COVER for Boat- Need Help Deciding - anyone buy one lately???

[enginesilo]

I am shopping for a full cover for my new boat (2005 Sea Ray 180 Sport) and was wondering if some of you guys could share your opinions and knowledge.

FABRICS:
Seems like some are made of Cotton, others from Polyester blends, Acrylic, and 600 Denier dyed Polyester. I have been told to stay away from the Cotton ones since they aren't as good as the Polyester ones.

Overton's offers 6 or 7 from $179 to $499. Definitely don't want the cheapest, but also don't want to spend $500 on the best. Can someone help determine which is the best for my boat? Overton's has an easy search where you input 2005 - then Sea Ray - then 180 Sport. Or use this link:
http://tinyurl.com/6faxel
The 2 from overton's that look most ideal are:
Hurricane Sharkskin Custom Boat Cover #73048 (Custom/Exact Fit)
Titan Semi-Custom Boat Cover #76527 (Not Custom/Tight Fit/Generic Cover)

Here is also one I found on eBay which looks similar to the Overton's $289.99 Titan Semi-Custom cover. I emailed this seller and he said it is a definite fit. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220197211615
This one is the better/thicker Denier Polyester. (Also Custom/Exact Fit)

So I am left with either the eBay one I listed above for $329.99 plus shipping, or one from Overton's in the $289.99 range.

Any help will be appreciated!

 

[DaNinja]

Re: COVER for Boat- Need Help Deciding - anyone buy one lately???

I bought a Sunbrella for my SeaRay BR 200 back in December of 1999 (I actually pulled the receipt from my boat maintenance logs to get the date). It is still in great shape. After this season I'm going to have some of the seams reinforced but other than that, it's been a great cover.

Actually...last week I was a little annoyed with the loose threads in the seams that I mentioned. When I pulled the receipt to responded to your question, I was a little less annoyed. The cover is almost ten years old! and exposed to all the weather that Texas can throw at it.

I highly recommend a good cover support system and strap system as well.

Buy good...buy once!

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: COVER for Boat- Need Help Deciding - anyone buy one lately???

Yep, a good cover will last much longer than a not so good one. My custom cover was made in 1995 and isn't rotted and is still water proof. At 25 bucks a foot, it was far from cheap, but it fits like a glove and has padding in all the places where things might rub thru.

 

[enginesilo]

Re: COVER for Boat- Need Help Deciding - anyone buy one lately???

Thansk for the replies guys,
Well, there is NO Denying the Sumbrella product, I love their products. I just figured I might be able to get away with a middle of the road one since it will only be doing its job for about 4 or 5 months when it is hotter here, and just rains. In the winter and the other 7+ months the boat will be getting shrink wrapped.

Any of those other covers look half decent? The one on eBay looks pretty nice.

Is Acrylic, what Sunbrella is made of much better than thicker polyester?

 

[RyanSS]

Re: COVER for Boat- Need Help Deciding - anyone buy one lately???

i just got one of the cheapie $50 covers from Walmart. It's working so far. Trying to dry the boat out so I can determine if/what repairs are needed. I've got the cover snugged down tight except for an overhang in the front where the trolling motor is and then at the back. Then I put a small round fan in the motor well facing forward to suck air in from the motor area and out the front of the boat. So the cover is puffed up from the air flow and looks silly.

I certainly wouldn't use this cheapie cover on any nice boat or one that i really was concerned about keeping protected.

 

[thunder219]

Re: COVER for Boat- Need Help Deciding - anyone buy one lately???

I had my dealer throw in the cover when I bought the boat but he kept telling me it was a $650 for them to have it made for a 19 footer with a 2 foot swimdeck.
I had a cheap cover on my last boat and I used to only leave my boat out on the weekends and always leaked when it rained. I leave my new boat out all the time now and we have had a lot of rain and the fitted one doesnt leak a bit. It also has the vents in it so it doesnt get the musty smell in it like my last one. After this weekend I am going to put my old cover on loose so it can still get air but the sun can tear up the cheap one.
If I was going to buy a new cover and leave it out side I would buy a custom one but most of thats because I keep mine about 30 miles away and cant check on it everyday. This one I can also trailer it and it doesnt move or scratch the gel coat like the last one did.
In Indiana we are like you and get about five months use and the its put in the barn. I decided to leave it by the lake this year to help save some gas because I usually store it at my dads in another town but so far have only made it out twice. Got to love little league baseball.