Towing with cover and bimini

N369RM

N369RM

Member
Jan 1, 2010
111
Destin Florida
Boat Info
1998 270 DA
Engines
7.4 Merc, Bravo III
I have a 1998 270 DA that has has two sets of poles for the bimini. I would think that to tow the boat I would have the tow cover on it, the biminis wrapped in their boots and that they would lay down secured on the boat and laying down on top of the cover.

I am concerned that the weight of the bimini cannot rest on the cover and the center pole of the cover cannot handle the "bouncing" of the bimini boots.

How do you tow your boats with the biminis secured? Pics would be appreciated.

Pics of my boat with and without biminis are attached. Side view..jpgSide view.jpg

Ron Mason
 
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On my previous boat I towed with & without the cockpit cover but always had the canvas rolled up & covered but in the upright position.

LK
 
When I tow, it is for at least 1,100 miles one way. Therefore, I tow with the cockpit cover on and the Bimini hardware, that is removable on my boat, stowed.
 
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As others have said the distance and speed are the big variables. The choice to use a cover or not is just that, a choice, and has pros and cons both ways. The local dealers deliver boats regularly without covers., so just make sure nothing is loose to blow out. When I tow local (less than 30 miles) and do not plan to exceed 45 mph the bimini's are rolled in their boot but still up. When I tow at interstate speeds I lay them down on the cover. Lay the back one forward and the front on top of it to the back. This has not harmed my cover at all. I once reversed them and the air movement picked up the rear and swung it over and it was hanging off the back. This also bent the frame a little. I learned all this through the school of hard knocks and at the cost of a new rear bimini and cover and the mentioned bent frame. Really do not want to take them off and put in the cabin every tow.

MM
 
techmitch said:
Camper and Bimini including poles will fit easily into cabin.
Click to expand...

MonacoMike said:
As others have said the distance and speed are the big variables. The choice to use a cover or not is just that, a choice, and has pros and cons both ways. The local dealers deliver boats regularly without covers., so just make sure nothing is loose to blow out. When I tow local (less than 30 miles) and do not plan to exceed 45 mph the bimini's are rolled in their boot but still up. When I tow at interstate speeds I lay them down on the cover. Lay the back one forward and the front on top of it to the back. This has not harmed my cover at all. I once reversed them and the air movement picked up the rear and swung it over and it was hanging off the back. This also bent the frame a little. I learned all this through the school of hard knocks and at the cost of a new rear bimini and cover and the mentioned bent frame. Really do not want to take them off and put in the cabin every tow.

MM
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4 Pins, just sayin.
 
The fact is that a 270 boat does not "stow" very well the bimini. In fact it is a good way to tear up the below deck as an "old" hole in the interior door indicates.

This is why I wanted to start this string because I assumed people towed their boats differently and stowed their biminis differently as well.

I liked the idea of Monacomike's way to stow the biminis for travel.

I was thinking that a little rope around both together to hold them in place would be good.

Ron Mason
 
My bimini goes in the bed of my truck.
 
MonacoMike said:
I secure the loose bimini legs with velcro straps, otherwise they don't move. MM
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i do the same as Mike....use velcro straps to wrap around the bimini legs.....after i put the cover on the rolled up bimini top i remove the rear pins and lay the top forward...the folded up top lays nicely on top of the windshield...i use a bungee cord to secure the top down to the top of the windshield....i only have a single bimini....

i have towed with and without the cockpit cover in place...i personally like to tow without the cover on because the wind tends to stretch the cover and makes it a little loose...i can usually take up most of the slack in the cover by increasing the length of the support rod for the cover but this is just anothe step to take....the cover will eventually shrink back to normal size after a while and then i have to readjust the support pole length again....not a big deal but just extra work....

cliff
 
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I have never put the bimini's down. I always tow with them in their upright position and usually with the cockpit cover on. It's not bad to take them down - I just have never found the need to do so on my boat or any of the other hundreds of Sea Ray's I've towed.
 
Lazy Daze said:
I have never put the bimini's down. I always tow with them in their upright position and usually with the cockpit cover on. It's not bad to take them down - I just have never found the need to do so on my boat or any of the other hundreds of Sea Ray's I've towed.
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That is probably not a problem for relatively short hauls, however, on long hauls the vibration will start to loosen up the supports.
 
JerryS said:
That is probably not a problem for relatively short hauls, however, on long hauls the vibration will start to loosen up the supports.
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I've got about 6,000 miles on my rig (up to 500 miles at a time) and have yet to see any screw loose. But, I do check them every once and a while - so far they have not been loose.

If I was going on a long trip (like a once a year thing), I might consider taking them down. But on a day to day thing (which, if I guessed right, is what the OP is asking about?), I don't see the need.
 
Dennis, what speeds do you run while towing? I have never had an issue at under 50-60 mph but 70+ worked my zippers back and tore my top.

MM
 
70 to 75, Mike. I've had that happen on older zippers, but not on anything that is only a few years old. On my old 215EC (had old, "well worn" zippers), I just used a very small bungee - through the zipper pull eye, around the bimin pole and back to the pull. Actually that 215 was the only time I experienced that.
 
I don't have a cockpit cover but the front top is up in the boot and rear lays down again booted
 
Lazy Daze said:
I've got about 6,000 miles on my rig (up to 500 miles at a time) and have yet to see any screw loose. But, I do check them every once and a while - so far they have not been loose.

If I was going on a long trip (like a once a year thing), I might consider taking them down. But on a day to day thing (which, if I guessed right, is what the OP is asking about?), I don't see the need.
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This sounds like a p*ssin' contest over nothing.
The OP did not saying anything about time or distance, but, if you notice, he is showing a Florida home port and a boat with a Utah registration.
Now, if you want to tow a long distance and hope that no screws are going to come loose and the Bimini isn't going to go flying - have at it. I will play it safe and stow my Bimini.
 
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Lazy Daze said:
70 to 75, Mike. I've had that happen on older zippers, but not on anything that is only a few years old. On my old 215EC (had old, "well worn" zippers), I just used a very small bungee - through the zipper pull eye, around the bimin pole and back to the pull. Actually that 215 was the only time I experienced that.
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The air flow unzipped one end and then the Bimini end unrolled and shredded the end.

We have some wide open, flat, straight, and lightly traveled, highway one can easily run the 70 mph speed limit with good equipment. This is flyover country.

MM
 
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