I am not sure where this subject should be posted.  I have been told that you will increase your tow vehicle mileage by towing with the boat cover in place.  We have a two piece snap on cover for our 260LS bow rider that was custom made for the boat and came with it from the dealer.  I have towed the boat several times on short hauls (25 miles each way back and forth between the marina and the dealer) with the cover on with no problem.  My concern is that right on the covers is a tag that says towing with these in place voids the cover warranty.

Any suggestions or comments on the best way to tow for a 250 mile trip (500 mile round trip)?

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Bruce
Cincinnati, OH
2006 260 LS
350 Mag-Bravo 3
Rivertowne Marina

I tow with covers on and have never had a problem. It will reduce wind drag. I can't see that leaving them on would cause any problem or damage if its a decent canvas conver.

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1998 Corwnline 180BR (1st boat)
Waterford, MI
Go STATE!

Bruce,

I tow with my covers on and have not had any problems.  I usually cruise at 70 MPH on the freeway but have had it over 75 MPH with no problems.  You just want to make sure that you have the center support poles to their maximum height so that you keep the covers from moving the least amount possible and double check that all the buttons are completely snapped, especially the front ones.  The longest haul I have experience with is about 200 miles.

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Neil Drzewiecki
2007 200 LS
5.0 MPI
"Wahoo II"

I always tow with the covers on, have with both of the Crownlines and have never had an issue. I really wouldn't be afraid to do it on a long haul, just keep an eye on things.

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2001 266 LTD 496 Mag W/ BIII
" More Nauti Medicine "

I never tow with the covers on. To me  thats just one more thing to worry about. A cover becoming loose and scuffing the gel coat. Thats why boats are shaped the way they are to slice threw the air. I recently have spoken to a professional bass fisherman who tows over thirty-thousand miles a year and never tows with the cover on. He pretty much verified my thoughts about covers. I know Crownlines are not as aerodynamic as a bass boat but they don't push air like a cab-over tractor trailer.  just my thoughts........

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2004 202lpx 350mag

I've towed 8 hours to Table Rock and 17 hours to Norris with my covers on - without any problems.  I use the 3M Blue Painters tape on the leading edges of my bow cover and where the cockpit cover snaps to the bottom of the windshield -- this helps deflect the air from getting under the edges and unsnapping the covers.  The tape doesn't look real hi-tech, but it is easy to remove (no leftover tape residue) and I haven't had any snaps come undone. 

I once towed my previous Crownline without the covers and got caught in a rainstorm.  The rain dried out quickly, but the leftover road grime from the traffic mist took a long time to clean up.  It got all over the interior, in the carpet, etc.  Yuck!  

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Rick & Chris Plies
"Panacea 2"
Lincoln, NE USA

An Education is what you get when you Read the Instructions,
Experience is what you get if you don't...

We just towed from Tampa to Norris Lake (730 miles one way) with our covers on.  Just think about all that road grime and dirt that will get in your boat without your covers.

The "warranty" is probably claiming that they could rip or something so they won't cover it.  But they aren't expensive to repair with a patch and my boat is worth too much to not tow with covers.

I used some blue painters tape on the front of the covers to keep some of the pesky snaps from unsnapping and it worked great.  In addition, I also did NOT use the front rain pole.  I inflated one of our tubes partially and used that instead.  The wind just makes the cover look like the pole is going to poke through.

I've towed to Cumberland (800 or so miles) and Norris twice (730 miles one way) with my snap covers on and have never had a problem.

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Mike Betine:

I never tow with the covers on. To me  thats just one more thing to worry about. A cover becoming loose and scuffing the gel coat. Thats why boats are shaped the way they are to slice threw the air. I recently have spoken to a professional bass fisherman who tows over thirty-thousand miles a year and never tows with the cover on. He pretty much verified my thoughts about covers. I know Crownlines are not as aerodynamic as a bass boat but they don't push air like a cab-over tractor trailer.  just my thoughts........

Does a professional bass fisherman take as good a care of his perly white interior as a Crownie does?  I doubt it.  I've never had a cover cause any damage but I've towed 40 miles without my covers and got caught in the rain.  Never again.  All that road grime getting all over my pretty white seats.  Forget about it.  I've got at least 5,000 miles a year towing my last two boats and they are always covered unless we are going to the local ramp 15 minutes away.  And then the covers are still in the truck in case it looks like rain.

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Rick Plies:

I've towed 8 hours to Table Rock and 17 hours to Norris with my covers on - without any problems.  I use the 3M Blue Painters tape on the leading edges of my bow cover and where the cockpit cover snaps to the bottom of the windshield -- this helps deflect the air from getting under the edges and unsnapping the covers.  The tape doesn't look real hi-tech, but it is easy to remove (no leftover tape residue) and I haven't had any snaps come undone. 

I once towed my previous Crownline without the covers and got caught in a rainstorm.  The rain dried out quickly, but the leftover road grime from the traffic mist took a long time to clean up.  It got all over the interior, in the carpet, etc.  Yuck!  

Yeah.  What he said!!  Guess I should have read all the posts before I replied!  Took the words right out of my mouth Rick.

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Ditto to Rick and Ryan,

I also use painters tape on the front of the bow cover and at the windshield base and I double check the snaps whenever we stop.  No Problems.

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'My TAI'
2006 230 LS
350 Mag

Thanks for all the advice.  I will be picking up some painters tape today.

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Bruce
Cincinnati, OH
2006 260 LS
350 Mag-Bravo 3
Rivertowne Marina

The painters tape worked great.  Back and forth from Cincinnati to Norris lake, in the rain most of the time, with no problems.  I also took the advice of someone else and used a small tube to help support the canvas over the sunpad in the rear.

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Bruce
Cincinnati, OH
2006 260 LS
350 Mag-Bravo 3
Rivertowne Marina

Glad to hear it worked out.  Lots of useful information to be had around here!!

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I got our local shop to sew in a piece of sunbrella on the cockpit cover at the windshield opening.  Then it flips over and has velcro which attaches to the bow cover.  Even when it pours rain I never get any water between the bow and cockpit cover.  It only cost me $50 to have it done. 

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Glenn Jones
2007 - 240LS, Onyx/Moonstone ,6.2L/B3,
Razor Graphics,Xtreme Tower ,Corsa Exhaust.
Deluxe Social Swim Platform,

Calgary,Alberta,Canada

 Glenn,

 Can you either post or email me a picture of this set up?  Because of the rain on the way to Norris we got water in the boat at this junction.  I would be interested in seeing how this works.  Have you towed the boat at high speed with this set up?

 Thanks,

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Bruce
Cincinnati, OH
2006 260 LS
350 Mag-Bravo 3
Rivertowne Marina