Mooring Covers...

[HollaGeo]

If I buy one of these "semi-custom" boat covers. How can I assure that it will keep my boat covered when it is docked???

 

[arks]

Re: Mooring Covers...

Get one with elastic around the perimeter and sewn-in loops every 4' or so. The elastic should keep the cover below the rubrail under normal conditions, but the loops can be used if stormy or windy conditions are expected. Lines must be run from a loop, around the bottom to a loop on the other side. It's a pain...

 

[MRS]

Re: Mooring Covers...

I just got back from lake crowley and the wind comes in hard every day most guys will hang 1-gallon jugs full of water on the loops at the bottom and let them just sit in the water. When the wind dies down they tie them to the dock take cover off and head back out seems to work good.

 

[JamNJ1955]

Re: Mooring Covers...

You really need a custom made mooring cover to be assured your boat will stay dry.

null

John

 

[professor229]

Re: Mooring Covers...

Hi to everyone... John...you have a beautiful mooring cover....I am not new to boating, but just retired and am now back into the hobby.... times have changed since I was involved back in the 70's.... OK, yes, I'm old.... but please humor me and give me some advice if you would....

When I was a kid growing up on a small lake, we had a boat lift, pulled the plug on the boat when it was on the lift and forgot about it. Covered it during the extended times we would not use it and store it in the winter. Simple

Now, I lease a place on Lake Pepin (MN) and I am not allowed to have a dock or lift. So I rent a mooring spot at the marina which is all new to me.

I also went out and bought a good used Baja 190 Islander which is about ten years old, but I did consult with the mechanic who maintained this boat... he said, "Buy it" and we did.

OK... Now I have to moor it. But before I ask ignorant questions, let me say that "trailering" is not an issue, because we will trailer the boat without a cover. Simply we live close enough to the lake and will tow it home on October 15th of each year, and back to the lake on April 15th of each year. The boat will not be required to be covered those two times. From April to October it will be in the water, moored.

So, now, I bought one cheap 17-19 foot trailerable cover from Menards... universal towing... good deal... wrong... the Baja is listed as 19 feet long and in reality it is at least 19.5 feet long... So I took it back, went to Fleet Farm and bought the most expensive cover they had for a 20-22 foot boat, but it says nothing about mooring.

I do remember seeing the CHEAPEST cover saying "suitable for mooring" and think that was a Stearns Silver Tech.... I bought a Stearns Hurricane cover.... because this had a "pole" to raise the middle of the cover in the cockpit area.....

So here we go... should I try this? John... if you are reading this post, where did you get your custom cover with snaps made for your bayliner? and at what cost?

Should I just keep and try the Hurricane boat cover and use it as a mooring cover? Has anybody else used a Stearns cover as a mooring cover? All advice is very much appreciated.... and thanks.

PS... Where to buy would also be appreciated.... cost too....

Dennis

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Mooring Covers...

First off, I wouldn't ever pull the plug on a boat sitting on a lift unless it was in an uncovered dock. Lifts can spring air leaks or have valve problems and eventually sink back down into the water, leaving your boat in the water with no plug.

Also, any auto/marine upholstery shop should be able to make you a custom fit snap-cover like on that Bayliner. Canvas shops can make them easily as well. They will cost 3 times as much as the universal covers, but they will likely last longer and protest much better. The poles that hold up the cover are made so that water can't pool up on the cover, which adds weight, causes leaks, and causes the boat to tear under the stress.

How far away is it for you that you could just trailer it each time you went to the lake? A 19ft boat isn't exactly difficult to hitch up and go when you only have 10-15 miles for a weekend trip.

 

[professor229]

Re: Mooring Covers...

Hi.... thanks for the reply... First, let me clarify... we are not just ten miles away but more like 50 miles from our home to the lake. Our agreement does not allow us to have a lift or dock, but we are right on the marina and a slip is relatively cheap, and cheaper than storage for the boat, and a lot less hassle. So what we need is to moor the boat at our slip and keep it covered. The original white canvas fitted bow and cockpit covers are acceptable but not in the best of condition, so we would prefer a mooring cove but the more you read about them, the more confused you become to where common sense won't even allow you to make an informed decision on what to buy and what works and what doesn't. You can even go to some of the online websites where the people who bought them can make comments, good and bad, about their experience with the covers and there is no consensus there either and that adds to the confusion.

Simply, I would like to buy a mooring cover and not a trailering cover because the boat will be transported 50 miles twice a year on a nice day, and then stored, probably with the mooring cover also used as a storage cover inside one of my garages.

As for the boat lift, we only used mechanical boat lifts and the reason to pull the plug was in case we got caught in town when a storm hit. We actually lived at the lake.... The only time the plug became an issue is when my brother lowered the boat in the water without thinking about it.... doesn't take long to realize your mistake and start lifting it out again!!!!

I have seen mooring covers at Walmart, designed for mooring, but they have no warranty or a one year warranty, and as you read, you will see people who are delighted with them, and people who are screaming about them. What I would like is a mooring cover from a major retailer where the consensus is that it rarely if ever fails to perform as promised.

I did also contact a professional canvas company that makes covers for each individual boat and replaces the original two piece vinyl covers...

Does anybody know if you can buy the exact same cover for a 190 Baja Islander from the company or aftermarket? I have not been able to locate the Baja company's website... any help appreciate... Thanks again..
Dennis

 

[oceansbreeze]

Re: Mooring Covers...

Dennis, did you find a cover yet?

As Haulinazz said, any marine upholstery place should do it, and I strongly recommend one from there as well. A custom boat cover is going to be better than any mass produced cover you could ever find in a bix box store..

Look in your yellow pages under "boat covers" in my small town of 50,000 there are 3 shops here. I was recently quoted $550 for a new full mooring cover. This includes them coming to the house or marina, and custom making it on site, complete with snaps, and the aluminum post to hold it up in the cockpit area.... Professionally made and built tough with thick guage canvas to last a long time, and in a colour of your choice.... you can't go wrong.

My custom made convertible top, which is 5 pieces only cost $1,000. Bow cover, 2 sides, rear zip in piece, and the main top, plus hardware, they replaced all button pieces that were broken, and it looks awesome. Matches the boat perfectly too.