boat cover question

[flashback]

Guys, Im in a bit of a pickle, as some of you know, I have a 1980 chris craft 21ft. scorpion that I'm taking on a road trip at the end of this month.. after replacing trailer bearings, tires, fuel filters, belts, and who knows what else, I don't have a boat cover, and whats worse is I have no money left to buy one ... do any of you know a cheap trick to keep my boat dry while trailering and mooring..

 

[jlinder]

Re: boat cover question

A boat cover while trailering is a big question. Unless you have a very sturdy cover that ties down real tight it will flap itself to death in the wind. <br /><br />I take mine off while trailering then put it back on when done.<br /><br />As for a cheap cover, you could just use a tarp from Home Depot. Get some PVC pipe to make a support to keep the center high so water won't pool and you should be fine.

 

[iron21]

Re: boat cover question

The thing with tarps is that it is very hard to prevent water pockets. I dont know how much you can spend but K-Mart or Walmart sell cheap boat covers that tie down for like $50. I believe they are trailerable too.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: boat cover question

FB,I had to do this once while my top was being repaired.I bought a roll of pretty thick plastic sheeting at walmart.I dont remember how many mils thick but it was about $15.I bought some female snaps at Home depot.I put the sheeting over the entire cockpit and started placing the snaps over the male snaps that were mounted on the boat.I pulled the sheeting nice and tight,got the whole thing snapped down and proceeded to cut it out .When I was done cuttingI took a step back and Voila!! It looked like I just got a new mooring cover.It didnt breathe at all but worked and looked great for what I needed it for.Forget about trailering that way,but it looked like a new vinyl mooring cover.Get black sheeting.Charlie

 

[jtexas]

Re: boat cover question

Best way to handle the road trip, IMO, is leave it uncovered. Leave the plug out while trailered, let the auto bilge pump do it's thing while moored. If it gets rained on it'll all dry out next sunny day. Sounds like fun wish I were there <br /><br />You'll want to cover it for storage, obviously. The walmart cover will do you until you can get a better one.

 

[flashback]

Re: boat cover question

Thanks for the response guys, good ideas all... I think I will just pull it uncovered and then try Charlie's suggestion when I get it tied up..guess I'll put some water in it to test the automatic pump. it has never come on as long as I've had the boat. as I store it in an old chicken coup. near the lake that I usually go boating in...this boat has not been wet inside in 2 years... since most of it is plywood covered with vinyl, water is not a good thing....... By the way Charlie, how hard was it to deal with the plastic and snaps as far as taking it off and putting it back on a few times??

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: boat cover question

It was pretty easy depending on how thick plastic you get is.The tricky part is to take off the snaps without them popping into the air and falling in the water.If you use too thin plastic ,the snap will punch a small hole in it at every snap.Try folding a hem so it is doubled at every snap.Good luck!! Charlie