Towing with Skeeter boat cover

I have a 2016 WX 2060. It came with a Skeeter branded boat cover that has ratchets at the back of each side, along with tie downs to the trailer. I have never towed with a cover on my boats because I have seen boats that were damaged by poor fitting covers that beat on the boat while at hwy speeds. The Skeeter cover looks like it might be OK to tow with, but I would like to know if others have towed with the Skeeter cover, and learn about both the good and the bad. I think Skeeter has similar covers for most, if not all of their multi-Species models

I only ran mine about 20 miles with the cover. It sounds like we have the same style. I was not at all impressed. I’ll leave it off going 250 miles to the lake and just use it as a cover against rain after that. Nothing specific against it just a feeling I have. I’m sure others will chime in with great success with the covers.

I have towed my WX 2100 many miles with the cover on and have not seen any damage.

I’ve towed some with my cover over the last 2 years and never noticed any scuffing or anything like that.

I have a skeeter wx 1900 and I know people with wx 2190 and mx 2050 and we all use our covers with no problems.

I have a 2015 WX2060. I tow my rig with the cover on pretty much anything over an hour away. Made a bunch of trips 2-3 hours away. Even got stuck towing in snow, sleet last December with no rubbing issues. I will be making my first trip to Erie next week. I plan to tow with the cover. I ask my dealer before I brought my rig if they had anyone have rubbing issues from the cover they said no. I think the cover is made really nice.

Are all these the good travel covers or the basic ones? Mine is just a basic.

I always travel with my cover on my 1910. I also leave my seat in the bow to help it from flopping around. I did add covers to the buckles to help hold the straps in place

I have an WX 1880 that I take to LOTWs twice a year – 600 miles one way – and always use the Skeeter cover. You will pick up a mile or two a gallon with the cover on. I put a cooler in front of the windshield to help support the cover but putting the seat up front sounds like a good idea.

No problems going 80mph with heavy wind. No damage to my 2100 anywhere. Always covered, all the time. Nice and tight fit.

Thanks for all of the responses! I will try towing with it on. Does anyone secure the tag end of the straps? I’m thinking that they will scuff up the finish if they are left flapping in the wind against the side of the boat. If so what is the solution? Tape? Zip ties? Or am I over thinking this?

They don’t scuff the boat, but they do get frayed out if you let them flap. I just wrap the tag ends around the strap tightly and then tuck the end into the backside of the buckle pointed towards the rear of the boat. If that makes any sense at all. Takes a little extra time, but better than having it flap all over.

Just a tip on ratchet covers. Once you have them on and strapped down tight, make sure to check them after about 20 miles or so down the road. Re-tighten as needed. Covers will stretch or relax especially if it is warm out.

-J.

Dutchboy wrote:

Are all these the good travel covers or the basic ones? Mine is just a basic.

Welcome to the joys of covers on tillers. Unlike the windshield guys, who have a natural support for the cover, we have to rely on a network of poles, bows, seats, etc to provide support.

no doubt, a PITA.

HRG

my experiences are with custom covers from Skeeter for a WX2000T and a WX1910, not a more general cover such as one bought at a retail store.

i’ve always run with the cover in place if it’s not local, including 10 hours each way to Canada, etc. I didn’t experience any rub marks in the gel coat such as i’ve seen happen on other boats (including some of mine) with covers that don’t fit as well.

the straps/buckles are the biggest PITA for me, as the tag ends are always getting loose and flapping into the side of the boat (i wrap-tie them onto the strap). when they get loose, i stop and re-tie, since i do think the hard ends of the strap could scratch the gelcoat over time at highway speeds. i want to keep my straps adjustable, so the tag ends will always be an issue…i’ve tried taping them in place for long trips with mixed success. any other, better solutions???

when i had a WX2000T (tiller) i put the passenger and driver’s seat backs up to provide tightness and stop “flapping.” the cover also came with a (female) snap attached on the inside of the cover above the front deck; i bought a mallet handle, screwed a (male) snap into one end and a tennis ball on the other end and used it to prop the front of the cover up. easy to store, quick to put in place, and worked great.

Hot Runr Guy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dutchboy wrote:</div>
Are all these the good travel covers or the basic ones? Mine is just a basic.

Welcome to the joys of covers on tillers. Unlike the windshield guys, who have a natural support for the cover, we have to rely on a network of poles, bows, seats, etc to provide support.

no doubt, a PITA.

HRG

Agreed! FYI Dutchboy, your cover is not a factory cover, it is a aftermarket cover.

I never trailer with the cover on, I always figured the constant strap/cover pressure from the wind and bumps would do more damage than not having a cover on at all… never had a problem in 20+ years of towing…

I have my cover on all the time when trailering for same reasons stated above. Yes, do secure the tag ends, electrical tape works fine. Also, a suggestion is to put one half twist in the strap on either side when wrapped around the trailer. This keeps the straps from vibrating in the wind. I also attach the straps first then tighten with the ratchet. Very happy with my travel cover.

My MX1825 is 5 seasons old now and not a mark on it with the factory cover. The tag ends on the side of my boat are not real long. What I do is just loop them up to the buckle. It makes a small circle and stays put up to 70 mph. Like soco put a twist in the strap so they don’t vibrate going down the hwy.

sod_farmer wrote:

The Skeeter cover looks like it might be OK to tow with, but I would like to know if others have towed with the Skeeter cover,

I towed my last 2190, with Skeeter factory ratchet cover, tens of thousands of miles with mileage log to prove it… without incident. The covers hold up incredibly well to the road miles and won’t damage your boat.

James Holst wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>sod_farmer wrote:</div>
The Skeeter cover looks like it might be OK to tow with, but I would like to know if others have towed with the Skeeter cover,

I towed my last 2190, with Skeeter factory ratchet cover, tens of thousands of miles with mileage log to prove it… without incident. The covers hold up incredibly well to the road miles and won’t damage your boat.

Hey, look who’s in the house!!
Good to see you are still around.

Dutchboy wrote:

Hey, look who’s in the house!!
Good to see you are still around. grin

Yeah, I’ve been all but nonexistent the last few months. About all I had time to do lately was check to make sure the lights were on! It’s been a long broadcast season and it feels darn good to be rounding the final corner coming into the finish line. Two more weeks of filming and then things get back to normal.

We don’t like normal around here (see BK) how about you keep filming until about… oh lets say October? You know you like those open water shows better anyway.

Dutchboy wrote:

We don’t like normal around here (see BK) how about you keep filming until about… oh lets say October? You know you like those open water shows better anyway.

My wife says no.

But do expect some additional open water shows next season. A guy can only do so many river walleye shows coming out of ice season. And that’s coming from someone that loves to get in on a good walleye bite. So we’ll be on the water with the camera gear more this summer than previous years. But not until I get to sit still for a couple weeks.

How about sitting and watching for the temps to get right for those big Pike you found on Superior last year. Then a little PM to me with location is all it will take.

No problems with mine on a 2025. Better mileage with it on. I don’t bother for the 20 minute trip to Red Wing. If you have poles holder brackets on the rails, turn them down so the sharp edge doesn’t cut the tarp (ask me how I know).

I guess mine is the odd ball. Initial 4 hour trip, just out of the showroom. 15 degrees. 75 mph. When I took my cover off, the side rails were scuffed pretty badly. It buffed out, but was discouraging to say the least. Since I do most of my fishing in the winter time, I had my cover retrofitted with a soft microfiber fabric about 15 inches wide from the front rails to the back.

We never trailer our boats without the covers on them. Been using the Skeeter factory covers since 2013. All my buddies with MX’s, 1900, 1910…etc have no rub problems from the cover. One thing to watch is the excess straps, they can leave some light scratches over time. I never adjust mine after I get them set so I electrical tape the tag ends.

I guess mine is also one of the odd ones here. Like many, I don’t use the cover for short trips to local waters. But for longer trips, I always put it on.
3 years in since I bought my MX-2025 and my cover is in serious need of repair or replacement. Seams coming undone and rips in other areas. Some minor scuffing on the boat also but the cover itself has not worn well and I will most likely be looking for a replacement at the end of this year.

I would like to stress that as a whole, I’ve had very, very few issues with my rig and I am extremely happy with my boat as a whole. Same goes for the service from SBC in Chippewa Falls. If I was to buy another new rig, I would not hesitate to buy another Skeeter from SBC.