R23 boat cover instructions for travel down the highway

[txtige]

everyone,

new 2020 r23 and the dealer never explained how to put the cover on for driving down the road. we put the cover on and drove home only to have it rub the seat and make a hole in the seat.

now going back to the dealer for service and I can't find instructions anywhere on how to install it. Tige in an email said the dealer should have showed us how to do it.

its the normal boat cover, not over the tower. We didn't have the polls up or attachment to the tower just the cover on tight. which btw my old RZ2 traveled so I/dealer didn't think some special way needed for new boats...lol

any chance someone has pictures or feedback on setting the cover up on the boat to drive via the interstate?

I reached out to tige and haven't heard back.

I know it's a weird questions...

[MikeB313]

Should be pretty straightforward. Put it over the boat, velcro and clips around tower and tightened both ratchet straps in the back. Nothing should be rubbing on seats. What seats were damaged?

[txtige]

I agree that's what we thought..lol and that's how we drove it home and the back two seats edge in between the walk on the corner is what rubbed. The cover was tight. I just don't want it to happen again on the way back to the dealer.

do you drive down the road with the underneath poles up? That's the only thing i can think of to do different.

[bsreid]

I normally have the rope to the tower done up but not super tight to reduce stress.
Regarding the poles I’ve never used them on my tiges, I’ve got a few in the garage if anyone wants one lol.

Also I try to avoid towing with the cover on to avoid gel coat rubbing, never worried about rubbing on the seats tho.

[sandm]

Also I try to avoid towing with the cover on to avoid gel coat rubbing

I've only towed once with a cover on across town for this same reason. we always tow without it. that said our current r23 came 1500miles to us 3 months ago with the cover on and had no issues at all but the dealer put some kind of sticky wrap along the hull to avoid the cover rubbing but nothing inside and we have no seat issues from it.

don't think the cover will ever see the boat again until we sell.

[txtige]

yeah, I do both but on a long trips, like 16 hours from texas, I try and put the cover on it to keep rain etc. out of the boat. In my RZ2 i was traveling and the back seat flew out because the bolts came loose on a short trip in houston. That cost me $800 so now i'm a little paranoid about how the seats are secured and if they haven't worked themselves loose. Now this boat is only 3 months old and my dealer is over 3 hours so I suppose old habits are hard to break.

On the strap it has a warning tag to not to use while travailing....lol we thought about it but after reading that and it being a brand new boat didn't want to do anything to void the warranty... Saying that the tige rep mentioned the same thing but never responded when I ask about the tag and impact to warranty..

I have the back poles up without the strap at this point. If it starts looking weird then i will drop the pole and put the strap on.

Thanks for everyone's feedback,

[bsreid]

Maybe try putting a towel over the seats. The old covers used to have fleece on the contact points on the inside to help with this.

For the outside I take pallet wrap a few times around the rub rail area.

[Bamer]

I have a R23 and have towed a couple times with cover on for 2-3 hours at 65-70mph. I use both front and rear poles and no issues!!! I say use the poles...can you post a pic?


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[rcoates2]

I learned a long time to never drive with a cover, it rubs the gelcoat.

[D&P Powell]

I learned a long time to never drive with a cover, it rubs the gelcoat.

I respectfully disagree. I believe its completely safe to drive with a cover IF the proper precautions are taken. You can tow with the cover on without it ever touching the gelcoat anywhere. I realize this is an ongoing debate, and respect those who disagree (including you Mr. Coates). I simply have a different opinion on the topic.

[UNSTUCK]

I respectfully disagree. I believe its completely safe to drive with a cover IF the proper precautions are taken. You can tow with the cover on without it ever touching the gelcoat anywhere. I realize this is an ongoing debate, and respect those who disagree (including you Mr. Coates). I simply have a different opinion on the topic.

What precautions do you take?

[D&P Powell]

What precautions do you take?

Depends on the length of the trip. For a recent trip down the highway 25 miles to the West Coast Tige Owners Reunion, we secured the cover with the straps and integrated line to the tower. On our last boat (Z3), we placed seat belt protectors around all of the straps and zip tied around them to secure them. There were a few small spots we needed to buff out, but not what I would consider "gel coat damage". Any future long haul trips will include anti-chafing tape under the cover like NAstleford and Surf406 used for their trips (over 1k miles each) to the reunion this year. The Astlefords have been making the trip annually with their cover on, and have had no issues. Again though, this debate is similar to the "which oil should we use" or "which vinyl cleaner should we use" debates. Everyone has an opinion, and only a few are ridiculous.

[UNSTUCK]

Well I clean with TA for the most part so I fall into the ridiculous side. What is anti chafing tape? Are we simply talking shrink wrap or something more purposed?

[D&P Powell]

What is anti chafing tape?

https://www.amazon.com/6-x-600-anti-.../dp/B089LKW2RQ

[MikeB313]

I'm with Dave on this one, I've always trailered with cover on and never had any vinyl or gel damage.