Comments on: Towing A Classic Boat In The Nude?

By: Victor Fabricius

Victor Fabricius — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:56:26 +0000

Having been a motorcycle rider and putting about 2k a year on my bicycle I can’t tell you how many free “dermabrasions” I’ve gotten from wind blown gravel and approaching tractor trailers or dump trucks on secondary roads. I wince every time I trailer a boat with a fine finish without a cover feeling the sandblasting my face got on those rides.

By: Victor Fabricius

Victor Fabricius — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:39:44 +0000

Having towed boats for customers all over US and Canada, I feel more comfortable when the boat is double covered, not only to protect the finish from rain and grit, but running 12 hrs a day in the hot sun over asphalt uncovered must dry the boat out severely w/o a cover.

Additionally, an uncovered boat promotes gawkers to sit in the lane next to you while they stare at your boat blocking any opportunity for you to getting into the passing lane to get past slower traffic that you come up on. A most unsafe and frustrating situation can be avoided by just double covering or go deluxe and get an enclosed trailer.

By: Phil Jones

Phil Jones — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:40:42 +0000

I have covers made from NAPBAK it is like flannel on one side and canvas on the other, exspensive but nice. Never scatched a boat yet.

OH AND MATT, I just hope no one repeats that “Best boat” comment to Betsy, it would break her keel !!!!

By: RiverRat

RiverRat — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:13:11 +0000

Captaim Nemo is right. Also recommended by my Coast Guard instructor. No cover. Use a cover at the dock to block the sun since it is there much longer than it is over the road.

By: Dennis J. Mykols

Dennis J. Mykols — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:13:46 +0000

We pull ” Old School” nude also, but cheat. I had a nice cockpit cover made out of Sunbrella, to keep the interior clean and dry. The wet road grime that the passing Tractor trailers kick up, is hard to clean inside the boat. I found this out running up to the Bay Harbor International show in 2010.
All those little nicks and crannys to clean, Not any more, plus I do not have to worry about the seat chusions or other gear flying out…

By: Texx

Texx — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:01:29 +0000

Dr. Shrink… Is that where you go to get help with Shrinkage? Is he a real Shrink?

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:36:06 +0000

What about the flannel lined, re-usable shrink wrap (Dr. Shrink). Sounds great to me. Maybe I’ll get to try it in a couple years when I finish my preversation.

By: John Rothert

John Rothert — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:54:23 +0000

Being a low end runabout guy (whirlwinds) I never the less wanted to TRY running covered…at least somewhat, on the tow to Mt. Dora a few years back. Sooooo I wrapped a flannel sheet around the bow and followed a suggest from boat buzz to use stretch wrap to hold it on. Bought the wrap, enough for the Titanic was minimun roll size. Did the deed, looked pretty good. FORGOT to overlap the wrap in the orientation such that the WIIND could not get under the edges…did it backassward in other words….made it five miles, pulled the mess off and never used any sort of road cover again.
John in Va.

By: m-fine

m-fine — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:53:23 +0000

The tow vehicle and windshield get wetter, not the interior. I towed naked through a very heavy downpour this spring, one of those 15 minute flash storms, and when I arrived at the launch the interior was bone dry.

By: brian

brian — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:45:49 +0000

You guys never saw the Mythbusters episode where they tested that old myth – the one where you’d get half as wet if you ran in the rain as opposed to just walk.

After a very lengthy experiment, the facts showed that one got wetter by running.

Yep, the runner got wetter.

My point?

By all means drive nude, but obey the speed limit, take your time and your baby will arrive a tad bit dryer.

(I do not have data regarding tree sap and bird poop.)