Engine Cover opened while trailoring

cpditty

cpditty

Member
Oct 5, 2006
122
Rogers, Minnesota
Boat Info
200 Sundeck
Engines
4.3 Alpha 1
I know this post is out there somewhere but I was unable to find it. I was trailoring my boat to the St Croix river on Saturday and I looked in my rear veiw mirror and noticed my engine compartment open. I pulled over to put it back down then noticed the corner seat cushion missing. We turned around and retrieved the slightly damaged cushion off the the shoulder of the highway and headed back towards the river. I did not even get to the next exit before the engine cover was up again. I pulled off and covered the boat and when I reached the river and took her cover off the cover was up again... This has never happened before, what can I do? I seem to remember some of you putting a latch on the cover to keep it down. If so can you throw me a link to a thread or post some pictures for me.

Thanks,
CP
 
I have had a similar problem, My 230 Select has three hinged covers on the rear. 1. for engine compartment, and one on each side for batteries and storage. The local SR dealer told me that this is a common problem and installed small straps with snaps on each to keep them snapped down.

I actually believe its a design flaw, the center section engine cover is held down by a plastic mushroom type fitting that pushes into a rubber bushing. I just doesn't work. When the center section lifts due to wind, it pulls the left and right side up with it. Eventually, it will pull up hard enough to pull the gas shocks off of the hatch and destroy the hinges.

Mike
 
My long-sold 1982 had a cover that simply slid back into place. The cover always slid forward during trailering. It wedged against the seats and I never saw any harm. It does say something about the aerodynamics.
 
I didn't read through that post linked above (it was quite long!), so forgive me if I'm repeating something.

What we do is put a rubber latch on the side of the engine hatch - any spot that's not in your way. You may have seen the type of latch I'm referring to being used on other Sea Ray's to hold companion-way doors open.

Ever see the rubber latches used to hold down the hood of a big truck or a school bus? Same thing, just smaller.

I've never been a fan of that "rubber cup" idea.
 
That is what my dealer used, the rubber cup thing. They replaced the magnet set for the port side (walk thru) cover with a rubber ball and socket type setup. I have had no problems since.
 
Why don't you use your cockpit & tonneau covers when you're trailering?
 
CP, the other thing you could try is just replacing the rubber cup with a new one. Maybe it's lost it's elasticity. Can you feel the black knob "snapping" into the cup? Maybe the cup has moved out of place. That happens on ocassion, too. You might be able to raise the cup a bit by shimming it with some washers - it might make it catch better.
 
That happen to us except the entire engine cover came off and ended up in the middle of the road!:smt021

Since then when we trailer the bowrider I strap a bungee cord from a cleat down to the seat compartment.:thumbsup:
 
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