26X cover

[Steve K]

I've been meaning to tell all of you that the Sail Warehouse now carries a cover for the 26X. Just noticed it in my catalog I got awhile back.

It is made of Aqualon and is built for trailering and storing with the mast down. The price is something around $635. Yes it may sound expensive at first thought. However compared to a new garage, it may be just the thing.
So yes, way more than a blue tarp, way cheaper than a RV barn.
Anyway, thought I'd let you know. Still thinking about it myself.

http://www.thesailwarehouse.com

You'll find it under canvas covers......

SK

[Randy]

Hey Steve: I like to watch and ponder this one as well. Currently using a very heavy duty tarp designed to cover hay bale stacks, available at farm supply stores. (UFA) They are silver outside and black underneath, 20x50 feet (?), also designed to prevent condensation build up. After 3 winters, mine still looks brand new. I think it was around $200 Canadian. They are super tough, and heavy grommets. They look a lot better than a blue tarp as well. Some day, will be nice to have a real boat house.
Later, Randy
2001 Sea's N Ticket

[Tony D-26X_SusieQ]

Some day it would be nice to be in a place where you don't have to put it away for the winter.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I know a place like that...but beware, the sun is a lot stronger in those kinds of places. Never heard of aqualon. My canvas shop uses a product called "Top Gun". Extremely durable, thicker than Sunbrella and about half the cost. In fact, the boat cover dude did not recommend sunbrella for trailering...only the top gun stuff. Only issue with top gun is that it only comes in one color...gray. Those traditional canvas covers (maybe cotton?) don't last very long down here in Florida at all, they will be full of spots after one or two seasons and ready for the trash heap after 3-4 years. Sunbrella seems to last around 10 years down here and top gun may last longer.

Since I bought a 3 year old boat that had already been out in the sun, I didn't feel it was worth the hassle to cover it. If I had bought it brand new, then maybe that would be different. I used to keep my jetboat covered all the time and the gelcoat still looked like new after 5 years. It also had a lot of fancy purple and yellow jelcoat though whereas a white gelcoat does not show fading as badly. I use my boat quite a bit and I feel it would be a royal pita to cover and uncover it each weekend, etc. Afterall, one of the reasons I bought a Mac was for lower maintenance than I used to have on my teaky keel boat.

[Don T]

Hello:
I made my bimini and enclosure out of top gun. It is available in 8 or ten different colors. It is hard to sew. The holes that the needle makes closes very quickly and stops the thread from pulling tight. It took an exact set up and handling to have an acceptable outcome.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I guess its been 4-5 years since I had my last top gun cover made so I suppose they must have introduced colors since then. I believe I asked my canvas guy why they didn't make biminis out of it if it was tougher than sunbrella...and I think his answer was that it was too hard to sew compared to sunbrella. I'm no expert, but I think there is a different kind of sewing machine that they use for sails versus canvas. Since top gun is so dense, it may sew ok on a machine made for sails.

[ronacarme]

Top gun cover slotted to receive cabin top stantions? Or just lie over the top of 'em?

[Sloop John B]

I think a close, enclosure type cover would generate too much heat and mildew condensation in a warm climate. And, I would think, take too much of a beating going down the road at 55, 60mph.

I ordered a 'tarp' from Cabella, 20x30, for about $70. Silver on outside, black underneath that wards off UV. It's tough material, a little on the heavy side, but I pooch a little up over the furler that sticks out on a wooden board, go up on deck and pull this blanket up along the mast. The end of the sunbrella socked furler sticks out, and a couple feet of the mast top stick out.

Metal grommets every couple feet. I hang water bottles in the grommets along the side, and stitch up the grommets in front and back so it's taut and doesn't bag to collect rain between the mast and lifelines. The blazing sun still manages to peek through and scorch my outboard.

The tarp is too wide in front and lays out for a few feet on the dead grass, and comes down to trailer rail height at the rear.

It breathes well, keeps the tree trash off, and mainly, keeps the boat out of the sun.

A tin/aluminum overhead on posts would have run around $1,700. And would have been sort of a permanent location. Right now, the extra hassle is worth the difference.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

John, I had a top gun cover on my former jetboat for 4-5 years. It let all moisture out (ie, no mildew or condensation under the cover) and did not let a drop of rain in. I could even leave the carpet in the boat and there was never a moisture problem. Of course, you are going to pay a lot more for a custom cover than just buying a pre-made tarp.

The canvas shop said top gun was the only cover that they would endorse for trailering with...but I was always too chicken and would take the cover off if I was going out on any main roads (ie, over 50 mph). That cover was pretty tough though, so it probably would have held up fine. Ahh memories, that little jetboat sure used to trailer a lot easier than the Mac. But one day, we were out on the ICW with it and people were making fun of us cause we had 6 people in a 15.5 foot jetboat....after that, my wife didn't want to be seen in it anymore

Now there's an idea guys...if you ever need a bigger boat, get one of your buddies to drive by in a big fat yacht and make fun of you while your wife is watching.