Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I know talked a lot going about 200 miles should I cover or uncover which way better mileage speeds about 65mph. which way will I get better fuel mileage. the cover I have now is not rated for pulling, but if I get better mileage I'll stop and get one rated for towing. the factory one is just a morning cover the guys down at the dealership say they pull them with the covers on going about 60 MPH up to the big lake about 70 miles away. just seeing what the verdict is on or off.

I don't have any "scientific" evidence but IMO I think it would be a bit more aerodynamic with the cover on and that would help with mpg's. I need to get a cover myself and I'm going to get the road rated one, one big reason for me is to keep bugs off the front fence I get tired of scrubbing them off every time I pull the boat, they get all over the seats to. I know pontoonstuff sells them for about 350 bucks.

I'd rather wash off road bugs than watch an expensive cover slowly rip away in the winds.....

Tk...I"ve pulled my toon short distances both with the cover on and off.... can't say that I really noticed any difference as far as gas mileage goes, but I can tell you that the last time I towed with the cover on, I could see the cover flexing up and down as wind rushed thru the boat... I'm pretty sure if nothing else it was putting a strain on the cover at the snaps.... since then, I tow without.

I tow about 5000 miles per year. I tow with the cover off, the bimini top off the frame and the front and rear gates open. Let the wind blow through. When towing covered, 9.5mpg. Naked and topless, gates open, 12.5mpg. With the cover and bimini on its like pulling a parachute. Especially the Sunbrella fabric. I have another magazine article on long distance towing coming up. I'll post the text. It will cover strapping the bow and stern to the trailer, prepping the trailer, adjusting tongue weight and spare trailer parts to carry. Alot of it has been covered, here already, Search here for most of it, type "towing" into the search bar. If you do decide to trailer with it covered, buy a good heavy duty trailering cover. Hmm, I have one for a 24' 8.5 beam. Used (tested) once. $150.00 plus shipping.

good price to bad I only have a 20 footer. I get that it might be a sail. and Roland I was thinking of getting one made for trailering but if I loose that much in mileage think I'll just go with the cover off I'll keep the doors closed. using to on as a trailer for the tents and coolers don't want to loose them on the road. plus the Tahoe sits about as high as the gates anyway so they should be a good match for each other. thanks for the info.

Cover off and make sure that your Bimini cover is on as the wind will shread it in no time.

No, take your bimini cover and top off. The whole fabric top needs to be removed. Strip it to the frame. Only takes about 10 minutes.

got it thanks. bimini cover and fabric off also should be a good trip praying for nice weather.