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Skipjack68.
Opened up my new Aurora travel cover for the first time yesterday and found that it is made up a little different than my old 17 year old Aurora that fit my Sabre so well. I believe I could install the old cover with my eyes closed. On my new Classic with dual axle trailer, I ran into a couple of issues and I thought maybe I could save some time if someone has found a way to put the cover on with out issue. The directions do not address this. My old cover had a nylon rope in the outer seam and I would cross tie the ropes to the tie down U bolts on the Sabre transom. My new cover has the same nylon strapping material in the outer seam with male and female buckle ends. The tie down U bolts on my Classic are just inches on either side of the motor, so I dont think the cover is designed to be attached to these tie points. It looks like the seam tie strap is coupled together and pulled tight and not anchored to the boat. It looks like I would have a choice of buckling the straps forward of the motor shaft or coming around the outside of the motor, which would make the strap easier to pull tight. I could go under the motor hood straps or over the top of the straps that anchor to the bottom motor fin. What is the best way to handle the seam strap at the stern end of the boat? The other issue is the side straps over the dual axle fenders. One strap lines up with the middle of the front tire, so I cant run it straight to the frame around the fender. The rear side strap can go over the back end of the fender and the tires cannot interfere. The strap that is located over the front tire well is a problem. If I pull it forward to get ahead of the fender, it bunches up looking bad and keeping me from pulling the cover down tight. Is there a better way to do this? My top did not have an anchor strap on the front. You just pulled the seam rope to keep the cover tight under the bow. Do you go straight down with this strap or anchor it further back to pull back on an angle. On my old boat, I had a small card board box that I put over the troll motor props to keep the top from putting pressure on the prop blades or the blades pushing a hole in the top. My motor lays with the prop outboard. I am going to have to come up with something to protect the top and the blades. I have not trimmed the extra length of the straps until I am more certain how this is going to work out. One answer to the side straps would be for BCB to weld two square SS Us on top of the frame, opposite the straps and behind the fenders. This way the buckle could pass through the SS flat Us (2″ X 2″) and back up to the cover with out passing over the fenders. Assuming you could get your hand between the fender and the boat to thread the strap through, The other spot for the SS Us could be through bolted to the upper back side of the fender and serve the same purpose. If push comes to shove, I may experiment with this idea. I would appreciate any input on how you may be handling the Aurora cover tie downs on your Bass Cat. Thanks, Skipjack
Ok partner heres how I did/ do it on my p4- First- raise the motor about 1/2 second up with your trim buttom Second- latch together the buckle under the roller up front- pull it tight Third- snap together the buckles on the motor cover under the cavitation plate of your motor. Fourth- take the strap that has the drawstring for the entire boat and buckle it to the opposite side strap on the drawstring. Youll have a female buckle that is movable and a male buckle that I think is fixed on the starboard side of your boat. Pull that strap so dern tight you cant stand it then pull it some more to put the female end into the fixed male end. I go just above the trim pistons to cross the motor here and put the excess strap material in the splashwell. Fifth- do your straps over your trolling motor head and make your way back. Be sure that if its gonna rain to snap in your pole and keep the rear seat up. Make your way back on either side. At the front wheel I had similar issues. I usually found that I could pull it tight to the front step on the fender. I considered putting some sort of small hook under the front step on the fenders. My wheels leave enough room to barely go around them with the strap. Next- put your rear buckles around the rear trailer crossmember. Make sure the straps dont rub your sponsons/transom in the back! Go around the boat buckles to avoid this. Lower the motor. That sucker will be on tight now. Also- be sure to twist all of your side straps before you buckle them down- they wont bow and hit the side of the boat. My fingers are tired.C.O.D. Jr. III
Thanks Ward. BCB got hold of Aurora to come on the forum to answer my question. Bryan from Aurora was just about ready to answer me on this forum when I called to follow up their email to me. He did a good job explaining forming a loop, plugging in the left strap at the rear to the floating buckle (like a pulley) and pulling the loop and the left side straps tight. So I got that. When I asked about the strap that is coming over the wheel well, I mentioned that I had tandum axles. The strap will work ok for a single axle, but (for your and my information) they make kit for the dual axle fenders. Basically you mount a eye ( “made of SS and looks good”) on the fender by drilling a couple of holes. There is a hook that you put on the strap and then it will hook into the eye and your strap will be pulling straight down and wont be bunched up. He is sending me the kit to fix my tie down over the wheel well. You might want to call and get the kit for your P4. I guess BCB should tell them when they order a customers Aurora top if the the boat has a tandem axle and will need the fender kit. The number at Aurora is 1 888 997 2218. You can ask for Brian, Jason, or myself. (Myself did not sign the email) The kit goes along with what I was already considering doing myself so I would not be pulling the strap forward of the fender, which they said should not be done. They have been making the tops this way since back in the mid 90s, but my top was a 91 and went on different. Thanks for giving me your way of doing the top. I felt like someone would have this all figured out and same me some brain drain. Thanks, Skipjack
Ward, you need to take the weekend off and rest after that essay!!BAYOU BANDIT
Skipjake68 The kit is on its way today. Thanks
I got the kit and installed all 4 hooks. It worked real well. The SS screws were a little soft and wanted to strip out with just the pressure of the nylon nuts. Some wd 40 helped. Any how I figured out the strapping and the top fits my Classic well and I am ready to take her on my vacation, unless the hurricanes get in the way. That could happen. Skipjack
Glad it worked well.. I guess my thoughts about a screw on the front step were a reality! I personally have never had any scuff marks from mine when it is T-I-G-H-T.C.O.D. Jr. III
The kit consists of 4 snap type hooks that you can take off the buckle and put the strap through the hook and then form a loop put the back the buckle. You mount a small SS marine catch with two screws and hook in the snap hook and then cinch tight with the buckle. The snap hook slides on the strap. Now I have a short strap to the inside of the fender at the front wheel and another strap to the inside top of the rear step. The marine catches are the same ones you use on a boat to hook folding top straps to. Now my last two straps on both sides go straight down to the fender and rear step. Much neater and holds the cover down tight. Skipjack
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