Outboat engine covers? Pros and cons

[Lowlysubaruguy]

made a cover for my new boat pictures were taken before it was finished. 27 plus yards of sunbrella 45 buckles 400 feet of strap and two weekends. There are flaps that fold up and snap on around the top bar of t top that should provide decent ventilation, Hopefully it?s sealed enough to discourage birds from using the boat as a home.

Im thinking about engine covers for the outboards but am not really sure there a good idea. Ill incorporate a couple of vents but will covers increase moisture inside or create other issues. What?s your thoughts on covering outboards and how much of them should I cover if I do make covers for them.

 

[JimS123]

Nice job!

My Dad had a knack for it as well....his covers were awesome too.

I have covers for all my outboards. Been doing that for 48 years now, so I guess it won't hurt them.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

My wife has promised to make a cover for my outboards for a few years. I don't sew and wish I did. The only thing I would be concerned with is how tight it is. Many years ago my buddy spent every dollar he had plus many years of dollars he didn't have on a brand new Alfa Spider Veloce. He tarped it and when he removed that tarp much of the paint was worn away to bare metal where the tarp smacked it many millions of times over the winter. Make sure it's tight. Moisture won't be trapped to the degree damage will be done to the outboard. If you are that concerned sew in a few patches of nylon mesh. I would cover just the cowl and cinch it tight just above the top of the drive shaft.

 

[89retta]

Looks good . The only concern I have is the straps rubbing on it while trailering. Happened to me a couple years ago. The straps were vibrating on the hiway so much it wore groves in the gelcoat.

 

[dingbat]

I?ve had a cover for very outboard I?ve owned.

The cover is loose fitting. Not going for a hermetic seal. Just trying to keep the weather/ sun off.

No problems whatsoever with moisture and our humidity is second to none most the time.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

Thanks for the insight. I will not be trailering this with any covers on it. One of you mentioned vibrating straps make sure any strap has a full twist every foot and a half including ratchet straps this will prevent the vibration and reduce wind forces a lot. I find it funny when I see truckers that have secured there load and wasted time making all there binders perfectly straight. The straps are destroying themselves. Wind em up save your load cover and strap.

I enjoyed this project, was terrified of if at first. Big money if I got it wrong. Watched a ton of videos but none for my style of boat. Had to just jump in. I have a commercial machine and a huge table and a lot of sewing experience but have never made anything like it. I finished it yesterday. Just in time for winter. With two people it takes about five minutes to install.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

You have done a great job on the cover. I don't trailer my boat with a similar cover. Air will get under it and turn it into a parachute. A snap down travel cover is trailer able but not a mooring cover and I would call that a mooring cover. With your skills fabricating an engine cover will be a breeze. Maybe off topic but I have to ask because my wife is in the market for a good industrial sewing machine, what do you have and what do you recommend?

 

[garbageguy]

ooh that's nice - can't wait to see the outboard covers you make

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

I have a walking foot Adler heflt flat bead machine thats belt driven. There are not that many Adlers for sale but Pfaff is a machine I see used on Craigslist from time to time. And i would buy a pfaff in a heart beat if you can find one thats affordable. Consew is also a brand youll find used. Often for $400 to $600 shop CL anywhere youd be willing to drive and you should find a decent machine. Drag a piece of thick material and sew 6 or more layers with it. Make sure you can wind your own bobbins some machines don?t perform this task. If you have the funds and room for a commercial walking foot machine youll find uses all the time. I find myself fixing all kinds of things from jackets purses sleeping bags zippers . Perfect fit straps for luggage and coolers when travelling. Couldn?t imagine not having one. There are lighter duty machines that meet the middle of commercial and private use pretty well. My machine will sew through 1/8 plywood but you could not get a T shirt to feed in it it would just ball it up. So a lighter duty walking foot machine might prove to be more versatile for some people.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Thanks lowlysubaruguy, helpful info. I have heard of a few that you mention. She has a Pfaff for regular duty sewing that will sew Sunbrella and that was big bucks but dependable.