Re: Need a Boat Cover
IMHO, screw those canvas covers. They're expensive, short lived, a PIA to put on and a PIA if you have to get into the boat for whatever reason. Plus they don't protect it well, letting in rains and the playpen/platforms are uncovered letting in water and soaking things. F-that. Water rins down your railings, onto the floor and right onto the carpet, even into the boat.
I made my own system which is way better, EASY to put up, EASY to get into/walk under and it covers everything, stem to stern, all platforms and motor, and even the playpen railings down to midtoon. no water gets in at all, not even under the railings or from the platforms and the railings aren't getting sunbleached.
I took 1.5 inch PVC pipe and made three stands, square base w/three legged uprights each ( two short ones bolted thru the longer one at mid-ish point ) just slightly over 6 ft tall. I can easily lift the cover by the motor and walk under it.
The longer legs have "t " tops into which I insert more PVC pipe for ridge poles. Over it I place a heavy duty tarp, bungee that down and it's all good to go, tight, rain and wind proof. We flip " roll " it in from both ends towards the middle then toss it overboard to remove it. It goes up really easy, esp compared to canvas covers.
It works friggin awesome ! Plus it is so friggin easy to get into it's ridiculous. Unbungee a cord by the motor and climb right in and walk about standing up!, Yep standing up. Full easy access to the whole boat.
On the sunnyside, I place fat pool noodles between the tarp and seat tops to keep the tarp off of the cushions (my boat has fat overstuffed cushions) I do this to keep the sun from making them hot. If you've ever felt your cushions on a sunny day(and your cover is against them) they will be H O T. I didn't say warm, I said hot, which bakes them, aging them prematurely.
Including the tarp, I have around $200 dollars in it. It protects way better than the canvas covers and this winter the snow will slide right off.
I wouldn't even be surprised if it would keep that cat off that the OP was having trouble with.
I think it would easily shed most hail, given it's steep angle and thick tarp. If the hail did damage the tarp, it's only $80 for a new vs $1000 or so for a custom canvas. I would just buy two tarps to have one on hand in the event you needed it.
