www.iFourWinns.com

I have a H 180 and have a few trips planned that will take us 3 and 6 hours away from home. Do you recommend snapping the covers on for the trip or will that do more harm than leaving them off?

_________________
2008 Four Winns 224 Funship 5.0 GXI/DP Black w/ Tower
2007 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed / Bose Ed.
2007 Fourwinns H180 (SOLD)

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people"

I have been driving mine around with the snap on cover without problems but it has been for no more then an hour at a time.

_________________
2007 H210
2011 Chevrolet Tahoe LT

Run a search on that topic here. There was a pretty long thread discussing it last year.

_________________
Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

Hey Marc, I need to send you a PM.

I always tow with covers on, although the manual says not to. I just double and triple check to make sure all snaps are tight before heading out. I'd rather not have the interior exposed to direct sun that long for no reason, and the interior stays a lot cleaner. The down side is having to take time to put them on and take them off.

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I used to not like towing with canvas on until i realized how dirty my boat gets when I don't. The way I see it, the canvas is easily replaceable if it wears out and should be used to protect the rest of the interior. But I still take precautions. I use pipe insulation around my windshield frame to protect it from the camper top snaps.

_________________
Former owner of:
1996 Four Winns Horizon 200 5.8L VP
2006 Four Winns Horizon 260 8.1L VP
2007 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer

Current boat
2004 Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport Twin 350 Mags

I have aleays towed with the cockpit cover on......on all of the boats that we've owned.

_________________
Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

The snaps on my windshield frame are starting to wear through my cockpit cover. I'm having the cover reinforced in that area this week, like my mooring cover on the last boat was.

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

I too have always towed my FW boats with the cockpit cover on. Local lakes are at least an hour drive, powell is 6-7 hours depending on which marina we go to.
I have never (knock on wood) had a problem with canvas during our travels.

_________________
2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

I brought up this topic with my dealer, and they said that they have always towed with covers on. I tow with covers on and just use some painter's tape on the windshield frame during longer trips to prevent the paint from rubbing off. I think there's more potential for damage with them off - interior carpet, rear jump seats, rear sundeck - all could come lose without your knowledge and do some nice damage.

_________________
2007 180 Horizon

I tow as far as 10 hours at a time, and always leave the snap on covers on. I usually limit my speed to 70mph max so they don't stretch. If they did stretch, I'd probably just wash them in warm water to try and shrink them back..!!

Definately tow with them on. I remember one time towing back from the ramp with them off and having a life jacket come loose and fly out - luckily it missed the guy behind me and he picked it up and returned it to me when we stopped at the next set of lights!

_________________


Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

All depends on the weather for me. I do both!

If I cover it, I run some shrink wrap tap across the fromt window to keep air fom going up and under. I also add foam noodles cut in hald around the corners of my windshield.

As for my Bimini, I leave the framing up but take ALL of the canvas off!

Locally I am 1 mile from the ramp, thru subdivision streets, so I hardly even ever put straps on the stern let alone do the canvas at the ramp!!!!!!

_________________
Boating is not an expense, it's a lifestyle!!

I actually have done both, and observed a DRASTIC difference in gas milage. Apperently my boat is much more aerodynamic covered, specifically with the "trailering" cover instead of the snap on covers. Just my own observations after many 20 min trips, and a few 2-3 hour drives. That is about 10-11 mpg covered at 72 mpg vs 7-8 mpg uncovered on the same road.

_________________
Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

Ive also been told that a lot of people leave it uncovered so the back carpets and whatnot dry faster after some rain or tubing... so far i've always covered up for a ride that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour and everything has been fine. However, ive only had the boat for three weekends now so we will see

_________________
2004 Four Winns 190 Horizon 5.0GL/SX 220hp

When going somewhere for the weekend, I use the covers. This way I can throw stuff in witout worrying about it flying out. Locally, lakes are only 10 minutes away and I store in the garage, so no sense covering

_________________
-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

So i took the boat on the highway uncovered for the first time to try the ol' "drying of the soggy carpeting" technique... Not a great idea. I looked in the rearview and saw some of the carpet had come unsnapped and was wildly flapping in the wind. Didnt lose anything but i snapped the canvas back on pretty quick after that.

_________________
2004 Four Winns 190 Horizon 5.0GL/SX 220hp