Boat covers Sunbrella or?

[sray2003]

Looking to purchase an all weather boat cover for my 2003 searay 182 SRX. I have looked at pricing from a few sources, noticed that the Sunbrella covers offer the best all round protection and warranty.

My question is weather it is worth spending the money for the top of the line cover @ over $500.00 or is there another that would give same protection from the elements for less money?

The boat will have to spend most of its time outside in the elements here in our wet coast B.C.

 

[scutly]

Re: Boat covers Sunbrella or?

i thinks its pretty much unanimous that sunbrella is the preferred choice of material for all marine covers and tops. heck, the bag i got for my magma grill is sunbrella

 

[bob johnson]

Re: Boat covers Sunbrella or?

I was looking at boat material to make some boating canvas from and several websites were saying that a fabirc called TOP GUN was their most popular..

I boat a cover from Cabelas in the bargain bin..paid $70 for a cover that normally sells for $300...it isnt like sunbrella, but seem really really nice... and it has a winch draw string as well as a BUNCH of straps....

bob

 

[smarks]

Re: Boat covers Sunbrella or?

If your looking for a high performance material the Sunbrella is the way to go.
Same material hotels use for awnings and drive unders. It just holds up so well to uv and the other elements.

I've got a bimini top with Sunbrella material and I love it

Steve

 

[Boatist]

Re: Boat covers Sunbrella or?

I first had a cotton duck boat cover and it lasted just over a year and never did shed water very well. Since then have used Sunbrella with a 5 year warranty. Also get the special thread that is also good for 5 years.

Today I see some Sunbrella has a 10 year warranty.

Only problem I have had is Sunbrella shrinks about 5 inches over 5 years on my boat stored out in the hot sun. It get very hard to put on after a couple of years.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Boat covers Sunbrella or?

I went through the cheap covers (if you can call $150 or so cheap) every couple of years on my Crownline. Had lots of problems in the humidity and heat down here (New Orleans) with mold under them. Then I came across a deal on a 1987 Sea Ray that I couldn't pass up. It has all the original 23 year old Sunbrella covers and they still look like new except for about 6 inches of loose threads. Went out and bought one of the custom Westland Sunbrella covers (~$600) for my Crownline the next week. One of the best things I ever did. It keeps all the rain out, but lets it breathe underneath. Fits like a glove and I haven't had any problems with mold since I bought it.

 

[sray2003]

Re: Boat covers Sunbrella or?

I first had a cotton duck boat cover and it lasted just over a year and never did shed water very well. Since then have used Sunbrella with a 5 year warranty. Also get the special thread that is also good for 5 years.

Today I see some Sunbrella has a 10 year warranty.

Only problem I have had is Sunbrella shrinks about 5 inches over 5 years on my boat stored out in the hot sun. It get very hard to put on after a couple of years.

Thanks for the reply, we don't have the same problem with the hot sun up here and yes the 10 warranty is a bonus.

 

[sray2003]

Re: Boat covers Sunbrella or?

I went through the cheap covers (if you can call $150 or so cheap) every couple of years on my Crownline. Had lots of problems in the humidity and heat down here (New Orleans) with mold under them. Then I came across a deal on a 1987 Sea Ray that I couldn't pass up. It has all the original 23 year old Sunbrella covers and they still look like new except for about 6 inches of loose threads. Went out and bought one of the custom Westland Sunbrella covers (~$600) for my Crownline the next week. One of the best things I ever did. It keeps all the rain out, but lets it breathe underneath. Fits like a glove and I haven't had any problems with mold since I bought it.

yes my old Invader had a cheap cover on it but it did keep the water out but did not breathe at all. I also had mould issues, but with a dryer it helped.

 

[oceansbreeze]

Re: Boat covers Sunbrella or?

well, i'm getting ready to have a new custom cover made for mine, and I was talking to the canvas people yesterday. they showed me Top Gun, and recommended it. I asked about Sunbrella, which they showed me, and is a heavier fabric, but they said they do not like to use it on boats, apparently it can rip easier, once a rip gets in it, it tears easier... whereas top Gun will not rip in the same manner.

Not sure if that is true. I was leanign towards Sunbrella myself, but... they assure me it will keep my boat dry and last a long time if I go with Top gun.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Boat covers Sunbrella or?

Oceanbreeze
I have not seen top gun but it is cheaper.
Sunbrella I have not seen any problems with it ripping.
My current Sunbrella cover came with a 5 year warranty and it now about 8 years old.
We Paid about 10 dollars extra to get a special thread that also has a 5 year warranty or they will re sow for free. The only thing was the thread only came in white. Looked ok to us on the Pacific blue color.

First Sunbrella cover we had after about 4 years some the thread started to break so we resowed it by hand.

Our cover we leave on all year. Rain October to April and Heat to 105 outside all summer. Inside temperature 140 degrees most summer days.

Only thing I did not like about Sunbrella was they only had dark colors at places we checked on getting the covers made.

Next cover we get I will try and get a much lighter color so it is not so hot inside.

Our cover is a trailer cover so warranty also covered any rips or tears from driving down the road but it never has done that. They did sow some marine vinly inside at the posible stress points. Over the windshield, over the cleats at the stern corners.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Boat covers Sunbrella or?

well, i'm getting ready to have a new custom cover made for mine, and I was talking to the canvas people yesterday. they showed me Top Gun, and recommended it. I asked about Sunbrella, which they showed me, and is a heavier fabric, but they said they do not like to use it on boats, apparently it can rip easier, once a rip gets in it, it tears easier... whereas top Gun will not rip in the same manner.

Not sure if that is true. I was leanign towards Sunbrella myself, but... they assure me it will keep my boat dry and last a long time if I go with Top gun.

I have never seen Top Gun, but I have a lot of items made from
Sunbrella; 1/2 tower, mooring cover, bags, enclosure, wind screen, dash cover, just to name a few. I cannot even imagine what it might take to tear Sunbrella.

My top on the 1/2 tower has had tree branches scrape across the surface, leaving bark and green streaks from the limbs, without tearing. Some of the contacts were so sever that the streaks are still there after a year.

If Top Gun can do better than that, this is the 1st I have heard of it.

There is also a hole where the canvas guy ran the antenna cable, and it has not torn. I even tried to force another cable thru the hole and couldn't, I had to cut it a little larger because it refused to tear.

Sunbrella all the way for me.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: Boat covers Sunbrella or?

I have never seen Top Gun, but I have a lot of items made from
Sunbrella; 1/2 tower, mooring cover, bags, enclosure, wind screen, dash cover, just to name a few. I cannot even imagine what it might take to tear Sunbrella.

My top on the 1/2 tower has had tree branches scrape across the surface, leaving bark and green streaks from the limbs, without tearing. Some of the contacts were so sever that the streaks are still there after a year.

If Top Gun can do better than that, this is the 1st I have heard of it.

There is also a hole where the canvas guy ran the antenna cable, and it has not torn. I even tried to force another cable thru the hole and couldn't, I had to cut it a little larger because it refused to tear.

Sunbrella all the way for me.

http://www.rochfordsupply.com/shop/Textiles/Marine_and_Boat_Cover/Top_Gun_-_Best_Seller/index.html

this is just one supplier for the custom canvas maker...

this site lists TOP GUN as its best seller....to the makers of the covers..not to the boat owner!!

but that stuff called OUTDURA TRIO is $28 a yard!!!!!!!!!!! must be some material!!!!! Sunbrella is maybe $13 a yard!!!!

bob