best size boat cover

[Jerry_NJ]

Time for a new cover for my Discovery 14' x 68" fishing boar. It has a bass boat setup and is much like Grumman Profisherman boat of the last century, elevated front deck and no center bench seat. General decision after quality is size. I see 12'-14' x 68" and 14'-16' x 68". Which is better as a guess. Hope the cover last a few years, so hate to be way off. Seems a 12-14 would provide a neater/tighter fit, the 14-16 might double as long enough to cover the outboard engine too. Assume if Denier is important 300 is the minimum strength. Seems there are other materials that don't use the Denier strength rating.. any other indications of strength/quality/longevity? My current cover is a very good cover, but the stitching is coming out.. not something I want to repair with a awl stitcher as I have tested and it looks like a long work item with hand wounds likely. Otherwise the cover looks like it would last another 10 years. I have no idea how old it is, but it is old, must be a $300+ item to replace. May be specific to the boat. Estimate the boat is 20 years old.

 

[Scott Danforth]

the best one is one custom tailored for the boat by a canvas guy.

 

[fhhuber]

Off the shelf... better a little large than undersize...

The off the shelf ones vary greatly in quality. Some survive 2 to 3 years of Texas sun. Some don't make it 6 months.

If the old cover just needs stitching take it to an auto upholstery shop. They can stitch it up.

 

[Tnstratofam]

Getting the cover restitched is a great idea especially if the canvas is still in good condition. My second choice would be a custom cover made by a local shop also mentioned above. My experience with off the shelf universal covers are a mixed bag as I've had one that lasted 3 years and one that lasted one year.

I currently use a cheap one from wally world when I can't store my boat in my garage. The Starcraft 16 ft bowrider in my sig line is the one I currently have covered, and we use a cover for a 17 to 18 foot which lets the cover extend over the outboard while still beind tight enough for water and snow to drain off.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Thanks, I first though a shoe repair would have he sewing machine that can handle, an upholstery shop sounds more like it. The existing cover came with the boat when I purchased both uesed a couple years back. It fits nicely and is very heavy duty, may even be canvas ... don't know. I think I'll buy a 300D to keep the boat covered until I can get the existing resewn, given the price passes muster. Surely the best plan is to have all seams resewn. But if $1 an inch, it would price that idea off the table.

I'll check to see how I am listed, I didn't get notice of the above answers, just stopped by to check tonight.

 

[fhhuber]

A shoe/boot maker/repair center will have a strong enough machine... but they are not used to dealing with the large bulk of fabric like an awning shop or auto upholstery shop would be.

 

[Scott Danforth]

check your local canvas shop prior to spending $300 on an off the shelf cover. you would be surprised how inexpensive quality tailored canvas is.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Thanks, for some reason I am not getting notification of replies. I think my profile indicates email notification.

Anyway, I think I will buy an expensive backup cover made from Stellex. It looks to be very light, but strong and has good customer ratings on Amazon. This is low enough cost even if I use only for a temporary cover while I work on the existing custom fitting cover it is worth the money to protect the carpeted interior of my Discovery. The light weight should make it easy to throw it over... and it has a 5 year guarantee for what that's worth... don't know. For the price if it worked for two years I'd be satisfied. I will check on getting the existing heavy duty cover repaired. Hope whoever I have take a look can tell me if the existing cover material is worth the investment. In any case I'd not likely pay much over $100 for repairs. That may be too low for a shop to even set up the sewing machine.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

I installed a Stellex All Seasons Boat Cover at least as a temporary cover while I figure out what I want to do about repairing the custom cover - mad of canvas weight it is very heavy.

By contrast the Stellex is a very light material perhaps 1/4th the weight of the existing cover. But I recall how surprised I was when I became familiar with Braided fishing line compared to Monofilloment (sp?). So I reserve judgement on the strength of the Stellex. I purchased the 14-16 foot by 78" for my 14' Discovery. I figured it may reach all the way back to cover the outboard motor, it does. The new cover also has builtin straps and a really great edge elastic cord. It fit so well over the bow and stern that I don't need a tie down at these points. It is also over sized on width and I am able to continue to put it over the top of my front deck fishing pedestal seat, back folded down. For now I have the old heavy cover underneath and it provides lots of cushioning on corners and other wear points.

I like how it looks, time will tell if it has lasting strength.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Just looking back, long time no visit. During my absence I lost my wife of many years to cancer... that took me back for some time... not boating. But, the Stellex cover I purchased from Amazon was just replaced this year with another of the same. Yes, the cover lasted with a little help from a patch or two, for almost 8 years. Not bad for $69 or thereabout, I can look it up is anyone interested. Yes, the boat was just sitting most of this time, no highway travel with our without the cover.

 

[MTboatguy]

I just got a new cover for my Starcraft and I am very impressed with it, got it from a company in the SE and it is good, I will give you the contact information if you send me a private message The price was very reasonable.