Short distances, less than 20 miles I don't cover. Longer distances and higher speeds I cover as a stone hit the window one time and I had to replace it. Most of the gear I leave on the boat in locked compartments. If I stay overnight in a motel I take my tackle boxes and fish locator out.
I now have a tall camper shell on my truck. I have put in built in rod holders and containers for all my stuff. We park just back from the ramp, load the boat in 3 or 4 minutes then get in line or launch. 5 minutes to reverse the order after pulling the boat out. I never bring the cover when I leave the house. Even on long trips. As far as the carpet, I just replaced the deck sole on the boat. I have carpet on the sole temporarily until the weather gets dry enough to glue on marine vinyl. I hate hook and crab grabbing carpet. I also like just being able to wash the vinyl off. The vinyl also serves as a waterproofing, even though I coated the wood in epoxy. Unlike many bass fishermen, I use my boat for fresh and salt water fishing, shrimping, and crabbing as well as for game transport. That means blood, guts, fish bait, seaweed and other crud. I also clean my catch on the boat. It would be criminal to subject a polished bass boat with nice carpet to that type of use. It would be like building a rod rack on a Ferrari rather than my pickup.
I have a 14' deep V with a 9.9 hp and a 55lb electric. I never go further than sixty to seventy miles from home so for me no cover driving. At home more than a week I cover.
It has a lot to do with cover. Get a custom made one for your boat will cost more but will pertect and last longer then a inexpensive one. Have had mine on my ranger custom made for 15 years and most of its life been outside in weather I have used different things to keep cover from wearing out. Fades a little but still works good. And if your just staying close to home take off and leave at home
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