Boat Covers

V

Vikes

New Member
Nov 12, 2023
2
Boat Info
240 Sundancer 5.0 Mercruiser Bravo Outdrive
Engines
Mercruiser Bravo 3 5.0
I have an 07 Sundancer 240 . Its my first winter storing it and I need a boat cover. My mechanic told me to get a 28-30 foot cover. Is this accurate or can i get away with something a little smaller .
 
How much snow do you get? Are you able to monitor the boat regularly?
 
I've never used these guys but it seems they have your boat on the list:

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Lazy Daze said:
How much snow do you get? Are you able to monitor the boat regularly?
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In NJ and calling for some snow this winter . Boat is in my driveway . Mechanic suggests i get a robo can and put in back of boat to pitch snow off and maybe a cooler in the front to do the same.
 
Vikes said:
In NJ and calling for some snow this winter . Boat is in my driveway . Mechanic suggests i get a robo can and put in back of boat to pitch snow off and maybe a cooler in the front to do the same.
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What's a "robo can"?

OK, so basically the same as where I am. One of the questions you want to ask yourself is how much time do you want to spend shoveling snow off it or emptying puddles of water that collect (sometimes large enough to rip a cover). The tighter the cover... the less you can "tent" it. But a smaller cover will be less expensive, too. With a larger cover, you can build the understructure higher to tent better - so the snow doesn't build up as much - and also to better shed water/rain so it doesn't start to puddle.

The key is the tenting - and the structure you build underneath. Whether it's 2x4's, nylon strapping, PVC or whatever - there's no one best way. How much tenting you can do, and what you build it out of, will be at least somewhat dependent on the size and fit of the cover.

Another option... get it shrink wrapped. Done by a competent business/person, it'll be 100% hands off for you over the Winter. If you're careful, there are ways to reuse it the following year. In my area, that runs about $400 - yes, it will cost more in the long run - but it's awful nice to not have to do anything so you're paying for both "no maintenance" over the Winter and also the convenience of someone doing it for you.
 
Pretty easy to build bracing inside boat and cover with tarp. I live in NE Ohio and store my 25 EC in the yard. Built 2x4 center line frame about 6 ft above cockpit floor and 3 ft above front deck and braced to boat with rope. Bought a 40 x 20 heavy tarp on Amazon. Worked great and is reusable. Screwed the 2x4's together so I can reuse. Bungie down to trailer and 3/8 rope around and crisscrossed over. Just under $100.
 
Vikes said:
I have an 07 Sundancer 240 . Its my first winter storing it and I need a boat cover. My mechanic told me to get a 28-30 foot cover. Is this accurate or can i get away with something a little smaller .
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We can get you an exact fit cover from Westland. While not custom to you they are fit to that boat. I used one on my 260DA when i had it and it worked great. As mentioned the key to it working well it creating the tenting.

If you want more details and info send me your details on our request form (www.covemarine.com) and I will contact you.

-Kevin
 
I use a Taylor made 22 to 24 ft cuddy cover. I use strapping doubled up from front bow rail to back ski eye. The I use a five gallon bucket upsidedown on the bow behind the sun roof. Then run I piece of rope across the bow from side to side and the support that came with the cover in the helm. Then put and the Taylor Made cover then a 25 by 15 heavy green tarp. Takes two hours and it does work well
 
Bought the custom fit carver cover for my 215. Nice fit, very good sunbrella fabric. Made a 3’ high frame with 1.25 pvc pipes for bow and another about 5.5’ for cockpit. Cover had plenty of room to handle these. We get heavy lake effect snow 90-100” avg per winter. You want a decent peak and tight fit to prevent pooling of rain or snow. They claim it’s a 10 yr cover though I’m skeptical on that. The shrink wrap option will win me over before that. Fwiw
 
I’m following this discussion as I’ve always shrink wrapped but price is getting crazy ($600+ for a 240 in north NJ). My thoughts have always been that plastic sheds snow easier (it’s slicker) and it’s super tight fitting to keep out critters. I’ve read about tarps ripping or getting wind under an edge and being abrasive on the boat over the course of a winter. The last thing I want to do is to have to be out in the snow recovering my boat because a tarp or cover failed.
 
RaceCarRich said:
I’m following this discussion as I’ve always shrink wrapped but price is getting crazy ($600+ for a 240 in north NJ). My thoughts have always been that plastic sheds snow easier (it’s slicker) and it’s super tight fitting to keep out critters. I’ve read about tarps ripping or getting wind under an edge and being abrasive on the boat over the course of a winter. The last thing I want to do is to have to be out in the snow recovering my boat because a tarp or cover failed.
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Ooof. That's quite a bit more than in my area.
 
I'm on Cape Cod so we get lucky usually sometimes we'll get a blow out 18 in at a time but that hasn't happened to 7-8 years
 
Scott215 said:
I'm on Cape Cod so we get lucky usually sometimes we'll get a blow out 18 in at a time but that hasn't happened to 7-8 years
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I would have guessed you would get really harsh winters with lots of snow and high winds.
Does the cover fit tight enough to keep out mice, chipmunks or whatever is looking for a warm winter home?
 
There are a lot of boats in my marina that are covered with Fisher boat covers , they are located in Burlington N.J. the covers are custom made for your boat, are easy to handle by yourself and are priced good
 
Yeah you put it right under the rub rail and it has elastic strings in there and you pull them super super super tight and yeah it does work good Plus the tarp I had no issues last year at all. But I also put mothballs and dryer sheets in my cabin and cockpit and everything also where the engine is everywhere
 
Scott215 said:
Yeah you put it right under the rub rail and it has elastic strings in there and you pull them super super super tight and yeah it does work good Plus the tarp I had no issues last year at all. But I also put mothballs and dryer sheets in my cabin and cockpit and everything also where the engine is everywhere
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So why do you use the tarp over the cover?

I’m starting to feel like a sucker shrink wrapping all these years although shrink wrapping seems like the norm around my marina.
 
Scott I like the sacrificial poly tarp over the high $$ canvas cover idea. My sunbrella canvas is very water repellent but why wear it out prematurely if you can throw on another layer for a few bucks.
 
Just for extra protection and stuff slides off very easy
 
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