Should You Tow a PWC in a Cover? WCJ Quick Topics
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- This Quick Topic segment was taken from our full-length podcast titled "What You Want in a PWC Cover" and can be viewed in its entirety HERE: HERE: • What You Want in a PWC...
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A good tip I have found useful if you tow with a cover on (as I do, especially long distance) is the use of painters tape (I use the wide type). I put a run of the tape on all leading surfaces that may come in contact with rubbing as well as around the draw tight line of the cover (more for a boat). Only takes a few minutes and cheap insurance to prevent rash marks on your ski/boat.
Well I drive every summer with my 2016 yamaha VXR cover and have never had any issues. The yamaha covers have tie ropes on the front of their covers with vents on the side rear. If you pull the rope lines tight and cut them half a inch shorter and tie a double knot on them, they keep the cover tight on you ski not allowing for flapping around at high speeds. I travel 380 miles every summer at 75 mph and no issues. Keep the cover on , it will protect the ski from dirt and rocks dinging your ski.👍
We've seen plenty of Yamaha covers disintegrate. Glad it hasn't happened to you.
Kevin try this trick, I take different size bungee cords and go from Bond-rail over to the other bond-rail and put sponges between the bungee cord and cover to keep the cover from flapping in the wind.
Yikes. Those chords could start flapping pretty vigorously.
As some have pointed out, the Yamaha factory cover has vents which in effect sucks the cover to the ski at highway speeds. They stay on great, don't flap and I have not seen any negative scratches on my '19 VX...nor now on my '22 FX...which I just towed 600 highway miles with. But your comments are noted.
We've had 2 covers completely tear those plastic vents off - just by wind speed.
@@watercraftjournal Right from Yamaha "Our covers are constructed of ultra-durable Eco-Elite fabric for the ultimate protection against fading and the elements. It is also non-abrasive, water-repellent, UV, mildew, and rot resistant. Features include Vacu-Hold� design, which creates a vacuum inside the cover during transit to draw the cover down snugly to the WaveRunner. Benefits include reduced air-induced stress on the seams, and less aerodynamic drag." My dealer is the one who told me the Yamaha covers are made for trailering...Yamaha seems to say the same.
Good. Listen to them then.
@@watercraftjournal LOL, well maybe the towing vehicle makes a difference too...could be the turbulence or lack there of behind the tow vehicle...but from my view, the Sea-doo cover is an inferior design to Yamaha's.
We've had all 3 OE's covers fail, as well as 2 major aftermarket covers.
Noob question here: What tool do you use to move your PWC from the trailer to the rolling stand that you have it on in the video? Some sort of jack thing? I just got 2 brand new Spark Trixxx 3 seaters (storing them in my garage).
Brute strength.
@@watercraftjournal lol how many people does it require?
Yourself - they're Sparks. Push the cart up to the back of the trailer, spray the bunks with WD-40, and pull on the back of the Spark. It'll slide from the trailer bunks to the cart. If you can't grab the back of the ski well enough, hook a tie-down strap to the D-rings and use the strap like a handlebar to pull it.
@@watercraftjournal thank you
@@watercraftjournal Dawn platinum power wash works great too.
I have a few of these marks on my skis for this very reason, but as you say, they will buff out pretty easily. And I’d much rather buff off some surface blemishes as opposed to actual dings and chips from flying rocks and road debris.
Thanks for the video.
How many gravel roads are you driving down?
@@watercraftjournal All kinds of rocks/debris get kicked up on paved roads. Why do you think front clear wrap for vehicles are so popular?
OMG, why did I not think of that. This would probably how I have developed 2 spots on the front that have turned dull. I don't have the scratches but you can see the clear coat has been rubbed dull. Ok so when I go on vacation and tow my seadoo Ill leave the cover off. I just didnt want all the road grime on my ski but that just takes a really good wash to get off.
You're going to build up road grime with or without a cover, as the hull is what gets coated (mainly) with whatever your truck/SUV is kicking up.
this video is 3 yrs old, but..i wanted to share what i personally have tested. for one, yes, i have the oem cover for my '15 yamaha waverunner fx ho cruiser. what i noticed about the cover is it's very rough to the touch when i went to pick up my ski from the dealer back then ( 2015 ), i knew going in, i was not hauling my brand new ski 7 hrs back home with this cover on my new ski. sooo..left the cover off for the haul home. once i got it home, i went to hobby lobby, purchased some soft cotton fabric, and sewed a liner to the underside of the cover, end to end, side to side. i have not trailered it yet for long distances ?, but i do know it will not scratch the paint on my ski. now..its a toss up if it will rip itself apart for a long distance haul ?, i do not know if it will or not yet ?. if you do this to your ski cover ?, i would advise to run some straps across the cover to keep it on the ski at highway speeds.
Edit/update: just came back from a long drive from little rock,ar to knoxville,tn towing my ski with the cover on my ski, all the way there, all the way back, it never came off, never scratched my paint on my ski. maybe seadont's are just not meant to tow with covers on ?..lol. i will say !..i did have a strap across the middle of the seat/cover to keep it on the ski incase it decided to fly off ?, but it never moved one inch at the front or back. p.s. this was done while driving 70 mph !.
How about the rocks and stuff flying up from my truck. I’m worried that it’ll damage the Seadoo without the cover. Doesn’t all that debris and stuff ruin the Seadoo?
You're going to build up road grime with or without a cover, as the hull is what gets coated (mainly) with whatever your truck/SUV is kicking up.
So your argument to "PWC covers scratch up your ski" is "Not if you tape down a bunch of towels under the cover"? Then Kevin's original argument still stands.
It’s a seadoo does it really matter if it has stone chips?
OMG. Towing with the cover doesn’t scratch your ski. How about the rocks that fly up and hit the uncovered ski, lol.
This argument that rocks and debris are going to scratch the top of the ski without the cover makes no sense to me… your car has no front cover and there are thousands of cars in front of you kicking up rocks and debris. Jet Skis are made of material much more durable than car paint. Unless you’re driving on some major off roads at 50 miles an hour while tow …. I live in LA and tow my Jetski to all the major lakes without a cover and I haven’t had any issues with rocks and debris striking my Jet skis.
Also you need to remember that on a high way there are just tons and tons of rocks just dying to rock chip your shit. So a few swirls aren't going to bother me too much. It will get those from just being out on the water or hitting a dock.
We haven't forgotten. It's up to you. Kevin laid out all of the facts.
so what do you do if you have to drive through a rain storm without a cover on?
I’m still on the fence. If you’re on a major highway (say going to the cottage) … Isn’t the lessor of the 2 evils the possibility of what you’re speaking of? As opposed to road grime, pebbles and anything else on the road your vehicle shoot back at the machine from its tires? I should mention I do have the all black cover that seems to be more fitted.
Don, it's a fair argument. Here's the "rub" - you can risk a dirty ski (depending on how rough the road is, it could be worse than "grime") or having to replace the soft/sensitive plastics that have been scratched and scuffed beyond repair.
@@watercraftjournal agreed. Just trying to figure out which is worse. I typically do the exact opposite, if I can control the conditions and stop or take another route through town I’ll keep cover off, but… if I’m on the highway at 120 km/h it’s typically on. For me anyways.
My Yamaha cover sucks so tight to the ski there is absolute nothing flapping in the wind 70mph all the way up north.
Thanks for the tip I’m going over 400 miles
Be careful and have fun!
My ski will spend all its time in the garage when not ridden do I need a cover??
there not cheap at all not to
Sound tite but with what an rxpx is worth here in Aus $27k I feel like a cover should of been included let alone a boarding step
If it's an "indoor ski" then no, you'll be fine.
Hi if it’s about air pressure entering the front of the cover with no where to go. Then is the answer to fit a rear vent flap into the rear so the pressure build-up is limited? Interesting topic
They have those too.
Do you recommend just getting a storage cover then? Appreciate your video. Thanks!
Yes, absolutely
My Kawasaki has vents at the back of the cover only, this seems to make it suck down tight to the ski at highway speeds. Thoughts?
Kevin spent an entire full length video on this. Go listen to his thoughts there.
@@watercraftjournal ok, thanks for the reply, i have watched that video and didnt hear mention of the vented Kawi cover. I'll have to rewatch. The reason i ask is this cover seems to negate all the issues mentioned.
The backseat that sits over the vents to the engine compartment does NOT "suck down at speed." There's a fixed socket keeping that from happening. Equally, there's zero suction being produced in the engine compartment itself.
Sorry, i think you misunderstood my description. My cover has vents, not the ski. Plastic vents pointing down at the rear of the cover, no vents at the front. Im no airflow dynamics expert but I'm assuming the airflow past these vents causes negative pressure under the cover, so rather than billow and flap it visibly sucks down onto the ski. I usually tow with the cover on and havent had any damage to cover or ski. This is a stock cover on a 2012 model ski so thought you may be familiar with it.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Ive got lots of useful info from your videos.
@@callummacleod1921Videos are good. The replies to viewer comments are defiant.
Did you use the 91 or 67 for the one step compound
What about the yamaha covers that supposedly suck itself onto the ski? Somehow a vacuum is created.
What about them. We've tested all the OE's brands.
@@watercraftjournal Sorry, I didnt elaborate. :) Are the covers that stick to the ski good for trailering or would you recommend taking them off as well?
You're asking permission to do something that Kevin recommended that you didn't. So do whatever you want. You don't have to listen to his suggestion.
@@watercraftjournal LOL, you dont have to be rude, I am asking for a suggestion on a product that was not reviewed by Kevin, I am not asking for permission, I am asking for a suggestion.
No, you're asking for an exception to advice. Either take it or leave it, but don't ask somebody who freely provides experience and advice to provide caveats to fit your needs. Doing so is the very definition of an "ask hole".
I see a lot of people concerned about rocks and pebbles. Wouldn't road rocks and pebbles hit the underside of the ski anyway? Which is unprotected. I've towed a boat for 20 years and never had an issue with road debris.
I wish i had watched this about a year ago… i had the cover on while raining and on the freeway… the cover was soaked and heavy too
It’s a hotly contested topic - many disagree with us on this one
Nice tip I will start taking mine off. Do think it's okay when towing behind my camper to leave them on?
Not at all.
Thank you
Enjoy!
What’s the name of the product that you use for scratches in the video
He was holding Mequiar's One Step Compound
Yup! Also available as some Wal-Marts!
If you leave the cover on, rubber bungee cords , tight, long distances take off the cover, unless you know a good seamstress , 65 mph destroys them!
Or simply do as Kevin says and DON'T DRIVE WITH THEM ON.
@watercraftjournal I come here for all the stern, almost oppositional recommendations reply. 😊
Towing with cover causes wear quickly on the ski. QUICKLY.
Good vid thank you
You're welcome!
I definitely wouldn’t drive with a cover having a forward facing vent. The RV industry figured that out long ago.
Bingo
Maybe that's why the speed limit is 55 MPH when towing a boat (PWC) .... LOL. I got a few more weeks before I can get out in CT. Water is 50 degrees
Not in every state it is. Only the socialist ones. ;)
Watercraft superstore covers do not have vents so therefore the cover does not blow up with air and flap and stays flat and solid at 65 down the highway if you do have the cover like you are showing us then use 3m automotive painting tape 1 1/2 over the vents for The highway drive to keep it sealed up from air getting underneath the cover and flapping common sense have been an automotive painter for 35 years there’s nothing wrong with water sanding the gelcoat and fiberglass painted panels lightly carefully finishing it with 2500 grit wet and then using a 100% wool pad to buff with 3M 36060 rubbing compound and then going over it with a foam pad with 3M machine polish 06064 then hand wax with Carnauba wax and have had new chaparral boats for 35 years and use covers on the highway with no problems works with the same principle
Thomas, you’re not considering that the vast majority of PWC owners will not take these extra precautions or have the skill to restore their paint as you e detailed.
If you pull the cords tight enough they work great.
Until they snap
I got a clear bra installation on my jet ski so my cover shouldn't mess with the paint
Did you see where Kevin showed where his Sea-Doo was damaged? It wasn't the nose.
@@watercraftjournal yes. I had it installed along the side of the watercraft to to prevent that damage
I feel like I'm the only one that doesn't really care about the cosmetics of my ski, I treat my ski like my dirt bike, rough and ready but I treat my boat like my car, pride and joy
This is why all Sea Doos should be made with PolyTech like the Spark and Switch.
Hi good information because is my first time towing a trailer
You bet
Brought my 2021 Yamaha FX SVHO home about 150 miles, dealer put the OEM cover on, I got home and it was scratched all to hell. Mine is the all Black, But still they said No it would not scratch and they were wrong. I will NOT trailer Mine with it one that is for sure. Spend a weekend Compound Buffing it out
Yikes! Sorry to hear that, Dawn but definitely thank you for sharing.
300 bucks for a cover not to mention the cost if it flys off and some one wrecks do to it. Just leave it at home.
Yamaha makes a much better cover that is safe for your ski at high way speeds
I have a genuine yamaha ski cover and I had the same issue he is talking about. Good thing a buffer and maguires took the marks off. I don't tow with the ski cover on anymore either
No, they'll tear apart at highway speeds as well. Ask us how we know.
I’ve towed my FX with a OEM cover 3 hours on the highway 70-75 with no problems but that’s just my experience. Results may vary.
@@watercraftjournal Maybe it was not installed correctly. I cruise at highway speeds with a 2020 FX Cruiser HO long distances and do not have an issue. It is designed to do this. I do put small microfiber towels over side mirror contact points, but again, can cruise all day long with no damage to ski or the cover.
You literally admitted that you put towels all over your ski inside of the cover? WHY?! Because the cover would otherwise scratch the ski - exactly what Kevin spelled out.
Yamaha rules. People with Yamaha’s are not ashamed and have to cover their ski’s lololol
Cheapest ,best cover for a. 2017 GTR X.. please.
Buy the best, UV-protecting cover. Period.
Um. That is why it's called a trailer cover lmao
They still tear themselves apart and damage your ski.
I've drove mine 8 hours no problem this is stuped!! Ur truck takes most of the wind. What about rocks hitting ur paint
"Stuped?"
That is more then few hours ... I towed my new ski cover on no flap n slap shit.. im not towing new ski home and back 4 service or something.. no kind of finish marks ..
What we showed is what it is. We don’t BS here.