www.iFourWinns.com

Can you trailer at highway speeds with the Bimini top up, and stored into the zip on tube-shaped (boot) cover? Do you just leave it in the normal "up" position?

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2005 Horizon 230 5.7 GI/DP 280-HP
2005 Suburban "The Battlewagon"

I don't think you would want to leave it in the normal position at highway speeds. I know when I'm in the water, anything above 35-40 and it start vibrating and shaking pretty bad.

I have traveled at highway speeds with it in up storage position with boot and had no problems. If you are going to go very far, you might want to go ahead and take it all the way down to avoid the extra stress on it, wind resistance, and bugs.

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John
2001 Four Winns Horizon 230
VP 5.7 GSi / DP
2007 Ford Expedition EL

I have been for the last 7 years. The only problem I ever had was the "zip on tube" opened up on one side. I just tie it now.
You do get bugs, but mine doesn't fold down in a nice trailerable way.

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2002 Horizon 190 5.0gl

I pull with mine up. Not open of course.

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Sports boats in general has top speed of 50 to 58mph on water so what is a different on highway? The logic tells me we should be good up to 60 mph...
Any thought?

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08 H260 VP 8.1Gi DP.....Previous
2013 Crownline E6 Merc 8.2MAG BIIIX, DTS/SC

I will be towing to the Florida Keys tomorrow morning with mine up -- (3 hours each way) as I have before -- no issues.

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop

+1. I generally trailer with mine up and open. If I expect to be going a long distance, or speed over 50MPH, I put it in the boot. However, mine doesn't have the "trailer" position where you put it down and hook the little arms on. It is up all the time, just a matter of open or closed.

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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)

Pulling with it up is no problem. For those of us (including me) that have the short bimini poles that are designed to lower it way down, probably should. Just seems like less opportunity for wear/tear on the poles, joints, canvas etc..

I always trailer with mine down on the shorter poles.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Mine is always trailered with it up. However the speed limit for trailers (and trucks) in the UK on motorways ( hghways) is only 60 mph.

I always find it a little strange to be driving in Florida at 70 mph in a 65 limit ( naughty, I know ) ,when I am overtaken ( or undertaken) by a truck doing closer to 85 to 90 mph. Do trucks have speed limiters in the US ? They do in the UK and the rest of Europe, they are legally required to be limited to 56 mph (excluding Ireland for some reason, or maybe they just ignore the requirements like other EU member states do in other areas as it suits them !)

Graham

Yep way have limiters, but we call them floorboards, when the pedal wont go any farther thats your limit.

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I don't have the short poles so I guess I will giver er a try zipped up in the boot and see how she does at 70....

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2005 Horizon 230 5.7 GI/DP 280-HP
2005 Suburban "The Battlewagon"

Mine has been just fine, coverd in the boot. Sundowner's don't come with the shortie legs. I just pulled it to Chicago and back two weeks ago, and it was fine.

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

I used to always leave it up (but closed). But it was such a bug catcher I got tired of cleaning dead bugs off the supports. Also, I can actually feel the additional wind resistance on the highway if it's up.

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

I was wron, I do have the short poles in the back but there doesn't appear to be anywhere to "plug" them into?

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2005 Horizon 230 5.7 GI/DP 280-HP
2005 Suburban "The Battlewagon"

You pull the long legs out and latch the short legs into the same sockets.

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