Need a cheap boat cover that fits '79 Cobalt 18TH(Pictures)

[Nivekt]

My previous cover was ripped to shreds by stray cats. I have since gotten rid of the cats and need an inexpensive cover for the boat whose sole purpose will be to keep dust and critters from climbing/flying in. I was just going to use a tarp, but I would rather have something with an elastic band around the outside to fit that much more closely to the boat.

I tow the boat without the cover so no need for a towable cover. Center line is 18'2" and Beam is 86". I have been looking at the inexpensive covers on Amazon.com(~$50) and those are real attractive but nothing states that it is for a tri-hull of my length. If I can keep the cost down to below $100 I will be happy man. The boat stays under a covered metal 3 sided garage so it is mostly protected from the elements.

Pics:

THANKS!

 

[woodsyfeller]

Re: Need a cheap boat cover that fits '79 Cobalt 18TH(Pictures)

I suggest looking at iboats first but if you cant find a cheap one wally world has generic boat covers for around 75 bucks they are cut pretty loose to cover most sizes .They are pretty thin but should work fine if its covered.Just look at the boxes for size demensions.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: Need a cheap boat cover that fits '79 Cobalt 18TH(Pictures)

Yeah, all the ones at iboats are $250 and up. I guess Ill swing by Walmart and see what they have. Thanks.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Need a cheap boat cover that fits '79 Cobalt 18TH(Pictures)

I bought a covermate for my 21' boat from a popular catalog store for 200.00 and it was much higher quality than I expected. It would last forever as a dust cover and has elastic around the outside and cotton lining.

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: Need a cheap boat cover that fits '79 Cobalt 18TH(Pictures)

tarp it! if you buy an inexpensive cover this year you will be buying another one next year. I made pvc support for my old boat so there would not be any low spots that would collect water, then I attach the tarp with rope at each eye to the trailer to make it tight. Spray some waterproofer on it every couple months. I let the tarp and pvc go with the boat it lasted for the 5 years I had it.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Need a cheap boat cover that fits '79 Cobalt 18TH(Pictures)

+1 on the tarp. I buy a new one from harbor Freight every year for $17. I cut it to a similar shape as one of my old $300 ******** covers and install about 10 to 11 tie-down hooks/eyes strategically so it pulls nice and tight where you need it. Since I tie down exactly where the cover needs to be pulled tight (not always the case on universal covers), I do not even need a support (I do have one, but don't bother with it). I leave a small gap at the front and the back so air can blow through, but water can't get in. No water, condensation, or mildew at all.

The downside is that it only lasts a year. However, I just drop another $17 and trace the old one again and I am back in business.

 

[laserbrn]

Re: Need a cheap boat cover that fits '79 Cobalt 18TH(Pictures)

I'm not sure how things are in SC, but generally the El Cheapo at Wal Mart is going to be better than a freakin' tarp. There's nothing more ghetto looking then a boat covered with a tarp. I've had my El Cheapo from Wal-Mart for two years and it looks exactly the same as it did the day I bought it. Something to shed the water is a must though, I use a Boat Cover Support that I bought on Amazon for $20.00, solved the problem and doens't look like some homeless guy is sleeping under a hunk of **** boat covered with a tarp.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Need a cheap boat cover that fits '79 Cobalt 18TH(Pictures)

Hope us Hillbillies in CA did not scare you laserbrn. When cut and secured properly, my silver HF tarp looks better than a faded out 2 month old POS from Walmart. I should know -- I paid $59.99 for the Wally World version and it looked like crap and didn't keep my boat dry, even with an expensive support system under it.

 

[laserbrn]

Re: Need a cheap boat cover that fits '79 Cobalt 18TH(Pictures)

It's kept my boat bone dry for 2 years. That's my 19' 1984 Seaswirl. I have custom canvas on the 24' Skipjack, but it's all about the application. If you do a tarp like a pro you've got a chance, but most tarp jobs don't look so hot. Tarp with rope with some clear draped everywhere flappin in the wind...it just looks like an abandoned or should be abandoned boat under there. If it weren't for the wally world cover I'd say do what you gotta do, but my Wally world cover has held up remarkably well and I didn't expect it to at all. I bought it in a hurry when it started raining shortly after I bought the boat. I picked it up on my way home from work 2 or 3 days after buying the boat before it started pouring rain.

To each their own, but IMO, the Wally World boat cover is a decent, low cost solution as long as you use boat cover support and I used foam insulation around any sharp corners so it wouldn't be punctured.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: Need a cheap boat cover that fits '79 Cobalt 18TH(Pictures)

Haha! You guys are great and have given me some great ideas. Ill work with the info you've all given me and see what I can come up with. Hey, tarp guys, do you have any pictures you could post up so I could see how you worked your solutions? No shame in my game, Ill tarp her if it works.

Thanks again!

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: Need a cheap boat cover that fits '79 Cobalt 18TH(Pictures)

I think the tarp opposers are missing the point. My goal is to protect the boat, regardless how it looks tarped.

 

[BlkY2k]

Re: Need a cheap boat cover that fits '79 Cobalt 18TH(Pictures)

Somebody posted a link to Billboard tarps on ebay awhile back. Go to ebay and do a search they are very heavy duty and cheap. And they come huge so you could make a couple of covers out of one buy.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: Need a cheap boat cover that fits '79 Cobalt 18TH(Pictures)

I like the idea of using those billboard tarps becuase they are so thick. The only problem with them as that they dont have the holes around the edge so I can run straps or bungee cords through to hold the tarp down. I think Ill try out a Harbor Freight tarp that is closest to the size of my boat. If I can make one last per year that will be good.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Need a cheap boat cover that fits '79 Cobalt 18TH(Pictures)

Even with the HF tarp, you are going to want to by a grommet installation kit - http://www.harborfreight.com/103-piece-1-2-half-inch-grommet-installation-kit-30037.html or tarp clips -- http://www.harborfreight.com/pack-of-4-multipurpose-tarp-clips-68014.html so you can tie it down from the appropriate points to not have any sag. Just using the original grommets will not get it done.

 

[BlkY2k]

Re: Need a cheap boat cover that fits '79 Cobalt 18TH(Pictures)

Those tarp clips are the stuff to get. I`ve been using them for a while and they are great, havent had one come loose yet.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Need a cheap boat cover that fits '79 Cobalt 18TH(Pictures)

Those tarp clips are the stuff to get. I`ve been using them for a while and they are great, havent had one come loose yet.

You can even add them to the "semi-custom" covers to get tension in the right places.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: Need a cheap boat cover that fits '79 Cobalt 18TH(Pictures)

Even with the HF tarp, you are going to want to by a grommet installation kit - http://www.harborfreight.com/103-piece-1-2-half-inch-grommet-installation-kit-30037.html or tarp clips -- http://www.harborfreight.com/pack-of-4-multipurpose-tarp-clips-68014.html so you can tie it down from the appropriate points to not have any sag. Just using the original grommets will not get it done.

Ooh, very nice. Ill definitely pick up one of those kits.