Boat Cover Maintenance

[biglurr54]

I just purchased a boat cover for my boat. I'm trying to get the most out of the cover. I have troubles with water collecting in the back and tears up by the wind shield corners. Does anyone have tricks that they do to stop these issues? I put socks in the corners of the wind shields but they fall down when its windy. Also do you guys do any annual treatments to your covers. My father used to soak his covers in Thompson water dealer. I'm not sure if that's helpful seeing how its made for wood. Does anyone use 303 on their covers? There must be quite a few old wives tricks for preserving and saving covers from their destiny.

 

[iSteelHead]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

I just purchased the 303 Aersospace protectant, and cleaner. Iit is a day/night change. I tried it out on one of my doors and even the lexan window. Side by side it looks brand new compared to my other door, which is covered in mildew and is old as all hell.

303 says to treat your top once a year or season, for best results. Afterseeing what it can do, I will do this every season. Takes some time and a little elbow grease, but it will ensure longevity out of your top.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

Put foam rubber or a piece of carpet on the boat in every place that a sharp corner may cause a tear in the cover.

Add wood bows or cover supports wherever water ponds.

Cover the cover with a cheap silver tarp and replace the tarp as necessary.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

Most important thing you can do is keep it clean. Dirt gets into the fibers and wears them out like sand paper.

Thompsons is pretty much worthless on anything. Needless to say, you don't want to put it on a boat cover.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

For windshield -tearing protection, I bought a piece of foam pipe insulation, its got a slice in it so it can be opened up and put along the whole top edge of the wind shield... works well

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

If you have a custom cover made, reinforcements are always added over all rub points.

For store bought covers, you can mark the rub points with a bar of soap and have them added later by a canvas shop.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

This work's for me so take out of it wat you will. At the middle bow cleat stretch a pc, of moring line around it and draw both ends back to the stern and tie the ends to 2 short bungees and attach the hooks to the eye hook's of the bow straps and to protect any cushions the rope may come in contact with use a scection of a pool noddle to lay under the rope this process will form a boat length V for the cover to lay on and allow rain and or snow to roll off of

 

[FunInDuhSun]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

Cover the cover with a cheap silver tarp and replace the tarp as necessary.

I did that over a $800 custom-made Sunbrella cover and the d@mn tarp wore 2 holes in it. After that I had my canvas guy add replaceable reinforcements in the wear areas. They last about 2-3 seasons and run me 60 bucks to replace. Works for me.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

Mark the stress points, such as where the windshield rubs (as stated). Get some Spenco Mole Skin. You can get it at any pharmacy in the foot care section. Mole skin is made to protect sore spots on your feet. It's self adhesive. When you look at it and feel it, it will be obvious that it will last and do a great job, (both for your feet and the cover) The adhesive holds well in the ocean... It holds well inside sweaty combat boots for hundreds of miles... Ask me how I know... It will hold very well on a boat cover. I've used it to patch and protect many uniform and equipment stress points.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

Cover the cover with a cheap silver tarp and replace the tarp as necessary.

Very unnecessary. A Sunbrella cover can easily last 15 years with a little care. The stitching will rot out before the fabric needs replacing. Plus, those tarps look so cheezy.

 

[biglurr54]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

I have used pool Noodles and cut them out to fit the corners of the wind shield and they end up falling apart by the end of the season which leaves flakes all over the floor of the boat. I have been using just the silver tarps since I have had the boat which works well and I plan on continuing to use them for the winters. I have a rigid wood pole that runs the length on the boat and is completely padded on the top with insulation. It creates a steep V the whole length of the boat to keep rain and snow off in the winter. Its too cumbersome to use during the summer. Usually take 2 hours to take off and another 2 hours to put it on correctly. It becomes a waste of time if you?re going on a quick fishing trip for a few hours. I am thinking about making up some bows that I can put every 2 feet or so to prevent the pooling.

 

[biglurr54]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

I built a cover support system like the one?s you see for sale that run a loop to the bow and then there?s a small triangular stand and they run two ropes to the back. All it did was create three separate pools in the back. The front stayed nice and dry though!

 

[robert graham]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

I've heard of folks putting a couple of large car or truck innertubes inflated in the boat, under the cover, keeps the fabric nice and tight, no flapping in the wind, no sagging down to gather rain water. Seems like a simple and cheap solution. Maybe worth a thought. That 303 is great stuff, use it on my car's convertible top, helps shield fabric from UV sun damage. Good Luck!

 

[JoLin]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

I have used pool Noodles and cut them out to fit the corners of the wind shield and they end up falling apart by the end of the season which leaves flakes all over the floor of the boat.

Hot water pipe insulation holds up well. It's already slit down the middle. Comes in a couple different inside diameters

http://www.homedepot.com/Plumbing-P...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

[stackz]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

I just use harbor freight $20 tarps and $3.99/10pack bungees as my boat cover.

I also made a frame for it out of PVC pipe from lowes. Its in 3 pieces and cost me a total of like $45. It comes in three pieces and is always on the boat when I'm not using it to keep it covered. (well right now its way in the back of the yard as the boat is under my carport getting redone).

It sits at the corners of the windshield where I cut the pipe to sit snug on top, then arcs up a little and back to the middle where it branches out again and is braced by the rear cleats and into the splash well so its very sturdy and when I pull the tarp down over it with the bungees, it goes absolutely nowhere even in 40mph winds. it doesnt collect water, doesnt drip water into the cockpit as its stretched over the sides of the boat, and leaves/etc dont collect in the splashwell as I have it pulled over that as well.

I've made an engine cover out of the old tarps that fell apart using duct tape and the good sections and then a couple old bungees as a drawstrap.

I go through a 10 pack of bungees maybe once per year or two and a tarp lasts through a summer or two depending on how brutally hot it gets down here.

but this is just me. I dont mind spending the $20 for a tarp every other year versus paying $200 for a waterproof boat cover all at once as I have way too many house/yard projects going on all the time to plunk out that cash and wait till the next paycheck to fix the fence or the plumbing lol..

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

For windshield -tearing protection, I bought a piece of foam pipe insulation, its got a slice in it so it can be opened up and put along the whole top edge of the wind shield... works well

I had an old tarp I wasn't using and just folded it up into something about 1' by 8' and just tossed it up onto the windshield frame before I pulled the cover over it. Lacking a tarp, an old blanket would do the same thing. With my way, you don't have to go to the store.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

Curious, how did boat cover maintenance turn into not using a cover but using a tarp.

A friend used to cover his boat using a tarp. Not only did his neighbors hate him because it looked like hell in his front yard, but the tarp would tear and let water come in and sit next to his engine cover causing the wood beneath to rot. Woudl have been cheaper and a lot less hassle in the long run to buy a good cover. Penny wise pound foolish.

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

I did that over a $800 custom-made Sunbrella cover and the d@mn tarp wore 2 holes in it. After that I had my canvas guy add replaceable reinforcements in the wear areas. They last about 2-3 seasons and run me 60 bucks to replace. Works for me.

I had my upholstery shop add reinforcement to the stitching at the wear areas on the middle seam which is right over the windshield on the SeaRay.
That was about five years ago and it's still looking good.

I built a cover support system like the one?s you see for sale that run a loop to the bow and then there?s a small triangular stand and they run two ropes to the back. All it did was create three separate pools in the back. The front stayed nice and dry though!

I built one, too after buying one from Overton's and seeing how simple it would be to make my own when that one failed a couple of years later. I've also used 3M Water-proofer before, but it's pricey with the number of cans it can take for complete coverage.

Pics from a few years ago. The Sunbrella cover was bought in '98.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Boat Cover Maintenance

I scrub mine with soap and water twice a year. Helps keep tree sap, bird poop, and dirt from becoming permanent.