Custom Boat Cover

[Blue Reef]

I am getting a few inquiries about boat covers for the Mac, however, I can't find many existing covers that i would want to use on my boat. Currently, the silver tarp seems to be winning.

I am interested to hear anyone's ideas in what they are looking for in a boat cover (price aside as that much material will always be pricey). I have seen many 'tents' that almost become a garage for the Mac allowing you to work on your mac in relative comfort. But i am not after this. I am just to keep the sun, salt, birds, rain and leaves off the boat.

What type of full boat cover would suit your needs?
1. Mast raised only?
2. Mast lowered only?-cover to be over mast?
-cover to be under mast following the profile of the cabin?
3. Can be used for both?

Then we have a choice of over lifelines/pulpit/stanchions or under?

Then the choice of the cover to go down to the rubrail or down to the trailer or about half way?

I want to make it so it is easier to put on and more secure (from wind) than a tarp. I want it to actually look half decent as well, instead of looking like a boat in a bag!

I would love to hear any ideas,

Cheers,

Cameron

[c130king]

My boat came with a nice cockpit cover. Keeps the cockpit nice and clean while on the trailer and being stored. And I leave it on while trailering it down the highway.



When in long storage...which I have done a couple of times already...I also cover the whole boat with tarps.



However, the tarps only last about 1 year in the high UV index of Jacksonville, FL.

The issue with any cover over the top of the mast (when in the trailering position) is taking the cover over the lifelines and stanchions. That is the area where the tarps don't last. And it creates low spots that collect water (or snow if applicable). I think I would want a cover that would somehow go under the mast and the lifelines and have snaps or zippers to go around the stanchions. So once the boat is covered the stanchions and lifelines, pushpit/pulpit, mast support arch (on an ) and the mast were left uncovered. The cover would be nice and snug...maybe with snaps or more likely using bungies somehow. The cover could stay on while trailering...that would be nice as well.

Just my thoughts.

Cheers,
Jim

[Buell_S1W]

A guy from Hong Kong on this list had a nice sunbrella cover made. I'd like my rudders covered as well though but I like the idea...

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1083

[Bluecrab]

Cameron

I chose the tent type with the PVC frame thats open at both ends. What I have read is that snug fit covers don't allow as much air movement which promotes mold to grow where the tent over frame type allow more air movement and with less mold problems. I don't remember the source, it may have been in Sail magazine.

Wally

[Russ]

That Sunbrella deal looks sweet, but it must have cost a fortune.

Last year I put a 30x20 tarp over the mast and laced it up nicely around the boat. There was enough air circulation and it covered everything nicely. It worked well until Spring when I found 4 huge bathtubs on deck with the spreaders and mast as dividers. So this year I'm going with the PVC pipe tent with the same tarp. I think I'm going to just bend them into an upside down U and attach to the stanchions. The tarps are cheap enough to replace every other year.


--Russ

[Blue Reef]

Thanks for those that have posted.

Jim, i think i agree with you about the cover needing to be under the stanchions and any other 'bits' that stick up, although i will have to check about mold etc. It would be handy if it could remain on when transporting. I love your cockpit cover. That is a very good compromise and would be quite cost effective.

Russ, i think a lot have that problem regarding rainwater. Which makes me think under the stanchions might be the way to go- less fabric also keeping the cost lower. I like Wally's and Buell's ideas but the cost for Sunbrella material would be huge!

Would love to hear more ideas,
Cheers,

Cameron

[Mistral]

I like Jim's cockpit cover, it will keep the cockpit clean as most of the dirt seems to collect there. I also keep my boat in the water, so that is a good compromise. A complete boat cover would be pretty pricey

[c130king]

Indeed the cockpit cover is very nice and I can put it on even while the boat is in a slip when leaving for the day.

For my tarps we used some thin, bendable wood strips to build an "arch" (think covered wagon from the 1800's). More recently built a frame from PVC pipes that laid over the mast and were taped to the lifelines and stanchions. Both were an attempt to try and keep the tarp from sagging and collecting water. Neither version worked very well.

I agree that tarps are cheap and can be replaced yearly. Unfortunately my boat is sitting is all alone in Florida and nobody is able to check up on it anymore. The tarps start to rip and shred after a time.

When I put back in storage in September...since I am coming back in December...it is completely uncovered right now. Just the cockpit cover and a small tarp over the engine.

Hopefully all is well.

Jim

[K9Kampers]

For my tarps we used some thin, bendable wood strips to build an "arch" (think covered wagon from the 1800's). More recently built a frame from PVC pipes that laid over the mast and were taped to the lifelines and stanchions. Both were an attempt to try and keep the tarp from sagging and collecting water. Neither version worked very well.

Whether using wood or PVC pipe to make a bow frame, the steeper the pitch, the better at shedding rain / snow. Stability of the frame is important too - having more of the vertical part of the bows anchored to the boat gives it the strength to withstand the elements. Using line to fashion a tight web between the bow frames will aid in shedding the elements and prevent the tarp from sagging & collecting rain / snow.

[kmclemore]

Just a tip... old tennis balls, with a transverse cut made 2/3rds way though, will slip nicely over the tops of the lifeline stanchions and thereby protect a tarp from holes being poked into it.

[Chinook]

I've opted for the pvc tent frame, since we live in snow country. I set the peak up with 45 degree angle pitch, and padded the stanchion tops, as mentioned above. The snow slides off under some, but not all, conditions. I usually broom it off after each decent storm, so weight doesn't accumulate.

[kmclemore]

Modification of Chinook's tip:

Use thin PVC pipes, but make use of their flexibile nature by creating a series of arches over the boat - one for each stanchion - and secure them with zip-ties to the stanchions. It creates a series of 'ribs', and these will entirely prevent the pooling of water in the tarp, and snow will tend to slip right off. This is what I do for my boat and it works a treat.

To make it easier to set them up, I cut a deep 'V' notch in the bottom of each PVC tube, on the side where it will come up against the stanchion - this helps lock it in place and not slip off, particularly when setting them up. The first time is the hardest, as the tubing is a bit tough to bend all the way over. However, after they've been up there for a while the tubing begins to take a 'set' and keep its shape, and they are subsequently easier to erect.

Jim (c130king), I don't know why yours didn't work... did you actually bend them, or just lay them up there?

[Steve]

The PVC ribbed idea is what I think I'm going to go for this year, unless I can find some similar creation at Harbor Freight. Seems like I've seen inexpensive frames that use tarps for the cover there.

Re. the PVC idea, Pictures Pictures Pictures! Thanks.

[c130king]

...Jim (c130king), I don't know why yours didn't work... did you actually bend them, or just lay them up there?

Mine weren't bent. I used straight pieces and 45 degree connectors for over the mast and at the life lines. I can't do pics here at work but this evening when I get home I will post a pic. So there wasn't enough pitch and low spots still developed. It would work if I could get to it once a week or so to straighten things out but that wasn't possible.

Jim

On edit:

PVC "Frame"


With some wood strips added


Covered with tarp

[Russ]

This is not my boat, but I got this from somewhere on this site and this is what I'm gonna do this year. Bend the PVC pipe into an upside down U and attach them to the stanchions. It looks like a great way to keep rain and snow from building up.