Boat Cover Repair?

[LaqueRatt]

Is there any way to save a 2 year old boat cover that has a small rip in it? Thought I'd padded the corners of the windshield well, but I guess not. Not the most expensive cover, but not a cheapy. Pretty thick. Hate to toss it, but figure the rip will just get worse. I'm thinking tape, but not sure what kind. What about an iron on patch like for jeans?

 

[rolmops]

It would be a good time to see if you can find the receipt or the brand that sold you the cover. At least mine , gives a five year warranty that includes tears.
Also, usually in the bag that it comes in, usually with the straps, there is a piece of material that you can glue on , so you can fix it.

 

[mike_i]

I tried the iron on patches once but they eventually peeled off.

 

[airshot]

While it won't be pretty, get a piece of heavy fabric and some flexible water proof glue. Glue a patch to cover the tear and spread the glue on the outside as well. Made many crude patches over the years and they last, they just look ugly. If appearance is important, see your local canvass shop, they can make nice repairs.

 

[jlh3rd]

I ordered a small roll of marine canvas, white, to patch my custom pontoon cover.
I use the "5200" and Goop makes a marine grade glue. Both appear to work well and so far have gone over 1.5 years outdoor exposure.
I came out to my slip last year to see a rip 2/3 across the width in the back. It does take a beating in the slip on the chesapeak bay.
I took the cover home, cut a patch strip and glued that on the rip. It's holding so far.
I also repair my snaps that tear, and made reinforcing patches where my cover poles go.
yep, not necessarily pretty.

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

Just take it to an upholstery shop. It'll probably only cost about $50 to have it sewn up, and it'll be a much better repair than an iron on patch or glue.

 

[jlh3rd]

if you can find a shop....then find one close......then wait......then repeat when the next repair is needed.
gluing the strip on the inside, use tape on the outside to temporarily hold the rip in place, doesn't look too bad.
repeat, use marine grade glues.

 

[JimS123]

I ripped a cover once. It was brown cotton twill canvas. My wife's standard sewing machine handled it nicely. She stitched across the tear to put it together, and then sewed a patch over the top.

That boat was garage kept. The cover was only used for vacation travel, and for inside Winter storage. I sold the cover with the boat some 30 years later and it was still good.

 

[cobalt1999]

tear-aid.com

 

[LaqueRatt]

Some good ideas for sure. Tear-aid looks interesting. Anybody actually try this stuff?

Tempted to try Flex Tape, but everything I use that on ends up being a sticky mess.

 

[bowler]

Buy an old Singer 201k sewing machine and sew a patch on.

I got one off ebay for pennies a year or so ago and have sewed multiple patches on an aging boat cover and have replaced windows in a cockpit cover, along with countless other jobs. It's a quality machine. Mine was made in 1942!

 

[jlh3rd]

Some good ideas for sure. Tear-aid looks interesting. Anybody actually try this stuff?

Tempted to try Flex Tape, but everything I use that on ends up being a sticky mess.

yes,
It works ok. What I bought at the hardware store was just a small box so not much is in there.
If I thought it did a great job I wouldn't be using "5200" or the marine grade Goop.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Some good ideas for sure. Tear-aid looks interesting. Anybody actually try this stuff?

Tempted to try Flex Tape, but everything I use that on ends up being a sticky mess.

Tear mender, same principal, stuff works.

 

[airshot]

Can't remember the name ( heck, can't remember my own) but there is a product for repairing tents, a glue on patch product that I have used in years back. Not sure if it is still on the market or not. Comes with a piece of patch material and glue that holds ( or used to hold) really well. The last time I used it, it came with a canvass material type material or you could get a vinyl type patch material. Looking in camping tent patches...then again with these super thin nylon tents, not sure what is used now a days !!

 

[JimS123]

Just understand that if you intend to drive the boat on the highway, some of these approaches may not last long.