Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

[rooooney]

Lately I have been lazy and not taken the time to recover my boat. I figure if it gets rained on the sun dries it out the next day. It seems like a lot of people keep real nice pontoons uncovered at my marina. Am I causing any potential damage by not covering it in the summer?

 

[vergil]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

if the deck has carpet i would say yes, as the carpet would hold moisture longer, 2 nd uv from the sun will break down the seats and the carpet if i am not mistaken, i wouldt kill it in a few weeks i guess but over time it would defintly take its toll

 

[Dkrager]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

If you only want your seats to last less than 5 years, go ahead and don't cover it. That is the worst thing to do to a boat. I've seen used pontoons that are only 5 years old and the seats were dry rotted and faded.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

Here in south Florida, seats and carpet will last less than five years without being covered.

 

[sasto]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

With all being said is true....covering a wet or damp boat is not good either. Seatcovers work for us.

 

[Mr Crabbs]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

Is this a trick question?

We cover. Protects from UV, a huge threat to plastics of any kind. Also helps to keep it clean. We docked uncovered at Rocky Fork for a long weekend and had sea gull poop on the back bench. Thank goodness the geese didn't get inside.

At home we end up with bird poop, tree dirt and road dirt inside if we don't cover.

We gave the boat a good bath and wipe down with 303 products a few weeks ago, then covered it. If we don't get out again until next season, it will look as good as it did when we bought it in June.

A cheap tarp isn't pretty but it gets the job done. We bought a semi fitted tarp through iboats with a 3 year warranty. Really old screen house poles support it, the ends of the poles are inside a tennis ball to protect the boat and cover.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

My last three boats have all had full enclosures so I don't have the hassel of putting on mooring and/or seat covers. In addtion, I don't have to worry about getting caught in an afternoon Florida shower and I use a small heater for winter cruising.

 

[sasto]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

I'm taking care of a friends boat that has a black mooring cover....in the hot sun.... on a lift. So far this summer I have replaced the stereo and VHF. The GPS screen is now distorted. The white upholstery turns brown where it touches the cover, but returns to white after a couple days. I've been keeping the cover off most of the time. This can't be good either way. The cover is very nicely made and 2 pieces. I wonder if I should cover her or leave her open......till I convince the owner in buying a white cover.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

I'm taking care of a friends boat that has a black mooring cover....in the hot sun.... on a lift. So far this summer I have replaced the stereo and VHF. The GPS screen is now distorted. The white upholstery turns brown where it touches the cover, but returns to white after a couple days. I've been keeping the cover off most of the time. This can't be good either way. The cover is very nicely made and 2 pieces. I wonder if I should cover her or leave her open......till I convince the owner in buying a white cover.

IMHO, a black cover is certainly better than no cover.

 

[sasto]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

IMHO, a black cover is certainly better than no cover.

I think I will take that advice.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

Would it be possible to have some powered ventilation under the cover such as a small fan blowing to the outside?

 

[sasto]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

Would it be possible to have some powered ventilation under the cover such as a small fan blowing to the outside?

That's a good thought...EGlideRider. That would probably help for the most part, especially the electronics. One of my concerns is the vinyl in contact with the black cover. The color does come back....but for how long will it keep this up. The boat is a 3 year old Chaparral. I don't have alot of expierence with open boats with upholstery throughout. Usually covers just work....not in this case.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

One of my concerns is the vinyl in contact with the black cover. The color does come back....but for how long will it keep this up. The boat is a 3 year old Chaparral. I don't have alot of expierence with open boats with upholstery throughout. Usually covers just work....not in this case.

Sounds like a crappy cover IMHO....I have a boat with a black cover. Have no issues (sure, it gets hot) but I've had no problems with color bleed, etc.

I think perhaps the quality of the cover is more suspect than the color

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

Nelson, Sasto and I are in South Florida and the sun here is murderous on most everything. As I"m sure you are aware, it's vastly different than Canada.

With no ventilation it would be very possible for temps under the cover to rise to well over 150 degrees. Many kids and animals are killed in vehicles every year down here because they were left for a short period of time in a closed vehicle. Reports of 130-plus degrees in the vehicles are heard frequently on the news down here.

Sasto, perhaps you could get some old sheets and place over the upholstery where ever it comes in contact with the cover.

 

[sasto]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

Sounds like a crappy cover IMHO....I have a boat with a black cover. Have no issues (sure, it gets hot) but I've had no problems with color bleed, etc.

I think perhaps the quality of the cover is more suspect than the color

The cover bleeding is not the problem.....it is actually "burning" the vinyl brown.....you can't even touch the interior.

 

[sasto]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

Sasto, perhaps you could get some old sheets and place over the upholstery where ever it comes in contact with the cover.

I will give that a try.....and if it works I guess I could have some sort of padded material sewn into the cover. Thanks.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

The cover bleeding is not the problem.....it is actually "burning" the vinyl brown.....you can't even touch the interior.

WOW!!!!..... Is there a way to elevate the cover higher (support poles, etc) My black cover touches the top of the seats but I don't have this issue. Mind you, I'm not in Florida, so even when its hot its only low 90s here.

 

[Mr Crabbs]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

If you have shore power, I'd go with a small ventilating fan, you could even put it on a timer. I'm certain there's a way you could even make it thermostatically controlled, if you wanted to spend that kind of money.

Dowel rods make cheap cover supports. Use an old tennis ball to cover the ends to keep the dowels from poking through. You could even use an old plunger head.

I've experienced south Florida sunshine in the spring, it's very intense then. Can't imagine what it's like now.

 

[sasto]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

I apologize for highjacking this thread.....The boat does belong to a friend and neighbor that is only here 4 months a year. I've been taking the boat out once a week. I've taken responsibility of her. I will take your advices. There appears to many other ways to cover this boat...I'll start another thread as I have no idea what I'm doing.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Will keeping the boat uncovered cause damage?

I apologize for highjacking this thread.....The boat does belong to a friend and neighbor that is only here 4 months a year. I've been taking the boat out once a week. I've taken responsibility of her. I will take your advices. There appears to many other ways to cover this boat...I'll start another thread as I have no idea what I'm doing.

While technically speaking, this may have been a highjacking, in reality your problem was very closely related to the original poster and certainly added information for his benefit.