WalMart brand HarborMaster premium boat cover

[MTribe08]

Wondering if anybody has experience with this boat cover, and how it did trailering at highway speeds? I can pick this up for about $100 and the reviews on the cover seem really good. However I didn't see alot of feedback on how it did while in tow.

Also wondering how many of you just tow without a cover on, and use the cover while parked? I was looking at the Westland covers, and I can find one that its for my boat, but its close to $250.

 

[ScarabSprint]

Re: WalMart brand HarborMaster premium boat cover

I actually have the one from walmart. Bought the cover last year seems in work pretty good for the price. I cover it when not in use and trailering it i take it off don't really need since nothing blows out on my boat. A friend of mine has a open bow and can't trailer it without a cover or put away everything or it will blow out.

 

[salty87]

Re: WalMart brand HarborMaster premium boat cover

i wouldn't tow with anything but a custom fit trailerable cover. a cheapo will get torn on a corner of the windshield or something and start beating the crap out of the boat in the wind. i would rather clean the boat than buff it after a long haul.

i just ordered a cover from iboats...no shipping and 5% off with code of 'labor5off'...works out to a free vented pole.

you get what you pay for with covers.

 

[MTribe08]

Re: WalMart brand HarborMaster premium boat cover

I actually have the one from walmart. Bought the cover last year seems in work pretty good for the price. I cover it when not in use and trailering it i take it off don't really need since nothing blows out on my boat. A friend of mine has a open bow and can't trailer it without a cover or put away everything or it will blow out.

Ok, I will be towing an open bow as well..are you referring to the removable cushions being blown out, or his personal belongings? I won't have anything personal in the boat on the way home..and I will be taking the rear removable jumpseats out as well...
Thanks for the help.

 

[MTribe08]

Re: WalMart brand HarborMaster premium boat cover

i wouldn't tow with anything but a custom fit trailerable cover. a cheapo will get torn on a corner of the windshield or something and start beating the crap out of the boat in the wind. i would rather clean the boat than buff it after a long haul.

i just ordered a cover from iboats...no shipping and 5% off with code of 'labor5off'...works out to a free vented pole.

you get what you pay for with covers.

What about the semi-custom from iboats? They have one that says its for my boat. I'm just thinking that I could trailer it with it off and get one for storage, but I don't know what most people do.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: WalMart brand HarborMaster premium boat cover

Check the tag...find out where it's made. If it's made in China....fuhhgeddaboutit.
Pay the price and get (North) American made.
BP

 

[ScarabSprint]

Re: WalMart brand HarborMaster premium boat cover

My buddy's open bow, one the cushions flew out and good thing someone told him so he could stop and get it. Definitely use a cover!! It's like a wind tunnel in a open bow. I actually want a **** pit cover just don't have the $$$ yet. I don't see anything wrong with the cover just for storage.

You do get what you pay for.. 100 bucks isn't bad for it though

 

[LIQUID PROZAC]

Re: WalMart brand HarborMaster premium boat cover

17 foot bowrider towed uncovered and seat cushions fine with no gear in boat --afraid of tearing cover or marks made from straps does just fine

 

[TahoeQ4Pilot]

Re: WalMart brand HarborMaster premium boat cover

I just picked my open bow boat up from the dealer last month after a "short" trip to the audio shop with cover off. I saw a flash in my rearview mirror, as I slowed down I saw the engine deck lid come slamming down. It appears that highway speeds allowed wind to get underneath the decklid and lift it.

I pulled over and saw that I had tweaked the decklid hinge, I had to muscle it back down to make sure it was in place. I went a few more miles and saw the deck lid whip back, hard. Pulled over again and it wouldnt shut and the hinge was worse.

After a trip to the dealer and my wallet a few hundred bucks lighter for my bonehead mistake, I will not move my boat very far without my cover on.

 

[maddog2112]

Re: WalMart brand HarborMaster premium boat cover

I just bought one of the sharkskin boat covers from Iboats for my Q6 and it fits really nice. I haven`t towed with it yet but I will next weekend for a trip to the Ozarks. It`s a 300 mile drive and will be the last boat trip of the summer. I`ll let you know how it holds up. So far I`m very happy with the quality and the made in America philosophy is a huge plus for me!

 

[109jb]

Re: WalMart brand HarborMaster premium boat cover

I had a Wal-Mart cover when I had my Starcraft and trailered it about 3 times a year for 5 years or so when we took the boat on vacation. It trailered OK but I had 4 ratchet straps at different locations from one side to the other. The ratchet straps were hooked to the trailer frame. I also had pipe insulation like you get in the plumbing dept on any sharp edges like the windshield corners. When trailering like this thee cover would balloon up a bit, but would pretty much ballon up and stay there. Didin't really flap like crazy. Never really had a problem. Mainly though I had the cover for outside storage.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: WalMart brand HarborMaster premium boat cover

Don't tow with it on. Weather cover only in my opinion.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: WalMart brand HarborMaster premium boat cover

What about the semi-custom from iboats? They have one that says its for my boat. I'm just thinking that I could trailer it with it off and get one for storage, but I don't know what most people do.

I had a $50 Wal-mart cover for a few years. It was thin and cheap however it kept my boat nice and dry. I tried to trailer with it and it blew out terribly. Last year I bought a nicer, heavier, semi-custom cover from iboats (not an expensive one though by any means). It seems heavier, and fits nice and tight. However, it doesn't seem to keep the water out as well, and I tried to tow with it and had the same result. I have since given up on the idea of ever towing with a cover on.

 

[MTribe08]

Re: WalMart brand HarborMaster premium boat cover

I had a $50 Wal-mart cover for a few years. It was thin and cheap however it kept my boat nice and dry. I tried to trailer with it and it blew out terribly. Last year I bought a nicer, heavier, semi-custom cover from iboats (not an expensive one though by any means). It seems heavier, and fits nice and tight. However, it doesn't seem to keep the water out as well, and I tried to tow with it and had the same result. I have since given up on the idea of ever towing with a cover on.

Yea..I've decided to pick up a premium walmart cover and use it for storage only..thanks for the help and advice.

 

[SeanT]

Re: WalMart brand HarborMaster premium boat cover

I only tow with my snap down covers on - always the bow cover, and sometimes the mid/rear one, but only sometimes.

I never ever tow with the canvas cover. It fits pretty snug, but there's no reason to add extra drag. I only use that when the bad weather is coming and I don't have time to put it in the garage.

 

[arrow_man]

Re: WalMart brand HarborMaster premium boat cover

Just remember... you get what you pay for. I had a cover like you mentioned and it lasted only a year or so. I then had a custon cover and it is still good today over 10 years old. Bought it for about $275-$300 and still going strong even though I don't own the boat anymore. My buddy bought it and the boat from me and still uses it!