Covering boat in a dock

[buellwinkle]

What's the best type of cover for an 18' boat that is in the water for the summer? I heard that if it's not secured properly it will just blow off. One dealer mentioned a cover with a pull cord around the perimeter to hold it in place.

I have a snap in bow cover, but not the main body of the boat. There are snaps but don't know where to get a cover with snaps in the correct place.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Covering boat in a dock

You need to invest in a cockpit cover. Those can be custom made. A regular trailering cover will be a PITA to put on and take off with the boat in the water.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Covering boat in a dock

Have a cover made and the shop will place the snaps to match what you have.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Covering boat in a dock

Have a cover made and the shop will place the snaps to match what you have.

That's the way, and Airdvr is right. A cover that wraps around the entire boat will be really hard to deal with.

 

[buellwinkle]

Re: Covering boat in a dock

Are there places that have the patterns and I can order it or does someone need to come and measure the boat or make a template or needs the boat for a few days to make? I have the factory bow cover, found it on ebay, but not the cockpit cover.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Covering boat in a dock

Are there places that have the patterns and I can order it or does someone need to come and measure the boat or make a template or needs the boat for a few days to make? I have the factory bow cover, found it on ebay, but not the cockpit cover.

Unless the dealer has it, you're out of luck. I've had it go 2 ways- I sailed my 4 Winns to the canvas shop and left it. My previous boat, I had a guy come to the boat in my driveway. He made a couple trips to do the job.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Covering boat in a dock

Spend a little extra and get the cockpit cover. I had mine in the water in the summer for 4+ years and used a semi -custom trailering cover supported with this strap system
ENDURACover Boat Cover Support System 60008 - iboats

And I was always fighting pooling water on the cover. A couple times, the cover collapsed and the rain water collected in the boat. It could have sunk under the right conditions. The taught cockpit cover with a support pole should not have that problem..

 

[arks]

Re: Covering boat in a dock

Yeah, your best option is a custom-made cockpit cover. Believe me, it's worth it! Get more than one estimate.
I kept this Wellcraft in a slip for a couple summers and never had any rainwater get in.
Note the flaps at the aft corners- I added them because rainwater would run off the original cover and right into the bilge vents...duh!
One other consideration- have the shop make allowances for docklines to the cleats.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Covering boat in a dock

What kind of boat is it? Some retailers can get covers made for your boat -- not semi-custom jobs, but covers made for your boat. I found a made-for-my boat cover (a cockpit cover and a bow cover) from an Ebay reseller. It's a quality cover made from heavy Sunbrella fabric. (I had to install my own snaps, but that wasn't too bad.) For example, check out Doug-Russell on Ebay. They have lots of Larson and Glastron covers. If you don't see your boat, contact them. They might be able to get it.

Good luck,
Jim

 

[buellwinkle]

Re: Covering boat in a dock

It's a '98 Glastron GS180. I found a guy on eBay that had a new factory one for $200 in teal. Not my favorite choice of color but next time I need one, at least I'll have the old factory one to use as a pattern. Does make sense putting it on from inside the boat will be easier and then snapping in the last few snaps should also be easier.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Covering boat in a dock

Email the guys I mentioned. They don't list all their stock, and Glastron is one of the boats for which they have a lot of stuff. You might be able to get a color more to your liking. PM me if you cannot find them. They are good, reputable folks. (Of course, I would have bought if from iBoats if they had what I wanted!)

Jim

 

[buellwinkle]

Re: Covering boat in a dock

I checked with them on ebay but they didn't have any for my model year. But I was able to find the covers from ducshowboats that were factory Glastron parts. Whether it realy fits remains to be seen.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Covering boat in a dock

Good luck! Hope you get one that fits great.

Jim

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Covering boat in a dock

glad someone asked what kind of boat we're talking about. All I cover is the console; some people around here also cover the seat at the console. The rest doesn't need it. Life is good, when it's easy!

 

[buellwinkle]

Re: Covering boat in a dock

The reason for covering it is it sits on the lake for 6 months straight, we may use it once a month, just trying to keep dust off the interior as there's no hoses, no electricity for vacuums on our dock. The boat will get washed once a year whether in needs it or not.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Covering boat in a dock

no, the reason is the type of boat. Mine sits at the pier, in the water, year round. No power or water at the pier, although I go to a boat club or can bring the hose down from the house. I've never used a vacuum on a boat. I get dust on it; rain gets it off. Wax once a year whether it needs it or not. Sometimes I borrow a pressure washer.

But you are getting good advice for your type of boat from people who have your type of boat. My point was, with such a wide variety on an international forum, base information is needed. I've seen new boaters with my kind of boat and conditions ask about whether they need a mooring cover; they don't. Others do.

 

[buellwinkle]

Re: Covering boat in a dock

Ahh, you get rain, that explains it. We don't get rain during our boating season.