Highfield… any regrets?

Strecker25 said:
Highfield makes one but they’re backordered in black and cost somewhere in the $550 range. My local canvas guy is making us a custom one but it won’t be ready until after the season starts so I’m using an old generic one I have with some belly straps to keep it in place.
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Yeah, $550 is a lot for a dinghy cover. I was hoping for something a little more polyester and a little more lightweight than a canvas one. Looks like that's the way a lot of folks have gone. I've got a good canvas guy, but was hoping for something off-the-shelf.
 
scooper321 said:
Yeah, $550 is a lot for a dinghy cover. I was hoping for something a little more polyester and a little more lightweight than a canvas one. Looks like that's the way a lot of folks have gone. I've got a good canvas guy, but was hoping for something off-the-shelf.
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The company below makes covers for just about every brand it looks like. Based on my quoting experience having the cover made locally will roughly double the cost - $1k+.

My dink came with one of the covers pictured above that clips to the rub-rail. I disliked the color and thought (at the time) that I wanted one that covered more of the tubes. So I bought one from the folks below. Fast forward to using it for a month and I couldn't stand how much effort it took to get the cover all the way over the tubes and pulled tight. I'm back to using the cover I don't like (color wise) because it's so much easier to use.

https://shop.inflatableboatparts.com/product-category/walker-bay-boat-parts/walker-bay-covers/
 
Stee6043 said:
The company below makes covers for just about every brand it looks like. Based on my quoting experience having the cover made locally will roughly double the cost - $1k+.

My dink came with one of the covers pictured above that clips to the rub-rail. I disliked the color and thought (at the time) that I wanted one that covered more of the tubes. So I bought one from the folks below. Fast forward to using it for a month and I couldn't stand how much effort it took to get the cover all the way over the tubes and pulled tight. I'm back to using the cover I don't like (color wise) because it's so much easier to use.

https://shop.inflatableboatparts.com/product-category/walker-bay-boat-parts/walker-bay-covers/
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So the clip-on cover: does it actually stay on in high winds?
 
Stee6043 said:
The only time I've had an issue was related to operator (me) error. Miss a clip and she's a sail :)
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How do you do a "clip-on" cover with the Highfield tender? I don't think there is a lip on the rub rail to connect the clips...
 
ttmott said:
How do you do a "clip-on" cover with the Highfield tender? I don't think there is a lip on the rub rail to connect the clips...
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Admittedly I have a Walker Bay...I shouldn't even be allowed to post in this thread. But I looked back at the photos and some of the Highfields look to have the same rubrail that I have, enabling the clips to grab?
 
my 310CL has a lip, it wont give at all either because the material is so thick (it might be solid rubber) Seems perfect for the clip system
 
Stee6043 said:
Admittedly I have a Walker Bay...I shouldn't even be allowed to post in this thread. But I looked back at the photos and some of the Highfields look to have the same rubrail that I have, enabling the clips to grab?
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Strecker25 said:
my 310CL has a lip, it wont give at all either because the material is so thick (it might be solid rubber) Seems perfect for the clip system
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I don't seem to remember much of a lip on the CL360; Is this deeper than I think in these photos? I'd really like to go to those clips also...
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Ok so what are you all using for trailers? I was going to get a cheapy and rig it up but they're all rated for 45mph or less. Seems like I might be stuck spending a few bucks on a decent RIB or jetski trailer if I want to tow at real world speeds.
 
Strecker25 said:
Ok so what are you all using for trailers? I was going to get a cheapy and rig it up but they're all rated for 45mph or less. Seems like I might be stuck spending a few bucks on a decent RIB or jetski trailer if I want to tow at real world speeds.
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No trailer here. I'm going to use my step son's F150 in April and November (or December). The rest of the time it will be on my dock or on my swim platform.
 
scooper321 said:
No trailer here. I'm going to use my step son's F150 in April and November (or December). The rest of the time it will be on my dock or on my swim platform.
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I'll likely do the same this year - deflate the tubes and stick it in the bed of my silverado to get it in the water. and put the motor on at the ramp.

local place has a nice one for 1200 that looks like it would support a RIB well. I might store it elsewhere during the winter next year so a trailer would be convienent.

https://www.brycemarine.com/new-mod...ingle-pwc-trailer-rochester-ny-14626-1330203i
 
Strecker25 said:
Ok so what are you all using for trailers? I was going to get a cheapy and rig it up but they're all rated for 45mph or less. Seems like I might be stuck spending a few bucks on a decent RIB or jetski trailer if I want to tow at real world speeds.
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Continental AWC11E aluminum. Where I bought the Highfield they had this trailer in the yard which was "used" but it looked brand new; all of the paint was still on the springs which in Florida is rare.
 
scooper321 said:
Yeah, $550 is a lot for a dinghy cover. I was hoping for something a little more polyester and a little more lightweight than a canvas one. Looks like that's the way a lot of folks have gone. I've got a good canvas guy, but was hoping for something off-the-shelf.
Click to expand...
Go to www.defender.com. They have lots of inexpensive covers for dinghy’s.
 
Strecker25 said:
Ok so what are you all using for trailers? I was going to get a cheapy and rig it up but they're all rated for 45mph or less. Seems like I might be stuck spending a few bucks on a decent RIB or jetski trailer if I want to tow at real world speeds.
Click to expand...
Stickers are for people that can’t think for themselves….. and some liability crap…. You ever rent a uhaul trailer….55mph max or you will die
BB6AFFBD-FC4F-4D01-8A33-CCF770EF89E0.png
 
Blueone said:
Stickers are for people that can’t think for themselves….. and some liability crap…. You ever rent a uhaul trailer….55mph max or you will die
View attachment 122989
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hahah it’s funny you say that, I rented a 12x6 uhaul to go get the dinghy and had to chuckle at the 55mph sticker on the fender
 
Strecker25 said:
Ok so what are you all using for trailers? I was going to get a cheapy and rig it up but they're all rated for 45mph or less. Seems like I might be stuck spending a few bucks on a decent RIB or jetski trailer if I want to tow at real world speeds.
Click to expand...

I use a typical Jet Ski trailer. They are mass produce and cheap. Bought it used of craigslist for a few hundred bucks. I then used 4 pieces of unistrut to raise the bunks to a height that the tubes no longer sit on the fenders.
 
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