Trailering with boat top up

[Go Harley]

When I bought my sled a few years ago, the dealer warned me to never trailer the boat with the canvas top up at highway speeds because it would tear the top up. However, I've seen many boats traveling I5 with their top up.

Is it a matter of who built the top or the make of the boat? How many out there usually trailer down the highway with the top up?

[Mack Slayer]

Check out this thread for some lively debate on this same subject: http://www.ifish.net/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=018329

My conclusion is that some boat makers (e.g. Duckworth, I believe) do make trailerable tops. Otherwise, you can have some heavy-duty custom work done --- provided the angles are not too severe.

[Jet Drifter]

My boat salesman informed me to trailer my boat at highway speeds with my top up ONLY when I have all the side and back curtans zipped closed. I've been following that advice for almost a year up and down I-5, etc, without any problems showing up yet. He gave me the impresion that with my top up, AND WITHOUT curtains zipped shut, that back-drafts like from semi-trucks passing me, or visa versa, same direction or opposite directions, would stress the canopy, contributing to increased wear, to break a stich in a seam. Anyway, that's what I'm working with.
The same salesman recomended that I should not try to trailer at highway speeds with my stern cover, zipped to the top, but snapped every 18 inches around the gunnel because the snaps may un-snap, and every other snap is some kind of "heavy duty snap".
I trust my zipper. :grin:

[Hawg Hunter]

Harley,
My Jetcraft has a welded tube steel frame under the top so you can tow it at 70 and it won't hurt it. I have seen other manufacturers offer something similiar, so that is what you are probably seeing. My partner has a boat that we have to take down the top when we go on long trips or it will tear it. :cheers:

[Rubber Robin]

Duckworth builds their tops so that trailering is no problem! It is nice not having to take the top down every time you hit the highway.

Duck it!!!!!!!!! :grin: :grin:

[jimh]

It depends on the top design. If the company says no, then I wouldn't tow it stock.

My Custom Weld has a top that was designed to be towable. My boat a Cobra SE has a rigid frame that bolts on even though it is a soft top. I suppose you could reinforce your top since some manufacturers make towable tops.

[Go Harley]

Mack Slayer; thanks for that link to the other thread. That answered mongosso questions.