Do you keep a cover over your boat?

[4Winns2]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

Both of my boats (90 4Winns and 99 Duranautic with 15hp Johnny)are always covered. Hate mildew and the potential for rotted floors and hull. I'm amazed at those on our lake who don't cover their boats. Jeez, what does it take? A little time and a $100 cover.

Both are kept in the garage in the off season. When we looked at new(er) houses a few years back, I didn't care what the inside of the house was so much as I did the size of the garage and that it could hold a 20' boat; I feel safer when she is here (don't tell my wife, although, on the other hand, I'm sure she already knows). I have rental property that has two garages where I keep my 13 footer. Poor guy who rents it wants one of them to keep his car out of the snow in the winter- -sorry, not in lieu of my boat.

 

[Jack Daniels]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

I have a very expensive breathable specially made cover for my boat. I keep it on all the time following drying it out. During the winter i keep the boat in my nonheated garage, do you guys think i should leave the cover on for the winter or off. Since its inside the rain or snow isnt an issue. Thanks

 

[Ezrider_92356]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

I have a very expensive breathable specially made cover for my boat. I keep it on all the time following drying it out. During the winter i keep the boat in my nonheated garage, do you guys think i should leave the cover on for the winter or off. Since its inside the rain or snow isnt an issue. Thanks

in a garage i would defiantly leave the cover off IMO why chance having any traped moisture when all its going to do is maby keep some dust off of it

 

[am_dew]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

My boat is stored outside all year long (trailered). During the rainy season I put on the $85 cover I bought at Costco 5-6 years ago and in the past few years I have started putting a blue tarp over it because the old cover has a few small holes and otherwise does not repel water like it used to. I also put 4 lenghths of 3/4" metal conduit, spaced evenly across the top of the windshield and running back to the transom, under the cover to keep water from puddling near the back. I have had mildew problems in years past but this year I am going to buy a couple anti-mildew bags and put them in the boat before I cover it and see if that helps. In the dry season, since I am using the boat every couple of weeks, I just put the cover on and hope it does not rain too hard.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

i have always covered my boats, whether inside or out. it is clean and ready to go when i am.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

My 18-footer is the first boat I've owned with full canvas (top, aft & side curtains) and I've found that I've become quite fussy about making sure they're up when the boat is left outside. With all the work we put into it rebuilding the boat, I'm not in a hurry to have it destroyed again.

However, my folks have decided not to put their boat in the water this year, so I am living the high life - parking the boat IN the boathouse!!

Just think - if everyone took perfect care of their boats and kept them covered and ventilated, most of us in this group would have never found our cheap project boats!

- Scott

 

[jennis9]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

We have a custom cover for ours - came with the boat. It works well, but I do know that it gets HOT under there. The carpet has spots on it that disappear when we uncover and the sun gets to it.

Since we dry dock and have no room for the boat at the house - I am going to use Zets idea with the vents - cheaper than the solar vents I was looking at.

Also love the timer/fan idea. I have a small 9inch fan that we could hook up since we have power to the boat. Thanks for a great post.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

When I re-did the inside I had a cockpit and bow cover made out of Sunbrella. I have found that it breathes well and it's pretty good at keeping water out of the boat. Also since I keep this boat on a mooring and the deck is not self bailing it is a must to keep it covered. It's a pain sometimes to have to do this each time you use it but the seats and inside stay so much nicer it's worth it. Interior work is very expensive.

 

[109jb]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

Yes, I keep my boat covered when not in use. If the carpet is wet, like from skiing or tubing, I leave it open (weather permitting) to give it a chance to dry out before I put the cover on. Usually only takes a few hours of sun to dry the carpet. I also open all of the hatches to give any moisture in them a way out. If the boat stays covered for any length of time, I try to open it up on a sunny day every now and then to air out.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

Covers are good. Even in the cold temps, when the sun comes out the boat will heat up inside. A loose fitting cover lets air flow, and the boat stays dry. With the tarps covering these boats I have not found damp floors or upholstery. Both have PVC pipe frames supporting the tarp. The MFG on the left needs a taller PVC frame to help let the snow slide off. The Bayliner on the right has a PVC frame over the cuddy cabin to keep snow from building up inside the bow rail. These tarps are the 11 mil thickness from harborfreight.com

 

[thatguy]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

Mine was covered with just a quick cover. I picked up some strapping from home depot, made a somelegs for it to run down the centerline of the boat. I tied it off with some 5/16" clothesline. pulled a tarp tight over it and tied that off to the trailer. It works good, snow just slides off. The ends are open, but I have the boat parked in a location that the weather(rain/snow) comes across the boat. Near record snow fall this winter, and no water or snow in the boat.

Strapping was about $15
clothesline was about $5 per pack, picked up 2 packs
Tarp was an old one I had laying around for a while, but Im sure a new one could be had for short cash.

Tom

 

[thatguy]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

I know its not perfect with the bow sticking out but. Any time it has snowed, I just go brush of the bow and the swim platform. I will put a longer tarp over the boat next year.

the plan is to use the same idea(open ended) just longer so the entire boat is covered.

Tom

 

[cbavier]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

Look at these:

http://www.iboats.com/Support_Poles....216555--view_id.216555--search_type.category

There's a few cover support poles that not only "tent" the cover for drainage but have vents to keep it dry underneath. They work pretty well from what I've seen, especially if the cover gets direct sunlight. It gets pretty warm under the cover, evaps the water, and lets the vapor out through the vent.

I have three of the vents and poles pictured on this webpage Jim posted (second set) and I still have problems of not enough ventilation. Minor but mold occasionally and sweating that causes dampness and wet carpet. My covers are snapped all the way around. There are 70 snaps on the Bow and Cockpit covers. I try to leave the cover off or pulled back in the sun when possible but the boat has to be covered when not used. It's stored in a barn for the winter so it remains dry but sweats in the summer.Those vents are just not adequate and I cannot add any more vents. I don't have the answer.

 

[Wildcatin]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

My 24' toon has a custom cover with vents on the side. It fits so good that it really dont breath good enough. This cover cost 1000.00 and I will probably replace it with a much cheaper one that breaths. I plan on keeping it under a covered slip on KY Lake this summer, and I may not cover it at all while its on the water.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

WOW!!! "ThatGuy" downsize your pictures you post...Please

 

[alumi numb]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

red semi tarp, very high quality and strong.
flap both sides up a little for cross flow.

 

[cdnfthree2]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

I've ssen boats that went uncovered for twenty years that have solid floors. Most important part is that water doesn't sit in it, keep inspection ports open and bow up a few degrees. Raise it too high and it's the sam as a cover with no vents- greenhouse and a little water can rot.

That said, I cover mine to protect the vinyl and keep vandals moving to easier targets.

 

[Wildcatin]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

That's the sad thing.......part of why we cover out boat's all the time is to keep them safe from vandals and people who want your stuff.

 

[cdnfthree2]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

I agree, it is very sad. Another good reason to have it covered other than to advert possible vandalism is keeping children out. They may not be in it intentionally to mess things up but if you can deter it all together you better off. We like taking all the neigbors kids tubing when we can. After we get home though, they need to know there are boundaries. Either they break something or hurt themselves eventually. We can avoid this.

 

[Wildcatin]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

Chuck, I agree with what you say about it sweating and always staying damp. I just wonder if would be better to just cover the furniture and let the rest of it stay in the elements. If it rains it will get wet, then the sun will dry it out quick and the furniture wont fade. My cover is almost impossibe to put on the boat while its docked in the water.