Arizona Crappie Association

Fishing and Dock Talk => For Sale/Want => Topic started by: OneBlade on August 31, 2015, 09:55 PM

Title: Decent Boat Covers
Post by: OneBlade on August 31, 2015, 09:55 PM
Went out to check the boat after the rainstorm and as usual got a tub of water settling in the middle back of my boat on top of the boat cover.  Sigh.  Guess I didn't have it tight enough and thought with the newer boat I could outgrow having to put poles and such inside under the cover to keep the water out.  Anyway, I bucketed out the water and then cinched it tight and the corner tore.  Less than 2 years old.  To be honest, I got it for cheap on ebay and it did last a hail storm up to powell on its maiden voyage so probably worth what I paid for it. 

Anybody have any good tips on getting a decent boat cover here to keep sun and rain out and can handle being trailed too?  do I gotta go custom?  Go to cabelas and they sell 150 denier, 300 denier, and advertise 600 denier as really good.  But I think I had that 600 denier one and could tell right away it's not even 1/4 the thickness of the old school canvas one my dad has.
Title: Re: Decent Boat Covers
Post by: Stevert on August 31, 2015, 10:50 PM
Matt....get a price on one from Apache Awning.  They are on Vanburen I think, somewhere downtown.  It will fit just right, good quality and last a long time.  I had one made there for my Lund , had it for 5 or 6 years and when I sold it the cover was still in good shape.  I think it was around $400 but that was 10 years ago so.   
Title: Re: Decent Boat Covers
Post by: sandman on September 01, 2015, 05:11 AM
Look at the ones made from the Sunbrella material. Warranted 5 yrs. Also make sure that it has Kevlar thread. That's about the only thing that holds up to our sun.
Title: Re: Decent Boat Covers
Post by: Fishless on September 01, 2015, 05:42 AM
I have found with our intense sun and UV that no cover can withstand it for very long, I laugh at the life time and 10yr warranty coverage, I found its better to spend less money (on a good fitting cover) and replace it every couple years than spend big bucks for a supposed UV resistive cover that still fails in a couple years car covers are a great example.
Title: Re: Decent Boat Covers
Post by: sparkchaser on September 01, 2015, 09:24 AM
Matt, I have to agree with Bruce on this. I doubt there is any custom cover that you can have made here that will withstand the sun we endure. My old boat came from Texas originally and had a nice heavy cover that you speak of. It was parked on the side of my house for about 6 years, and never saw signs of wear. Nor did it let the sun cause damage to the glass. When I bought my new boat, I decided the best solution was to give up my garage and park it in there. If I was forced outside again, I would plan on paying for a suitable cover every couple of years.
Title: Re: Decent Boat Covers
Post by: sandman on September 01, 2015, 10:02 AM
A good Sunbrella cover will cost you around $700-800 and last 5-6 years. Divide that up by the number of cheap covers or the cost to replace your seats and carpets. I don't have carpet and just the flip flop seat so my expense would be pretty low to go without a cover but I keep one on there anyway and park under a carport to eliminate mid-day sun.

My cover was custom sewn by Armando Armenta on McKellips. It is trailerable but I have a couple of broken straps near the back so I don't trailer it with the cover for more than a couple of miles. Flopping around does even more damage to the darned thing.
Title: Re: Decent Boat Covers
Post by: PhishingPhreek on September 01, 2015, 10:44 AM
I just bought the Denier 600 cover from Cabela's and I really like it... I can't say how long it will actually last in our sun, but after getting the boat carpeted and reupholstered I had to get some kind of cover for it ASAP. It's not as thick as the original cover that came with the boat, and it has elastic that I'm sure will be destroyed within the next few summers, but it's probably good enough to last a few years. With the design of the one I got from Cabela's it seems like could withstand being towed without any issues. I never felt that my old, custom cover could be on the boat while being towed.

I would prefer to have a custom cover and parked under a carport of some kind, but that can't all be done right away.

You know, you can always try Amazon... I know a guy that works there.  lol
Title: Re: Decent Boat Covers
Post by: Fishless on September 01, 2015, 03:48 PM
I hear from so many people not to tow a boat even with a great snug cover on it, when dust and dirt get under the cover (don't care what kind you have) it does they say it acts like fine sand paper on the cover moving on the boat surface in the wind :dontknow:
Title: Re: Decent Boat Covers
Post by: wadefisherman on September 01, 2015, 03:56 PM
I just put it in the garage 😂😎
Title: Re: Decent Boat Covers
Post by: PhishingPhreek on September 01, 2015, 03:57 PM
I just put it in the garage

It sure would be nice to have that option! I can't even fit my truck in the my tiny 1 car garage.
Title: Re: Decent Boat Covers
Post by: OneBlade on September 01, 2015, 08:52 PM
Thanks for the ideas guys.  I don't plan on trailering with it ever.  Only reason I did on that Powell trip was heavy rain issues on that trip.  We got hail and sleet.  I do have a shade canopy that covers the area my boat is parked so that helps as well.  As far as parking it in the garage, woodworking tools take up half the garage already :-(
Title: Re: Decent Boat Covers
Post by: KINGFISHER on September 03, 2015, 11:31 AM
Regardless of brand, the weak point for most covers is the nylon straps.  When I buy a new cover the first thing I do is use "Plastic Coat" and spray all nylon straps to give them an extra layer of protection from the sun.  The straps will be a little stiff at first but will last at least as long as the cover.  I do the same with bungee cords.
Title: Re: Decent Boat Covers
Post by: PhishingPhreek on September 03, 2015, 11:33 AM
Regardless of brand, the weak point for most covers is the nylon straps.  When I buy a new cover the first thing I do is use "Plastic Coat" and spray all nylon straps to give them an extra layer of protection from the sun.  The straps will be a little stiff at first but will last at least as long as the cover.  I do the same with bungee cords.

That's a really good idea! That always seems to be the first thing that I have a problem with on my covers. I might have to go find a can and spray it on my straps.

Is there a specific brand or store you buy it from?
Title: Re: Decent Boat Covers
Post by: KINGFISHER on September 03, 2015, 02:52 PM
Home Depot in the paint section, I believe.  It's used to coat tool handles and comes in 2 or 3 basic colors.
Title: Re: Decent Boat Covers
Post by: menrats on September 11, 2015, 07:43 AM
the sunbrella was the best ive had and it was pricey. it lasted about 5 years and it was not snug fit for travel just a sun shade but it remained watertight. I went cheaper last time I think cabells and its lasted three years but it lost its waterprooffing long ago and is just a sun shade. and not much of one of those now.
matt at one point I bought a system of ropes and pole and platform that ran from tip to tail with the platform makina a tent type deal to support your boat coaver. it takes up a lot of room in my garage if you want it Brenda especially but me too would like you to have it. let me know its just too much fuss for me to bother.
Title: Re: Decent Boat Covers
Post by: OneBlade on September 11, 2015, 08:10 AM
the sunbrella was the best ive had and it was pricey. it lasted about 5 years and it was not snug fit for travel just a sun shade but it remained watertight. I went cheaper last time I think cabells and its lasted three years but it lost its waterprooffing long ago and is just a sun shade. and not much of one of those now.
matt at one point I bought a system of ropes and pole and platform that ran from tip to tail with the platform makina a tent type deal to support your boat coaver. it takes up a lot of room in my garage if you want it Brenda especially but me too would like you to have it. let me know its just too much fuss for me to bother.
Thanks Tom for the offer!  I only have one problem spot and it's the back where I don't have a chair.  It sounds like the platform you're offering is a bit more than I want to mess with.  I made some structures out of PVC for my last boat but sadly I sold them with the boat I should have kept them.  Very easy to make so I think I may need to make 1 for this boat.  Sunbrella seems like the good brand.
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