Newbee question on trailering

gbolton

gbolton

New Member
Jun 24, 2007
130
Memphis, TN
Boat Info
2002 230 Signature Bow Rider
Engines
5.7 Liter EFI
I am picking up my boat tomorrow. It is about a 3 hour drive to pick it up.
I have a question on pulling the boat. Do you leave your bimini up (Contained in the cover of course) when driving? I am leary about letting it rest all the way down, because it could scratch the boat.
Or do you remove the bimini entirely? I will probably put on my bow and cockpit covers because there is a 50% chance of rain.

Any other advice on best known methods? I have pulled boats before, but they have been pontoon boats.

I am very excited to actually bring her home. I ended up getting a Hamby installed and some minor gel coat work completed. It should be ready hit the lakes.

Thanks
 
I leave my bimini booted and in the up position. Do check the mounts where the fiberglass and the support poles meet as they have been known to work loose. As for leaving the covers on I only did that once and that did not go well.

Searide has the same boat and he pulls it with his covers on and his bimini in the bed of the truck. Searide has a 10 for a boat even though he has over 400 hours on it.

What is a Hamby?

Enjoy your boat and welcome to CSR.

Paul
 
If your bimini ( in cover ) gets wet it will take an extra beating while towing....for short rain free tows, I'd leave it up....for longer trips ( like over an hour ) I'd take it down rain or shine.
 
GBolton,

Paul is correct. My boat has the U-Shaped rear bench. So I can also lay the bimini along the bench as well. The easiest way to do so is flip up the Pilot/co-pilot bucket seat bolsters and then turn then rotate the seats so the seat backs are back to back. Then lower the bimini. First, pull the pins from the rear supports and use the velcro to attach the aft bimini support from the forward bimini suport. Next pull the forward bimini pins and revmove the top. Then place the left bimini assembly support (portion where the aft bimini support attatches to the forward or main bimini support) into storage cubby area just forward of the LH Bench drink holder and then lower the RH side into the same position. Afterwards rap any exposed metal from the bimini with towels so that none of the interior fittings are damaged on your trip home.

I believe our layouts are the same, but SR may have resdesigned the interior slightly on the '01 and newer models so that this method may not work, but give it a shot.
 
I lay it down and use bungee cords and towels to secure it.

As for the covers always off when trailering
 
Thanks for the reply's on the bimini. As for the cover, I do not plan to put it on unless it is raining. I have been told that all the debree from the road and rain get all over the seats and was recommended by friends that have other boats to cover it if a down pour is coming.
Now the covers I am talking about is the bow and cockpit covers that have snaps.
 
Ever since my two snaps that hold down the engine hatch came loose causing the engine hatch to fly up like a sail and break the gas shocks a while back I leave mine down to keep everything closed.
 
jacktm does what I do pretty much. I never travel with it up unless it's the <10 trip to the local lake. I tested it on a 90 trip once and it did affect MPG. I don't like it wriggling around at that speed and the vibrations either.

I have 2 pieces of thick felt that I wrap around it where it rests on the rear mounts and use a bungy to hold them down.

I also NEVER tow without the bow and cockpit covers and never have. No problem at all. Some people have problems and to them I say, something is wrong with the fitment of the covers. MPG will suffer, bugs etc. will splatter the interior and you may not notice cushions flying off or things flying out. Always with covers on; it's what they are made for.
 
IMHO I tow with the bimini booted and in the up position. The bow and cockpit covers in place. Always check the snaps and attachments when I stop.
 
gbolton said:
Do you leave your bimini up (Contained in the cover of course) when driving?
Click to expand...

Not any more. On mine, the zipper on my rear section cover separated while going down the freeway. That left the bimini exposed to flap in the wind. I ended up replacing it.

Never do that anymore, even if only going 5 miles. Been there, done that. :smt013
 
chuck1 said:
IMHO I tow with the bimini booted and in the up position. The bow and cockpit covers in place. Always check the snaps and attachments when I stop.
Click to expand...

This is how I did mine recently when I went from Tampa to Punta Gorda.

I wasn't driving 90mph though more like between 60 and 75mph and that seemed fine.
 
who was it that built the y-shaped pvc braces that go in rear bimini supports to support the bimini up off the vinyl and fiberglass while traveling yet you don't have to pull the bimini. this might have been from the old SRO site.

When I bought my boat, the rear seat had road rash on it from where it blew out of the boat on the previous owner.

When traveling on long trips I will use my bow cover to keep the wind out of the boat. On short trips I open that door to the under helm storage to close off the bow and keep the wind from traveling through the boat.
 
Thanks for all the reply's. This information helps me out a lot. I am just waiting for the call from the dealer and I am heading out to pick it up. Hopefully the rain storms will not hit to bad.
I am also stopping at the local bass pro store to get Tie downs for the back and front. Wish me luck. Should hopefully be on the water this weekend.
 
Well I was just called and the boat is not ready. I have to wait another day.
 
For trips less than 30 minutes I leave the bimini up; anything longer I lay it down because it does tend to flutter a bit at speed. I usually leave the canvas cockpit and bow covers on, although at some point I'll probably get a full cover.
 
Just a side note. On the Sundecks we have the extra cross frame and the frame is mounted to the fiberglass, not the windshield, so may make a difference. I think most of the Bow-riders, Selects and Sports the frame is mounted to the windshield. :huh:
 
I hope they are ready to take you money tomorrow :grin: . Have them through in a new graphics package for delay of game :wink: .
 
In my owner's manual or the instructional DVD I seem to recall Sea Ray advising to tow with the bimini top down. I never tow with it up.

Kevin
 
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