Towing rib with cover on?

Brig o' Logi · 15 March 2011, 18:02

Hello all.

Completely new to this forum and I know very little about ribs.

Learning fast though by reading many of the posts on RIBnet - Fantastic site!

I'm picking up a Brig Eagle 380 in about 2 weeks time, and will be towing it home approximately 400 miles.

Been reading all about how to secure to the trailer properly, but can't see anythimg about protecting boat from the weather/road grime etc.

Present owner recommending I cover boat with a tarpaulin of some kind (tied on) but someone else saying tow without cover as the (innevitably) flapping tarpaulin may damage tubes (by polishing them).

Any advice?

Obviously I don't mind washing the boat when I get it home.

Many thanks !

watersidemat · 15 March 2011, 18:21

A rib we just purchased did a 6 hour journey via road with no cover, good wash down shiny once more.

Bam Bam · 15 March 2011, 18:29

Welcome to ribnet. It's not a good idea to tow with a cover over the boat no matter how well it is secured as it will lead to wear on the tubes where the cover flaps abouts when traveling. I never tow with a cover on and and my hull and tubes are white, the tubes pick up loads of road dirt but it washes off really easy. Happy ribbing!

Nasher · 15 March 2011, 18:37

I would agree that where possible it's best to tow without the cover on, and just accept a wash down will be required afterwards.

Remember that giving any new vehicle, including a RIB, a good wash means you will also give it a good 'looking at', and will get to know any blemishes or other faults sooner.

I only tow my RIB with the cover on when it's full of camping gear etc that needs protecting on our journey to a holiday destination.

Nasher.

Mollers · 15 March 2011, 19:36

Off. On, it'll flap like billiow, stressing the cover and potentially damaging the boat.

Leapy · 15 March 2011, 20:43

Tow regularly from the Midlands to Cornwall - 580 mile round trip. Done it loads of times over the past three years with a full cover on our Ribcraft. Not a mark, scratch, polish, scuff or anything else remotely negative in sight, on the tubes or anywhere else on the boat (though the cover itself is looking a bit shitty where it collects spray from the car). But, and it's a big but, it was custom made for the boat with an array of straps that hold it taut. As above, I wouldn't tow with anything lashed up from a tarpaulin sheet.

gotchiguy · 15 March 2011, 22:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leapy

Tow regularly from the Midlands to Cornwall - 580 mile round trip. Done it loads of times over the past three years with a full cover on our Ribcraft. Not a mark, scratch, polish, scuff or anything else remotely negative in sight, on the tubes or anywhere else on the boat (though the cover itself is looking a bit shitty where it collects spray from the car). But, and it's a big but, it was custom made for the boat with an array of straps that hold it taut. As above, I wouldn't tow with anything lashed up from a tarpaulin sheet.

I think it depends on what type of cover you have. An ebay blue cover will not be suitable, but a tailor-made cover like many have should be fine since it will be tight fitting and have been optimised for the specific fixing points on the specific rib/trailer. We certainly towed Into the Red down to France with the cover on and I think it would have been stupid not to do so. On our old rib however, we would never have towed with the cover on since it was a cheapo affair which would simply have torn or damaged the boat.

m chappelow · 15 March 2011, 22:55

If its a purporse made to measure cover there should be no problems ,as said earlier its the tarps with the metal Eyelets that can cause damage if they start to flap about .

Mollers · 15 March 2011, 23:10

Why bother?

It's a helluva lot easier to wash motorway grime from the boat than clean the cover without wrecking the proofing.

The cover only has to get going once to do damage.

Nos4r2 · 16 March 2011, 00:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

Why bother?

It's a helluva lot easier to wash motorway grime from the boat than clean the cover without wrecking the proofing.

The cover only has to get going once to do damage.

Seconded.

Leapy · 16 March 2011, 08:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

Why bother?

Personal choice and depends how far you're travelling...in our case, the covered boat means all the boating paraphernalia/holiday junk doesn't have to do 300 miles in the back of the car.

gotchiguy · 16 March 2011, 09:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

The cover only has to get going once to do damage.

We only had to tow once

Brig o' Logi · 16 March 2011, 14:48

Thank you so much or all your answers.

I have decided to tow without the tarpaulin (or any other cover) based on the advice given.

I'll just give it a good wash when I get home.

Thanks again!

9D280 · 16 March 2011, 17:05

As a postscript, even for leaving the boat outside, I would likely go no cover than a lashed tarp, based on one or two experiences with sailing dinghies. Fitted cover = good. Tarp = nightrmare

If you are towing a lot, a console / seat cover is not be a bad idea to protect your toys and keep your bum a bit cleaner.

......and welcome to the madhouse!

You planning on coming to Easdale?

Xk59D · 25 March 2011, 09:29

very wise advice on the cover while towing-i have a couple of scuff marks on my tubes where the cover flaps while under tow/sitting in windy yard. while cleaning i spotted 2 bits of wear about the size of a 5p so i decided to put something between the tubes and cover. the previous owner couldn't have noticed the cover was doing this so i put it right before major issues.

i now have put these between my cover and the tubes-they are excellent, do not hold water and are soft rubber so don't damage anything. very cheap to do the whole rib at about 40 quid for 12m of the stuff.

http://www.toolstation.com/images/li...bbig/85326.jpg

cheers

Justribing · 25 March 2011, 16:34

Only have a cover on mine when i want to keep stuff in the boat protected, i also have a made to measure cover, but the fuel cost still go up when i tow with a cover on, which no matter how good a fit still bellows and acts like a brake. Tow with out much better a good wash at the end of the day will remove all and why not pamper your boat when its given you a day of enjoyment!!

Leapy · 25 March 2011, 17:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justribing

Tow with out much better a good wash at the end of the day will remove all and why not pamper your boat when its given you a day of enjoyment!!

After we've towed 300 miles down a wet motorway I'd rather have the soggy filthy cover than a boat - including GPS & VHF - covered in wet motorway and lorry crap. Like I said earlier, it boils down to personal choice in the end.

Hightower · 25 March 2011, 18:23

Tow without the cover and then wash off on your first cruise

Hightower · 25 March 2011, 18:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leapy

After we've towed 300 miles down a wet motorway I'd rather have the soggy filthy cover than a boat - including GPS & VHF - covered in wet motorway and lorry crap. Like I said earlier, it boils down to personal choice in the end.

Yes personal choice

But isn't your VHF and GPS waterproof?

Leapy · 25 March 2011, 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Yes personal choice

But isn't your VHF and GPS waterproof?

Yes they are, but do I want them covered in 300 miles worth of motorway crap? I've only towed it that distance once with the cover off and I'd never do it again. As soon as we'd set off it started to p down and the crap off the motorway had got everywhere and some. Never again.

For the same reason I probably wouldn't drive a convertible car 300 miles down the motorway in the rain with the roof down.