When Should a Boat be Covered?

[JZammetti]

I have a bowrider and have the canvas to cover the bow and canvas to cover the rest of the boat. I only canvas mine up if it is going to rain and leave uncanvased the rest of the boating season, I do cover her for storage. Am I mistreating my boat by not having her canvased when not in use even in good weather?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

In my view it should be covered whenever you are not in it. Sun bakes the interior. Dirt and dust settle in every nook and cranny. If outside birds and other critters use it for a litter box. Even inside storage results in dust and debris build-up. Obviously don't cover it when it's wet. Let the sun dry it out, then cover it.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

If not in use cover it, you have the covers, use them.
The sun will crack and the fade the upholstery, birds crap on it and sticks and branches from nearby trees fall into it and end up plugging drains.

 

[JZammetti]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

My canvas has air holes at the top, if covering it for a long time cause mildew due to sweating?

 

[Philster]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

Cover it when not it use. There are exceptions: Center Consoles are usually so hard to cover, they never get covered (I said usually).

I would consider investing in one of those car ports if you are gonna trailer the boat. Get a good one. Man, there is nothing like parking a boat and not dragging out the covers. It will be covered and breathing... AND accessible.

A cover and the hassle of removing/replacing can sometimes deter one from wrenching on their boat or even using it, that's why you even ask... because it is a hassle.

Think about one of those car ports. I hate covers so much that mine is stored in a boatel. If I trailered my boat, I would justify the car port cost by knowing I will get more use out of the boat. And, since you like to just sit in it sometimes, there is more to use than being on the water!

Life is too short. Get a car port.

Re: You cover question. You won't get mildew if you have vents and open it up from time to time, if not to use, then just to really let the air flow.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

I also have a bow rider, I can snap up the bow and cockpit cover in about 5 mins. I always let the boat dry out completely and I'm in there checking it after rains, if its wet the cover comes off for the day and when dry covers go right back on. I've left the covers off before and in the morning everything is soaked from the dew, if I had one of those carports i would park under it and still put the covers on.

 

[saildan]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

I have a bowrider and have the canvas to cover the bow and canvas to cover the rest of the boat. I only canvas mine up if it is going to rain and leave uncanvased the rest of the boating season, I do cover her for storage. Am I mistreating my boat by not having her canvased when not in use even in good weather?

Think of it this way, a cover is a sacrificial substitute for re-paint/re-gelcoat. I agree, you are right to also arrange the cover to avoid mildew. A regular waxing will go along way to help prevent stains and keep the gelcoat conditioned too.

 

[diesel5599]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

I second the carport vote. I'm still on the fence about getting a carport because to do it right for my size boat would cost about $3500.00 but I guarantee you that if I had a carport I would use my boat more, it takes about an hr to take it off and put it back on, that counts the zippers, positioning, the bungees, etc.

Not only does covering it take forever, when I'm removing the cover, it is so big most of the stuff that was on top of the cover ends up inside the boat anyway, and whatever I managed to keep out of the boat when taking it off, finds a way to fall in when putting it back on. I plan on getting a full carport with the sides and back covered.

For now I'm stuck with covering it. As far as when to cover it, I always cover mine as well. All of the seat cushions are removable, so first I take all of them out and put them in the garage to prevent mildew, then I cover the boat. Birds, leaves, twigs, sap, you name it landed in the boat the few times I left it uncovered. Then I had to clear all of the drains by hand when they all clogged up.

Also, I've found that if you take some marine fabric and cover the crank and another piece of fabric to cover the tongue, both will last a lot longer. Not a spot of rust on the crank or the tongue and in FL that's saying a lot. The pic shows the crank covered.

 

[lncoop]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

Philster, I've been thinking a long time about getting one of those metal carports. Do you recommend any particular brand or do you have any pointers? Seems like it'd be money well spent if I can convince the boss to let me do it. She thinks they're ugly. Women.

 

[diesel5599]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

Philster, I've been thinking a long time about getting one of those metal carports. Do you recommend any particular brand or do you have any pointers? Seems like it'd be money well spent if I can convince the boss to let me do it. She thinks they're ugly. Women.

I went the same route: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=389503

I researched for days, below is what I found that seems to be the best site for carports:

http://www.carports.com/index.html

They do a pretty good job of explaining the differences and have a wide selection of building options. It seems most carports are made by only a few builders, but they do come with 20yr warranties which is better than most houses. I agree with your wife, they are rather ugly, but I think with a colored roof and sides to match your house and the surroundings, they can appear a little nicer.

So far I just haven't gotten past the $3500 price tag.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

Mine gets covered after every trip, plus sits on a carport. If I leave it uncovered, I can't keep stray cats out. They pissed in my Jeep and ruined the carpet....The cover has certainly helped my boat. It is a 1985 with the original carpet and vinyl. It looks as good as it did new, plus the floor is rock solid from never sitting in the rain.

 

[nlain]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

When mine is on the trailer it is covered with a tarp, I have 2 vents in the tarp, no moisture or mildew problems, when in the water tied to the dock it is covered with the bow and mooring cover if we are not in it. Covered is way better than not covered.

 

[scutly]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

when you aint using it. would you leave your Harley uncovered outside all season? i dunno, its the principal i guess. when i gave up my old girl with two wheels for my new girl with a prop, the feelings didn't change and the song remains the same.

 

[JoLin]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

when you aint using it. would you leave your Harley uncovered outside all season? i dunno, its the principal i guess. when i gave up my old girl with two wheels for my new girl with a prop, the feelings didn't change and the song remains the same.

Ditto. Mine's similar but also covers the windshield and snaps down along the lower edge of the frame. I always keep it covered. Keeps out sun, dirt and rain that could kill a battery running the bilge pump. Takes 5 minutes to cover and uncover. My cover is on its last legs but I'll use it until it falls apart, then replace it.

 

[superbenk]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

Thanks a lot, guys! You just guilted me into putting the cover on tonight. I was going to let it go for another day since it's not supposed to rain, but of course you're all right that the sun is killer too. Thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow, iBoats

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

hey, how about you boys up north. I seen the plastic carports in St.Michael des Saints. You use them in the winter to keep the car and driveway clear then take them down in the summer.
I asked about them a couple of years ago and was told they were fairly cheap and you replace them every 5 years or so. With all the high winds and a ton of snow, I assume they are worth it? I've looked online with no luck so far. Give us yanks a hand here.

 

[180shabah]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

When Should a Boat be Covered?

When not in use.

 

[skargo]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

I love my carport I installed last year! I do cover it in pollen season, but leave it breath through most of the summer. Of course she will be buttoned up in the winter.
I'm going to pour a pad for it next.

 

[Bartine]

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

I love my carport I installed last year! I do cover it in pollen season, but leave it breath through most of the summer. Of course she will be buttoned up in the winter.
I'm going to pour a pad for it next.

Why do you have a car port? Shouldn't your boat be inside that pretty building next to your car port?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: When Should a Boat be Covered?

This question is like "when should you wash a car?" or "Should I cover my pool furniture?" There's no answer.
The question should be "how often should an upholstered boat be covered in the summer in Delaware?" And the follow-up question: fitted cover or shed roof?
And the only good answer is obvious: it depends.
Many boats don't need covers at all. Many are made to be outdoors and handle it nicely.
Any boat (or car, patio furniture, fence, deck and even roofing shingles) will last longer if protected from the sun. It's a common sense balance of the cost to cover v. the cost to the item to be in the sun. That cost to cover includes incovenience.

Based on what I see around here, a very slim minority of boat owners care if a white fiberglass boat is in the sun. And around here, these are often life-long boaters.