W-D45 Loc: North Central WI

I'm new to contributing but "an experienced reader"

Do you trailer yer boat (aluminum fishing type) cover on or off and with gear in or out?

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Seen both ways W-D, in regards to the cover. Depends on distance and do you want to mess with another thing to do when you get to the launch site.

As for the gear i would say keep it in the vehicle. To easy for a five finger discount if you stop anywhere and it's in the boat.

D Tong Loc: San Francisco,Ca

That all depends on how far you are traveling with boat 🎣 if long distance covered up will keep it clean and gear in as long as it is secure

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

My gear lives in my boat during season . All in lockable compartments.
On a recent trip to Detroit river , I towed with cover on way up and uncovered on way back
Noticed a 1.4 mpg reduction uncovered.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Sounds like the tail gate up or down theory Ben. I traveled up and down Rt 95 for 12 years about 400 miles each way on a weekly basis and my normal 17/18 mpg's would be 19/20 mpg's with the gate down. Of course speed changes all of that theory.

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

My theory is additional aerodynamic drag uncovered
Not sure. Just a theory.
New truck so I’ve been monitoring pretty close.

gbcreed45 Loc: Florida, Gulf Coast

Two years ago, I trailered my pontoon boat (covered) from NC to Florida. By the time I reached Florida, I no longer had a cover. It was in shreds and unrecognizable.

Problem solved. Two years later and I still don’t have a cover.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Cover it to protect your stuff. I only trailer mine uncovered if it is for a short distance or if I am trying to dry it out on the way home. Our median strips and highway shoulders collect an awful lot of life preservers, minnow buckets, cooler lids, etc. as soon as the ice melts. Am guessing those folks didn’t use a cover?

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

I have heard, can't prove it, you will get better mileage with a cover, but it must be on tight or you will shred it. Long trips, I cover, short trips not. Nothing loose that will blow out. Rods in the rod locker

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

I had same thing happen GB. I had a cover on mine and a strap came loose. All it took ti rip at 70 + mph. Only driveway cover now. 👍👍. Worse part about cover was is it rained on way to ramp. Then you have big wet cover to deal with.

Fish Dancer Loc: Guntersville, Alabama

Welcome WD. Thanks for the questions as I’m a new boat owner myself and I just ordered a boat cover. I’m guessing a lot depends on the quality of the cover and how well you strap it down. As to the gear. If you have lockable storage then on the boat is ok. Otherwise in the vehicle.
Good luck and tight lines.

tumhoefer Loc: MPLS/St. PAul Minnesota

Mine is ALWAYS covered. Either in my storage facility, my driveway or on the road. All gear stays inside except 2 plastic shoebox size cases of my plastics which I bring in with me to protect from the heat. Trailers better in my opinion, stays cleaner, less rock dings on windshield. Course I wash mine down each time I pull it out of the lake. Water spot remover and water bottle, long handled scrub brush, chamois and a soft towel and Slick Spray . Vacuum it every time I get home from the water. Keep my stuff a long time and I like it to look and feel new as long as possible.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I love my aluminum boat. No polishing, Just hose down road grime and fishing crud and good to go. I don't even have to worry about rock chips and scratches. I never cover it on the road, but I do cover it as home to keep the tree garbage out as it is stored outside. I thought about getting a nice bass boat, but then I would have to build a car port or garage to keep it pretty. I would also have to keep it polished. That sounds like no fun and painful as I get older. I doubt I would catch anymore fish from the front of a bass boat than I do from the front of my Klamath 17.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

I'm the same way Bapa. I have an 18 foot, 2004 Bass Tracker. The carpet is shot on it and needs to be replaced and now I've been fishin in it so much I don't even bother with coverin it unless it's gonna sit for more than 2 days.
When I fish I take it up in the trees and wherever I think the fish are and don't worry bout branches scrapin the sides.
I take my gear out when I'm home cause it's stored outside.
When we land fish and fish blood or fish slime gets on it I splash a little water on it maybe to wash it off a little but I don't worry bout it. As I tell everybody I fish with, " It's a FISHIN BOAT."
When we're done for the day we pull the plug, take all loose stuff out, strap the rods and the boat down and we're on the road.
Last Friday when Jim#1 and I were out we saw my partner Steve and his friend Gene. We got off the water right after they did.
We pulled up near them to strap down and were ready to leave in no time. Gene was still wiping his boat down and spraying boat shine stuff on it or something.
I told Steve, See what happens when you've got a high dollar Bass boat. The nicer the stuff you have the longer it takes you to do anything or go anywhere.
Jim and I were probly home, 30 min, and Gene was probly still polishing his boat.
I just have a "Fishin Boat".

tumhoefer Loc: MPLS/St. PAul Minnesota

Well, I agree to a point. People worrying about getting the floor wet or slimed or their muddy boats and my response is "it's a boat - it's supposed to get wet" but outside of that I try to be conscious of taking care of it as it is brand new ( 2019 Lund Impact) - so, a little give and take