>

I did once tow an 18 ft Hobie at highway speeds, but the trampoline made an inverted wing and gave the trailer huge downforce. It seriously hugged the road...

Click to expand...


The top is Sunbrella. It's a convertible top that is attached to top of the windshield. Not a bimini that just covers the cockpit area but is not attached to the windshield.
 
Why not just release the aft end and hinge/fold it forward against the top of the windshield , very tightly furled & secured there. Wouldn't you do that before a big wind storm?
 
I assume you need to trailer on non rainy days if the convertible is down and folded up?
 
You have any pictures, because I don’t think I understand what a ‘convertible top’ is. Aft of where it’s snapped to the windshield, how does it attach? Is it entirely canvas, or does it have clear “windows” ?

I have three covers for my boat, Trailer cover, which obviously I can trailer with at any speed. Attached to the trailer frame with probably 10 straps, and a draw string around the base.

Mooring cover, which I trailer with any any speed. Attached to the windshield, and tight to the gunwales and across the transom with snaps, Something like this.. http://canvasmasterswnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ski-boat-mooring-cover-2.jpg

And of course a Bimini top, which I trailer with just to get around parking lots and such

https://www.boatcoversdirect.com/pr...55&utm_content=Shopping - Brand - Carver - JF

I used to also have what I called a camper top, which essentially was a combination of a mooring cover, snapped all the way around, but extended up to the height of a Bimini top, with clear eisenglass windows all around, aluminum tube frames with a few straps holding them in place. No trailering with this one. I am guessing this is what you have?

If so, might be time to start shopping for a trailer cover; those are generally pretty cheap compared to the custom fit options. Well, boat cheap at least.
 
The one with the clear windows? That’s a nice looking cover. I would not tow with that. I suppose you could, in theory my mooring cover isn’t really made for trailering, and I have been doing it for 20 years. But mine is all canvas, no eisenglass, no zippers.

Are you going to be towing a lot? If so, try something like this? http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/191272426594-0-1/s-l1000.jpg

Or else just take the cover down, and let the boat get wet if it happens to rain.

https://cover.world/boat-covers/cha...ive=&msclkid=8c34aaaf4d971f1b1d0af5031736cafa
 
The plan is to put it in a slip next summer. No trailering to speak of.
 
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