My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

[SDSeville]

Just had some serious rain this weekend (serious for southern California) and my new cheap cover held up great.

I got the tarp on sale at Harbor Freight for $17 (after 20% off the sale price with my coupon),traced my old cover, and cut out with scissors. I attached HF tarp clips strategically around the boat and used bungy cords to attach it. It does not even require the supports I had to use in the past with my $300 boat covers.

No leaks or puddles at all. However, we do not have to deal with snow here.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

Thanks for the info, been wondering about doing this for some time!

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

My experience with these tarps is that they only last about a year. If lucky, two. Sun gets to them and the grommets pull out. Of course, you are not using the grommets so that won't be an issue.
Also, after a while they tend to start to rip easily and delaminate. However, for the price, changing them once a year is still not a bad deal. Let's all support Chinese made goods. It is inevitable--almost nothing is made in the US anymore.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

Frank is right. I have used these in the past also, and I usually get 12 to 18 months out of them before they become easy to rip. However, like he said, at $17 changing every year or so is no big deal.

Also regarding the grommets, if you use the HF clips ($5 for 15 and reusable on future tarps), that is not an issue.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

I've used that same tarp on my "other" boat, and yes, the sun renders it useless after a year or so. What I've done this time around is put the old tarp over the new one as a sun shield, hopefully that'll give me more life out of it.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

I wonder if spraying it with something like Scotchguard on it a couple times a year would extend the life? Although it would probably be cheaper to just replace it....

 

[ssobol]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

I do the same thing only getting a tarp from Home Depot or Tractor Supply. From these places the tarps are $40-60.

Depending on where you live the these tarps last about a year (maybe less). You might try spraying the tarp with 303 protectant to see if that helps with the life.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

303 is a good idea. I will give that a shot.

What I like best about these is that you put the tie down clips wherever you need them rather than using the ones that come on the universal boat covers. This way it is tight in all the right spots and you get no puddling at all. I don't even have to pull it super tight when the clips are in the right spots. That's why I get away with bungee cords rather than boat cover straps.

I guess you could add tie down hooks to a regular boat cover also.

 

[cr2k]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

I got a take off "shrink wrap" cover for free from the local boat dealer has felt or something on the inside and it has lasted 4 years now. I put it on over my summer cover for a little support.

 

[90stingray]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

Keep your drive trimmed down during storage to let the bellows last a long time...

 

[NYBo]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

That sure looks like a grommet in the middle of the edge to me.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

Problem with those covers is that they don't breathe so there will be a possibility of mold in the boat. Even though a Sunbrella cover is expensive, you are still better off with one of those type covers.

 

[V153]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

I got a take off "shrink wrap" cover for free from the local boat dealer has felt or something on the inside and it has lasted 4 years now. I put it on over my summer cover for a little support.

Great idea! Always wondered what they did with old shrink wrap? Recycle!

$17 bucks a year ain't bad I reckon. And that's not a bad tailoring job btw. But you'll be lucky if the material lasts a year. 'Least down here.

Not to suggest SD would ever stoop to such behavior. But people bring roached out covers by my shop all the time and expect me to fix them for free. When I quote 'em a price they start talking Chinese ...?

 

[ziggy]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

Let's all support Chinese made goods

not if i can help it.... which i can't. but it still irks me when i have no choice but to comply with supporting 'them'.

It is inevitable--almost nothing is made in the US anymore.

hopefully not inevitable, but will agree, it's hard to find anything made in USA anymore. which is part of our overall problem. very sad situation we got ourselves into.. Americans like their cheep products. it's almost a requirement, unless ya sell oil or healthcare... and that's sad too...

to the op. yer cover looks great and i'm happy it works for you..... the price was surely right... :facepalm: myself. i feel i need a cover that breaths somehow. i don't want to start having mold and mildew problems, which i don't have now using a mid to high end semi custom boat cover by some aftermarket company (titan?). it's probably made in china too, though i don't know that, but sure wouldn't surprise me in the least.... :facepalm::facepalm: ya just can't win anymore it seems..

 

[SDSeville]

Keep your drive trimmed down during storage to let the bellows last a long time...

Thanks 90stingray. Just put it on the side yard a couple weeks ago and forgot. Changed the bellows this summer and it was a PITA. Don't want to do it again soon.

That sure looks like a grommet in the middle of the edge to me.

Nice catch. There were a few grommets left after I cut out the pattern. I did use those.

Problem with those covers is that they don't breathe so there will be a possibility of mold in the boat. Even though a Sunbrella cover is expensive, you are still better off with one of those type covers.

Luckily the fit is not perfect and there are a couple spots at the front of the bow where the wind blows right in. It exits at either side of the stern where the fit is a little loose. I was concerned with that from what I read on other posts and got lucky that my design flaw seemed to take care of that.

I agree that the more expensive covers are the better option. However, after finishing my restore this summer, there isn't much left in my boating budget. I am just excited that something this low budget actually works.

 

[mommicked]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

I use these cheap tarps also pulled over a 5' tall PVC ridgepole bow to stern, that ends a few feet from both. It works well in storms w bungies to the trailer. When snow or ice got on it, I would shake or beat it and it would slide off. I left the ends open a little to let air flow and draped the tarp over the outboard. large worn tarps can be folded and used some more. I use them to cover and kill stiltgrass in my backyard. and move leaves sometimes too.

 

[benjh1028]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

I learned my lesson with these type tarps and will never use them again. When they begin to break down, small pieces of the tarp will end up on your vinyl seats. This breaks down even futher into basic PVC chemicals, and you get permanent purple spots on your seat. It will look like someone sprayed purple PVC primer all over your interior. When you are re-dyeing your interior, the money you saved with the tarp is insignificant. Take a look at the attached picture.

Will probably work for the winter, but beyond that I would look for a different solution.

Ben

View attachment 122547

 

[nlain]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

I have used those for years, if you don't vent it you will get mold and mildew. You can get inexpensive vents like I have in mine in the picture. Since I started using the vents I have not had any mold or mildew problems. I am thinking about changing to something different. They do only last about a year, then they start to flake off, I have never had the stain problem, they start to leak, then tear. I usually purchase a new one and have it on hand so when I pull the cover and see little blue flakes I have the new one to go on.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

Ben,
Sorry to see the mess your tarp made. Mine start flaking off at the end of their lives too, but I have never had any staining issues. Where did you buy yours?

Good idea with the vents nlain

 

[Shamfarlango]

Re: My $17 Harbor Freight Tarp/Boat Cover

$17/year is cheaper than shrink wrapping anyway you slice it