Trailering Question, please

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Strake
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Location: Smith Mountain Lake, VA

Trailering Question, please

#1 Post by Strake » Tue Mar 19, 2019 2:19 pm

With very mixed feelings, we decided to sell our Smith Mountain Lake condo and Berkshire Tritoon. The condo sold in 2 weeks, and the Berkshire sold on Boat Trader in 1 day.

QUESTION, please....... as I don't own a trailer, and the buyer of my boat from NC will be borrowing a trailer for Tritoons but he may not know the proper thing to do. When trailering, do you trailer it with the COVER ON, or is it better without the cover on ? I'm guessing cover OFF. He will be taking it about 3 hours back to the Raleigh area.

Thanks in advance, and thanks to all the GREAT info over the years.......

Richard
"Strake"
Richard and Angie
Smith Mountain Lake, VA
2015 Berkshire 233 RFX STS
Yamaha F200 LB

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lakerunner
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Re: Trailering Question, please

#2 Post by lakerunner » Tue Mar 19, 2019 2:39 pm

Better leave it off if it isn't a trailering cover
Loyd & Betty Meeks
Livin the lake life
2004 Tracker 22 Regency/2010 90 E-Tec. Pulled by Ford 2020 F 250,
McAlester, Oklahoma
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Strake
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Re: Trailering Question, please

#3 Post by Strake » Tue Mar 19, 2019 2:49 pm

Thank you !!!!!!
"Strake"
Richard and Angie
Smith Mountain Lake, VA
2015 Berkshire 233 RFX STS
Yamaha F200 LB

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ROLAND
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Re: Trailering Question, please

#4 Post by ROLAND » Tue Mar 19, 2019 11:56 pm

Strake.. I would leave the cover off...
Roland & Jo
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Yamaha 75 4 Stroke
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riplipper
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Re: Trailering Question, please

#5 Post by riplipper » Wed Mar 20, 2019 2:59 am

definitely, even covers designed to be trailered take a beating and can tear.
I am the guy at the boat ramp that gives you dirty looks when you are a complete idiot and too stupid to know it.

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Re: Trailering Question, please

#6 Post by Bryden24shp » Wed Mar 20, 2019 8:42 am

Covers off. Bimini down as far it can go. If it has trailering brackets for the bimini, use them. Don't rely on just the trailer tongue strap and transom straps, use good ratchet straps and strap the bow to the upright support and the front and rear of the pontoons to trailer. Remove cushions that can blow out at highway speeds. I always cross country towed with the bow and stern gates wide open. Let the air blow through. I used to trailer 8000 to 10,000 miles a year. Saw a lot of trailering disasters on my trips and learned from them all. I've got some pics and info for towing on the forum here if you search for them.
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bradm
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Re: Trailering Question, please

#7 Post by bradm » Wed Mar 20, 2019 5:44 pm

Sorry for hi jack but wondering about center windshield section on a pontoon. Ordered a new Manitou with windshield, and delivery in next few weeks. Would expect trailering with center open would be best?

our new boat will be same layout as Bryden24SHP's Manitou (bummer that situation did not work out). He did a great job on that boat layout.

Thanks
Brad
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steve1313
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Re: Trailering Question, please

#8 Post by steve1313 » Thu Mar 21, 2019 2:48 am

bradm wrote:
Wed Mar 20, 2019 5:44 pm
Sorry for hi jack but wondering about center windshield section on a pontoon. Ordered a new Manitou with windshield, and delivery in next few weeks. Would expect trailering with center open would be best?

our new boat will be same layout as Bryden24SHP's Manitou (bummer that situation did not work out). He did a great job on that boat layout.

Thanks
Brad
I'd recommend closed and latched. That will keep it from bouncing around and also give the entire windshield some structural integrity and rigidity.
Steve
"Serendipity" - 2017 Sweetwater 2286 WB Tritoon w/ 150HP Yamaha
Slipped at Lake Anna, Virginia
Primary Residence: Richmond, Virgina
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zoom650
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Re: Trailering Question, please

#9 Post by zoom650 » Thu Mar 21, 2019 10:03 am

Agree, cover off and close and latch that center windshield. You don't want some squirrelly air to slam in shut.
Michael and Laura
'12 Ford F150 Lariat SuperCrew Ecoboost
'14 Harris Solstice 220, P3 tritoon, Mercury Verado 150, Enertia 14p.
prior boat: '02 Century 2600CC, twin Yamaha EFI 200's, full instruments.

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Strake
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Re: Trailering Question, please

#10 Post by Strake » Thu Mar 21, 2019 6:24 pm

Thank you everyone for the helpful info. I will let my buyer know.

He did purchase our boat yesterday after a boat ride and checking it all out. It will be another week or two before he borrows a trailer to come get it.

Thanks again,

Richard
"Strake"
Richard and Angie
Smith Mountain Lake, VA
2015 Berkshire 233 RFX STS
Yamaha F200 LB

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