Towing with or Without a Boat Cover - Ex East or long distances
As per some previous posts I am going across to collect my 6.1 Quintrex Ocean Sport Boat and tow it back from Victoria. Spoke to a couple of people who have boats and read a few posts on this. Not clear on this matter so putting this to the good people on Fishwreck to get a better idea and experiences re boat covers when towing long distance especially from the east.
I have been told that I should not really worry about a cover over the boat when doing this journey as the boat will be empty and is pretty aerodynamic (See Pic) so it will not really affect fuel economy that much from a covered. Further it will save money for a custom cover when get back to WA (was thinking about one of those $329 covers at Whitworths etc). I am also advised that the roads are pretty clean and stones should be not to much of an issue and if needed I can tape bubble wrap, use tarps at the front or even tape modified removalist blankets to cover the front of the hull above the chines.
Who has done this trip or long distance trips on bitumen like this without the boat being covered. Does it make any difference to fuel etc. It is more painful than it is worth setting up tarps etc.
Regards
Murf
trymyluck
Posts: 908
Date Joined: 06/05/12
Ive done a few , It really
Ive done a few , It really depends on whether you will worry if you get a few stone chips or not.You will chew the juice pretty bad as well I would think, and will probably have head winds all the way across. Check your bearings and make sure you have spares and ALL the tools to change them along the road. If the bearings start to get hot, consider changing them out before they fail. Check them regularly. Lovely boat by the way !!
Rob H
Posts: 5798
Date Joined: 18/01/12
the roads are like new across
the roads are like new across the Nullabor and a tarp aint going to stop either stones or help fuel economy.
I wouldn't stress too much about it.
If your worried about stones put bigger flaps on your car, rocks from trucks-your car is in more danger
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Terry
Posts: 458
Date Joined: 04/12/05
I agree
I agree with the comments from the guys in above posts. The only other bit of advice I have and I guess have it under control anyway...is to make sure the boat is well and truly tied down to the trailer.
Hope you have a good trip back and your fishing trips ahead are good ones.
I have the same boat and it has been a great tub so I guess yours will be the same.
Cheers
Terry
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
Boat is reasonably low and
Boat is reasonably low and areo dynamic as you say however you will get air coming over the top and then swirling back into the cabin/cockpit area and this will cause some drag. consider a cheap cover but the cover may just cost as much as the extra fuel you'd use anyway as it won't be that significant for the one trip.
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TOLA
Posts: 15
Date Joined: 04/11/12
I've had a bad experience
I've had a bad experience with a cover I bought from BCF (can't remember the brand but paid about $300). All it took was for one of the straps to break off and flap flap flap in the wind... over the 100kms before I realised, the plastic buckle of the strap had chipped away at the paint leaving a patch about the size of a basket ball all chipped away. Unlucky I guess.
From my experience I'd get some aftermarket mud flaps for the Prado and then put some 3m film on the back end of the boat for long distance towing. Its probably vehicle and boat dependant... but towing my barcrusher behind the 200 series still left the odd stone chip on the back end of the side panels of the boat.
If towing your boat behind the Prado - height of the 4wd should work nicely regarding drag.
trueblue_10
Posts: 104
Date Joined: 29/06/11
Fuel Economy
Thanks People. Has anyone towed with an open boat (No cover). Do you think it made much difference for fuel economy??
sea-kem
Posts: 14984
Date Joined: 30/11/09
I have made three trips to
I have made three trips to Gnaraloo from perth two trips with no cover the third with a custom fitting cover from G.K.Trimmers. The first two my fuel economy sat somewhere around 15.5-16.5 L/100km. The last trip with a cover on it sat at around 14L/100km. So I calculated around a tank of fuel saved. The bonus of the cover was that we could put a lot of the lighter stuff in the boat (bedding etc) and the heavier stuff in the ute tray (Piss mainly ;). So this is from personal experience. Also it saved the boat getting full of dust on the tracks into the station. The down side was that the straps woree through on the way in but will alleviate this by using leather sleeves next time. For you if it's a one off don't know that I'd bother, but if you are going to do lots of travelling I'd definitely recommend getting one made.
Love the West!
trueblue_10
Posts: 104
Date Joined: 29/06/11
Thanks People
Thanks again for you help everyone. Fishwrecked is a great site for info and help.