Is it possible to tow with the canopy up?

G

geardownthreegreens

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 Sep 2007
Messages
811
Location
Cheltenham
Visit site
Hi guys

I'm now in agreement to purchase a Rinker 212 from North Wales. I live in Cheltenham,quite a long drive.

I'm due to pick up on Sunday but i'm worried about the weather with all this rain.
Now the boat only has a full camper cover. Is it possible/has anyone ever driven a distance with this still left up.

I've never done it and i'm very concerned that the thing would just blow away and me not realise. I'd like to keep the interior dry on the way home and the brokerage said i could keep the cover up.

Any thoughts guy.

Cheers
Si
 
If you are out at sea, the inside is going to get wet anyway? Camper canopies are OK at up to about 35 knts if in good condition, but not up to motorway speed towing.
 
Yes you can tow with the cover up, but you need to limit your speed to reduce the chance of damage. Your boat will do about 45-50mph on the water, so if you stick to that on the road you should be ok.

However if there is any existing damage to the cover or fixings, towing with it up could shred it.

Have a good look round the boat and lockers when you get there, I bought a Bayliner with no tonneau only to find 1 in a locker a couple of weeks later.
 
Cheers guys

Totally understand what your saying here so i'll drop the cover even if it is raining.
Yes i know boats get wet inside :-) but i did'nt really fancy it getting absolutly soaked.

TAKE 5 yes it is that one, do you know anything untoward with this boat, if so please tell !!!

Thanks again guys

Si
 
No not at all. I know nothing about the boat. I have seen it in passing. (she is stored a few spots up from Take5)

Good luck with her.
 
I used to tow a Sealine220 all over the country with the cover up. Used to treat it a bit like a caravan and used to camp in it on longer journeys to eat and sleep. Had no problems.
 
two inputs
even if you fold it up into the bimini bar (if thats how its stored) the bar can get ripped out of the mountings, so take the bar down too.
If you leave it up, watch the height in petrol stations and the like. Apparently its not so rare for someone to lose it all on a low roof !
If you are doing a long tow, its really quite relaxing trundling along mile after mile at a casual 40-50 mph. Funny thing is, you seem to keep getting overtaken by the same drivers who seem to have to zoom past you (and then have to stop).
 
It all depends how good a fit your canopy is, ive had them come undone and bent some tubes, fortunately no permanent damage. However they aren't designed to do 50mph+ and its so easy to speed up momentarily or have a lorry go past and hit you with a big gust of wind.
I'd say take it off everytime, i've even heard of a hardtop on a Birchwood flying off, it was designed for 25mph and 50 was like light speed /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I would strongly suggest removing every bit of canvas that's fitted.

The worst risk you have is a part becoming detached and ending up on someone's windscreen - that could cause a very nasty accident to say the least.

The guy we use for (big) boat transport refuses to move any boat with any form of cover for that very reason and I won't let our staff trail boats with any covers on - although the risk is very slight, the potential consequences are quite dreadful.
 
[ QUOTE ]
ive had them come undone and bent some tubes, fortunately no permanent damage. However they aren't designed to do 50mph+ and its so easy to speed up momentarily or have a lorry go past and hit you with a big gust of wind.

[/ QUOTE ]

I lost mine in exactly this way on the M8 during rush hour in Glasgow.

Twas a sad sight to look in my rerview and watch a Morrisons 38tonner drive right over them.

Ah well, it's only money... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top