Storing a boat at a marina, how to cover it

[SkaterRace]

I am going to be storing my boat at a marina (on land) and am wondering how best to cover the boat so it does not see extra wear due to the weather. I was thinking just a cover from CTC but had one before and it sucked. Also have a wakeboard tower so not sure how that would work.

Am I best to get a custom cover or is there something I should be getting instead? More money for the boat is limited (girlfriend will kill me if I spend much more lol) but want to protect it best I can. Suggestions?

 

[wahlejim]

What kind of boat do you have? I am assuming with a wakeboard tower it is a bowrider of some sort.

A custom cover would clearly be the best, piece of mind, sleep easy at night solution. It is the most expensive, but will also last you the longest and be best suited to keep weather out of the boat.

If you are on a budget, a decent fitting cover with some vent II pieces and poles installed by you will suffice.

 

[GA_Boater]

Storing on land? Sitting on the trailer exposed to weather or in covered storage?

 

[SkaterRace]

What kind of boat do you have? I am assuming with a wakeboard tower it is a bowrider of some sort.

A custom cover would clearly be the best, piece of mind, sleep easy at night solution. It is the most expensive, but will also last you the longest and be best suited to keep weather out of the boat.

If you are on a budget, a decent fitting cover with some vent II pieces and poles installed by you will suffice.

Yes a bowrider, should have said that. But yes a custom one is ideal though maybe a bit expensive considering everything at once. Any good brands of covers that I should look at? Ideally I can get in Canada

 

[SkaterRace]

Storing on land? Sitting on the trailer exposed to weather or in covered storage?

Not sure about where you live but all land storage at marinas here is always on a trailer for boats of this size and no marina I know of offers land storage that is covered either. Maybe different in US/your location but around eastern Ontario, it is not.

 

[harringtondav]

My boat has been stored outside on it's trailer for 23 yrs. Snow is the largest challenge in E Central IA. Likely also in Ontario. Snow isn't so bad. But thawing and refreezing causes mini glaciers that will sink your cover to the seats. Your wakeboard tower could be a plus. It could provide more slope to shed the snow and ice.

Custom covers are great. Most big boats I've seen using them have a 2x4 lumber spine supporting against the snow load. I have a smaller BR runabout. I string three lines from the bow cleat over the windshield to the stern corner cleats and one to the ski rope cleat. Then a pole under the open bow, and three more in the cockpit under each line. Then the factory mooring cover, covered by a tarp bungied to the trailer.

Open winter storage is a chore. But less of a chore than fixing a wet rotted structure.

 

[GA_Boater]

Not sure about where you live but all land storage at marinas here is always on a trailer for boats of this size and no marina I know of offers land storage that is covered either. Maybe different in US/your location but around eastern Ontario, it is not.

GA_Boater means Georgia boater north of Florida, south of North and South Carolina and Tennessee, East of Alabama and west of the Atlantic Ocean. Now you know.

I have no idea what your marina has in the way of storage facilities because plenty of Ontario marinas have covered, indoor and dry stack storage. Sorry I tried to extract an answer. Good luck on whatever you come up with.

 

[Yegboats]

Assuming your boat is a Glastron GT 185 with a factory installed tower. I would contact several Glastron dealers with your boats serial number and have them look up a factory mooring cover for you. (Make sure they know there is a tower) I tried finding a picture of Glastron's mooring cover but I had no luck.
I always say call around since your in Canada prices can vary depending what conversion a particular dealer is using, and if they know to add these new SIMA tarrifs to things.

Once you have gotten several prices I would phone up local upholstery shops and see how they compare in price. I'm in Western Canada in a large city. The upholstery shops in the city are way pricier than the upholstery shops in the neighboring towns. Just make sure they have good reviews.

 

[roffey]

Just wondering where and how the boat is stored now? I think you have mentioned you are in Ontario Canada and if its not covered now its to late? I live in Ontario and have just dug out of two large snow falls. I have to dig a run for the dog outside so he can do his business, lol

Im not being critical, just wondering.

 

[SkaterRace]

My boat has been stored outside on it's trailer for 23 yrs. Snow is the largest challenge in E Central IA. Likely also in Ontario. Snow isn't so bad. But thawing and refreezing causes mini glaciers that will sink your cover to the seats. Your wakeboard tower could be a plus. It could provide more slope to shed the snow and ice.

Custom covers are great. Most big boats I've seen using them have a 2x4 lumber spine supporting against the snow load. I have a smaller BR runabout. I string three lines from the bow cleat over the windshield to the stern corner cleats and one to the ski rope cleat. Then a pole under the open bow, and three more in the cockpit under each line. Then the factory mooring cover, covered by a tarp bungied to the trailer.

Open winter storage is a chore. But less of a chore than fixing a wet rotted structure.

I'm more considering summer storage right now, for winter my plan is to shrink wrap it and that should solve the snow issue as long as I put supports in.

 

[SkaterRace]

GA_Boater means Georgia boater north of Florida, south of North and South Carolina and Tennessee, East of Alabama and west of the Atlantic Ocean. Now you know.

I have no idea what your marina has in the way of storage facilities because plenty of Ontario marinas have covered, indoor and dry stack storage. Sorry I tried to extract an answer. Good luck on whatever you come up with.

Sorry didn't mean to come off wrong just never heard of a marina around me having covered land storage.

 

[SkaterRace]

Just wondering where and how the boat is stored now? I think you have mentioned you are in Ontario Canada and if its not covered now its to late? I live in Ontario and have just dug out of two large snow falls. I have to dig a run for the dog outside so he can do his business, lol

Im not being critical, just wondering.

Currently it is likely shrink wrapped, it is a new boat I just bought at the Toronto boat show. Never even seen the exact one myself yet. I'm looking for summer storage solutions as winter my plan is shrink wrap it every year.

we have to do the same for our dog, nice big area in the backyard

 

[harringtondav]

SkaterRace Just reminding you of things you already know. Keeping a boat dry is an absolute must. Also, keeping as much gel coat as possible out of the sun is important.

Indoor storage can be pricey. In my area a good deal costs $300 for for summer only storage at a marina. And you have to dig out your boat, sometimes by moving others. Meaning someone else may be moving yours. I know people who rent farm barn or shed storage for similar monthly amounts.

A custom cover would pay for itself w/in a few to several yrs. vs. storage costs. A friend once told me "Boating is not for the meek of wallet". I haven't found a way around that.

 

[briangcc]

I'm just passing this along from personal experience so take it for what its worth...

Each time I've purchased a new boat I've gone looking for an aftermarket cover. Each time the various manufacturers have said that they have an agreement with boat builders - they will not manufacture a boat cover for x number of years.

Again, what I have been told. So either you have to find a generic which fits like heck OR bite the bullet and get a custom one made.

**I just checked Carver's website as I'm considering them for my boat and I don't see a listing for your model...only older by 4 years. What that means difference wise I couldn't tell you. It *might* fit correctly but in all honesty its not that much cheaper than the quote I got from a local shop.....they're within $100 US of eachother.

 

[roffey]

not everyone can do this but I store my boat in the garage over the winter. I can sit in my boat and make motor boat noises over the winter when the urge gets to strong. I have a fold away tongue and once the boat is in the garage I have about an inch front and back. My boat came with a tonneau cover but I have thought of a mooring cover and I believe you can get them at Canada tire (https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/orion-deluxe-boat-cover-0791240p.html) or here.

 

[SkaterRace]

SkaterRace Just reminding you of things you already know. Keeping a boat dry is an absolute must. Also, keeping as much gel coat as possible out of the sun is important.

Indoor storage can be pricey. In my area a good deal costs $300 for for summer only storage at a marina. And you have to dig out your boat, sometimes by moving others. Meaning someone else may be moving yours. I know people who rent farm barn or shed storage for similar monthly amounts.

A custom cover would pay for itself w/in a few to several yrs. vs. storage costs. A friend once told me "Boating is not for the meek of wallet". I haven't found a way around that.

Seems like the custom cover is going to be the way I go but maybe next year as this year buying a new boat is already enough lol

Covered storage here is about ~$500 a month and I got a deal of $300 for the summer outdoors in a gravel lot at the marina. That's a huge price difference, the marina is popular but the lot is huge and the people are great. From my understanding of this place is that you have a dedicated spot that they mark out and you don't have to move boats around or anything like that. Looks like it will be tight to back in but doable for sure.

Boating is not cheap that's for sure. I wish I could go back to the days where I didn't care about how much I spent on a boat because I lived at home with my parents.

 

[SkaterRace]

not everyone can do this but I store my boat in the garage over the winter. I can sit in my boat and make motor boat noises over the winter when the urge gets to strong. I have a fold away tongue and once the boat is in the garage I have about an inch front and back. My boat came with a tonneau cover but I have thought of a mooring cover and I believe you can get them at Canada tire (https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/orion-deluxe-boat-cover-0791240p.html) or here.

I wish I had a garage but I live in the GTA and a basement apartment. No hope of a garage for me.

As for those covers, I have owned 2 and both leaked badly, different years too so doubt it was just a bad run of them. I did prop the cover up fully and rain ran off but the seams leaked. I had to use that stuff you use on shoes to help with water on the seams. That seemed to do the job but I was not too impressed with it TBH.

 

[harringtondav]

I had to use that stuff you use on shoes to help with water on the seams..

I've used 303 Marine Fabric Guard with good luck. $65/gal. But it only lasted one summer for me. My boat is on an uncovered lift, so lots of elements working against me. I support the cover with a spider web of lines and poles to prevent water bagging.

 

[SkaterRace]

I've used 303 Marine Fabric Guard with good luck. $65/gal. But it only lasted one summer for me. My boat is on an uncovered lift, so lots of elements working against me. I support the cover with a spider web of lines and poles to prevent water bagging.

If I go with a non-custom cover I will give that stuff a try and see how it works. Seems like for you might be worth a DIY cover for your lift if you own it.