www.iFourWinns.com

Ok guys... lets get these threads rollin'. I bought a new 05 230 left over this year and the dealer was 300 miles away. When I towed the boat home, the bimini top in the radar position with the cockpit and bow snap covers installed. When I got it home I noticed that during the trip, the cockpit cover rubbed some of the paint off of the windshield frame work. Needless to say, I wasn't very happy about that given that it hadn't even made it on the water yet. I will never haul the boat with the covers on again. I also questioned whether I should have the bimini in the up (radar position) at highway speeds. The dealer said that it wont hurt anything, but the hour it took to clean the bugs off made me think it wasn't worth it. How does everyone else tow their bowrider?

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05 230 Horizon 350mag Bravo III

I take the covers off and leave em at home or in the truck (if I am goin for a weekend or so) If I am just goin to the local ramp a few miles away I will leave the top in the radar position. But if I am goin a ways and at highway speeds..I most defo take it down. Like ya sed..the bugs are jus terrible to scrape off

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2001 FW Horizon 190 w/ 5.0GL PEFS

My dealer reccomended to only drive with the Bimini in the upright radar position. If you put it down on the short legs, the long legs can rub on the vinyl or interior gelcoat. I guess you could totally remove it for a long trip, but I'm not sure where you would stow it during travel.
I only have whole boat mooring cover, and not the snap on canvas, but I always take the cover off if I am towing at highway speeds. Too much wind flap I suspect would cause damage to boat and/or cover.

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2005 FW Horizon 230 Volvo 5.7 Gi DP 280 HP
2001 Toyota Tundra

This was a discussion last year went the new 230 came out. Getting the bimini into the lower position is a pain but can be done. I have pictures and instructions if you like. I keep mine in the up positon except for long trips. Our boat came with rubber donuts on the bimini legs right at the top of the windshield that space the legs away from the windshield to prevent the paint scuffing.

The 2006 has a different design where the whole assembly is outside of the windshield. I think we all complained to FW about the 2005 design.

I only have my top on when I tow it to the dealer for repairs or such. Other than that I always tow it bare back.

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Rex
2005 210H 5.7GXI DP

We tow with the bimini lowered, and keep a couple of terry hand towels and velcro straps in the boat to wrap around the ends of the long poles when it's lowered, so that it won't rub the gunwhales or combing pads. It's a pain, but it works.

As to covers, we tow with them on. One of the last double-checks I do before hitting the road is to do a walk-around and make sure every snap and fastener is secure so that nothing flaps. We've found that with the bimini lowered, even the piece of cockpit cover that hangs loose inside the windshield next to the poles doesn't flap.

Like you, towing (especially at night) with the bimini in the 'up' position results in a 1/2"-thick cake of bug guts all over everything. With it in the lower position, you get almost none of that. Also, with current gas prices, I don't need any more wind resistance.

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

makes me glad i tow about 50 yards to water....storage unit to boat launch.

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2005 Funship 214 5.0GXi/DP | 2006 Yamaha FJR1300

Great feedback guys...Thanks! I tried to put the bimini in the lower position once, but became frustrated after five minutes and decided to try later. It sounds like the way to tow if you can keep it from damaging the boat.

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05 230 Horizon 350mag Bravo III

I am using a 5 Gallon Plastic Water Can. I bungee it to the Bimini Top and stern. It Tows fine with no DAMAGE?

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Jeff

2006 Four Winns Yellow Horizon 30th Anniversary 200 SS
2005 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
2004 Ford F-150 Lariat

http://www.seabrook-services.com

We tow with the covers on and the bimini up for most of our rides (30 to 40 miles) and even one of 90... long trip ( > 400) we took Mike230 and jnizi's advice and took it down. Truly a pain, and a 2 person job, but with towels around the ends nothing got scuffed too bad. I also learned not to get too upset about scuffs like that --- they come out and besides, they're nothing compared to serious scuffs that are inevitable, like when you're learning how to get around pilings in close quarters, or have the winch handle flip out of your hands and smack the hull [ouch -- that one hurt (to see the scuff it made), and would have taken my head off if I was any closer! .

One interesting note...on the bow cover about 4 inches of seam stitching tore out where it zips onto the cockpit cover. Surely this is due to towing with the covers on. It's worth it. Boat is clean when we arrive at the launch site and not "so" dirty or dusty when we return.

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JustBreathe
'05 230 Horizon

We leave the bimini's up. The biggest problem I have is with the forward bimini. I just encountered some low branched and "veed" it to the radar arch. I have a claim now in with the county about them not maintaining proper height off the roadways. The about choked when I gave them the cost os a new forward bimini, $1650. Ours are really difficult to handle with the 9'8" beam of the boat and the width they are. Definitely a two person job.

For scuff protection, try some of the 1/2 or 3/4 inch water pipe insulation you can find at Home Depot. It slips over the bimini frame nicely. Bunches of folks down here use it for protection as well as a way to keep any eisenglass from touching the frame and getting burned from the sun.

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Jvalich
http://www.badcock.com

'04 FW 288 Vista "Mental Floss"

The pipe insulation is a great idea! Except, in the case of boats like the 230 (at least the '04's & '05's), there are two bars that have to fold up close to each other, and I think the insulation would keep them from folding. In the picture down in my sig, you can see them - the back bar and the diagonal.

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

I used to travel with my bimini in the upright radar postion, but the constant 'wobbling' caused the self taping screws that hold the forward mopunts to come loose. I have since replaced these with bolts and a stainless plate inside the hull.
Now I travel with the bimini laying down and with some carpet squares to protect the upholstery/hull. Much more secure, and no movement. The carpet isnt tied on or anything, and it's never fallen out.

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Any Digital Pics will be appreciated!

Thanks!

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Jeff

2006 Four Winns Yellow Horizon 30th Anniversary 200 SS
2005 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
2004 Ford F-150 Lariat

http://www.seabrook-services.com

I guess I'm bored today, so sorry to keep reviving old threads, but this one interested me also. I was also very curious about this so I asked the mechanic the day we went on our demo ride and for a bimini such as the one on my boat (I'm sure other fold up different) is that in the down position (with the shorty legs down) the long legs can fall out of the clips and scar the side of your boat for miles until you stop and notice all the damage. If you were to bungie or tie them in addition to the plastic clips, that would probably work and that's probably what I'll do on my first long trip. Right now I'm less then 15 miles from storage to our local lake so I tow in the up/radar position.

David

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2008 H210SS VP 5.7 Gi/SX
2011 Ford F150 FX4 EB