Towing with Bimini up or down

[Graham Morris]

Friend has new 21 i was told to tow with bimini in up postition and it broke away and is wrecked.

Do people tow with up or down?

[TeamAllen]

Never! Well...maybe if it was for a very short distance at low speed.

I think your friend got some bad advice.

Our dealer recommends removing the bimini from the tower while towing. I guess little wholes were developing, in the canvas, from objects hitting it while driving. Even with the covers on.

[chpthril]

Folded down and zipped up in the boot. At 70mph, you might get enough airflow to get lift off

[bschmaus]

Doesn't take much to pull down while the boat is being wiped down. Better on the bimini as well. No worries.

[Domsz06]

DOWN DOWN DOWN!! Would never even think of towing it up, unless like TeamAllen said at very slow speeds for a short distance.

[Coach]

Down zipped up in the boot. The bimini guys told me never to tow it the boot while on the tower. They told me to drop it into the boat.

[Domsz06]

I have always towed mine in the boot strapped to my tower, and this summer one leg fell off, due to an inferrior velco strap holding it to the tower. I'll use a better one next time. I don't see a problem straping it to the tower in the boot and towing. Just wouldn't leave it down.

[dogbert]

My bimini actually tells me it's only rated to 45 Mph. So, it's always in the boot strapped to my tower for towing. It takes like 30 sec. to put up, so it's really no big deal.

[Domsz06]

Yeah, mine takes a bit longer just since the tower can be a bit of a pest in the way, so I just knock it down. Wouldn't ever dream of towing it with it in the up position.

[talltigeguy]

I towed with it up once and saw it flapping around a lot even though I was not going highway speeds. I would only leave it up if I were going to travel less than the speed the boat can go.

[Domsz06]

i just do it when I'm camping and pulling the boat up to my campsite, going like 15 mph.

[Tequilasun]

Down, the attack angle of the bimini--boat on trailer is different then when the boat is the water.

[Domsz06]

very interesting thought Tequila, so your saying you tow with it down?

[yllw20]

mine is in boot and strapped to tower...it fits snug and almost looks as part of the tower. no probs towing it that way. I wouldn't tow it down the road w/it open.

[xpjim1]

Definately in the boot and strapped to the tower. I towed it once at about 50mph for a short distance and tore a support screw out of the tower. Never again!