Boat Cover Preferences

[GregE]

I have a boat that is in the sun nearly all daylight hours. It's completely covered with a blue utility tarp, but I'm looking to probably buy a "real" boat cover for it. The blue tarp lasts about 6-8 months at best before beginning to tear. I know there are good, better, and best covers, and prices to coincide. Anyone have good longevity with particular material covers in such sunny exposure ? Eventually the ultraviolet rays are going to be the death of any of them, some quicker than others. iboats has several types and I've seen others around on the internet. I've never had one so I'm curious of some preferences.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Boat Cover Preferences

Sunbrella fabric is the best but pricey.The OutDura fabric is very good also,then i'd say the Sharkskin is next.
Iboats has the best prices on quality covers and free shipping..

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Boat Cover Preferences

I have custom cover from Gambler.
Going on 11 years old and still is in great shape.
You pay for what you get.

 

[hibbert6]

Re: Boat Cover Preferences

Smart move! After trying to keep my boat covered with a blue tarp for 4 years, I found that the floor of my boat had rotted. I replaced it, and began asking around as to why it had happened. The guy at West Marine put it bluntly. "Blue tarps are "waterproof". That means that once some water gets under the cover - and it will - then it can't get back out. A good canvas cover is water RESISTANT, not waterproof. That means it sheds most of the water. But if some does get in, then it can evaporate back out, also."

My boat sits in the sun probably 300 days of the year. My first canvas cover lasted 3 years, my second about 4. But it tore the day before Christmas. As we were expecting a big storm right after Christmas, and as I was going out of town, I had to buy the only cover I could find that fit my boat. It's of excellent quality but doesn't fit real well. And, there's no O/B motor cover, so I had to make one out my old cover. I'm bummed. Had I replaced the old cover a week earlier I could have had a new custom cover made for just a few bucks more. And, take it from a professional cheapskate, it would have been well worth it.

Dave

 

[orion25]

Re: Boat Cover Preferences

I bought a $100 cover from Gander Mountain. Comes with a 3 year warranty. Stapled the receipt to the warranty page. If it last 3 years, great. If not I get a new one. Cannot remember the manufacturer off hand but I only use it during the winter months. The boat is in dry storage during the boating season.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat Cover Preferences

remember that covers are made for a class of boats, not your particular boat. so a missfit is almost guaranteed. if you want a perfect fit, it has to be custom, and you will pay for it.

i use blue tarps, a tent frame in boat, my tarp is 3 years old. i also the way it fits, it get great air circulation, never had any mildew, and i'm in the mildew capital Florida.

 

[GregE]

Re: Boat Cover Preferences

Great discussion. I appreciate all the feedback. My blue tarp is also too big for the boat itself, but I secure it under the trailer. Boat, motor, trailer, and wheels are all covered. Reduces fading of the boat, also keeps the trailer tires out of direct and constant sun. Air flows well under it all. I will probably get a decent boat cover at some point soon. And one day I'lll do some customizing of the boat as well. Right now I have a marine-grade wood floor, but other than that there's no wood in it.

Someone mentioned having their blue tarp for 3 years? In 3 years my tarp would be just thousands of blue threads. lol It flakes blue now. I get those flakes all over me when doing anything with it at this point because it's breaking down. I've only had it since August 2007.

Thanks again for all the feedback from everyone.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Boat Cover Preferences

Greg, you do keep your tires up off the ground, right?
I mean up on some wood or something.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat Cover Preferences

i use the Blue Kmart tarps, and they are in the Fl sun all day. had a horrible time with the silver ones, 3 months.

 

[GregE]

Re: Boat Cover Preferences

Greg, you do keep your tires up off the ground, right?
I mean up on some wood or something.

I don't. I know I should but I've kept putting it off. It sits on an asphalt driveway vs the grass or dirt.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Boat Cover Preferences

I was able to get a custom canvas cover for my old FW after the old generic one got trashed in last year's ice storm. This time I made a cover to fit underneath it, to support it like a convertible top on a car. I used a couple of ridge supports from stern to windshield, windshield to bow, and supported them with PVC poles mounted in to bases so the windshield does not take any weight. Then I got some of the fiberglass cover slats and used those as the cross supports from one side of the side windows to the other, going up over the ridge beam . Same thing in the bow compartment, the fiberglass slats flex well so it winds up like a tent frame. And I open it up to the air when it's a nice winter day to let it all air out. You want air circulation, but any custom fitted cover will not allow that unless you put in vents or open it up regularly.