Cockpit cover

Cincy Aquaholic

Cincy Aquaholic

Active Member
Mar 15, 2009
1,329
Cincinnati
Boat Info
290 SS - 2016 Ford F250 Powerstroke
Engines
Twin 5.7 with Bravo 1's
I'm planning to have a cockpit cover made this spring so I don't have to put up the full canvas every time we leave the boat.

I've read some threads on the topic but have maybe a new question. I don't have snaps around the base of my cockpit windows. Only at the top for the eisenglass. I'm leaning towards just using these ones to make it easier to install without having to climb on the bow. Plus, I have no idea how I would snap at the base of the port window when I can't reach it from the dock. :huh:. Yet, my concern is having it come off when towing if its attached at the top.

But I digress . . . If I want it at the bottom like Great Lakes makes them, how do I add snaps to my window frame?

In this pic, you can barely see how my frame is set up. Not sure how I would add snaps at the bottom.

P4170011.jpg


I think I'm leaning towards a custom one that snaps at the stop with the same kind of rubber stripping that the eisenglss uses. Thoughts??
 
I am not sure Great Lakes will make you one that goes all the way down over the windows if it did not have that style originally. It has been my observation that at some point in time say 2007-2009 Sea Ray decided to have them start making the cockpit covers snap on at the top of the windshield for certain models. For what reason I am unaware unless it was to save money on canvas.

You may want to first confirm with GL that the cover they make for the '07 290 is supposed to go all the way down over the windshield.
 
I am pretty sure you would get male snaps and screw them into the fiberglass below the winshield frame. That is how mine is set up.
 
I agree on towing with it off on nice days. But I would use it when in doubt. I've always liked it staying much cleaner that way.

No way am I putting more snaps into the fiberglass deck. I just don't want to do that.

I'll confirm with GL which style they are making. I would hope they could add that weather stripping that my existing canvas has for that leading edge.
 
IMHO you want your cover to extend to the base of the windshield. If anything it will keep the sun out of the cockpit altogether. It may be a little more effort to put on but your boat will be better off in the long run.

Edit: have a full boat/ trailer travel cover made if you want one to trailer.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
All of my SRs had cockpit covers. In each case, the canvas maker used the existing snaps. Our boats were too big to tow, but I believe the comment about tearing up the canvas as a result of towing is spot on.
 
Big Island Lifer said:
IMHO you want your cover to extend to the base of the windshield. If anything it will keep the sun out of the cockpit altogether. It may be a little more effort to put on but your boat will be better off in the long run.
Click to expand...

I received a quote from Great Lakes on a cockpit cover for my 280DA and confirmed with them that mine will extend to the base of the windshield. Even though I have no snaps there (yet), I wanted this...to keep the sun out of the cockpit. That's more important than putting a few male threaded snaps in the fiberglass!

Jason, thanks for the link to those clips, I'll have to see if they'll work.
 
When I had mine made my canvas guy made the cover to fit, very nicely and installed the snaps on the deck at the base of the windshield. They were sealed and have not been an issue (and it's been rained on a little around here). The local guy did a great job and when I got it back he reworked the cover for me from what you see in these pictures to allow me to get it on without taking the bimini poles off. $600. He's in Seattle and does great work. King's Marine canvas.
Canvasvisit1-16-084.jpg

Canvasvisit1-16-081.jpg

CanvasUpdate1-19-08.jpg

CanvasUpdate1-19-082.jpg

CanvasUpdate1-19-0810.jpg

CanvasUpdate1-19-088.jpg

CanvasUpdate1-19-086.jpg

CanvasUpdate1-19-085.jpg

CanvasUpdate1-19-083.jpg

I highly recommend you go over the windshield and down to the deck.
 
I just confirmed with GL that they would only make the kind that goes to the base of the windshield. Bummer. I can't even fathom how you would get back in the boat after snapping the cover in place along the bottom of the windsheild? I guess you would have to carry the whole thing out there in a roll, snap it in place. Step over it and climb back in, close the window, then pull it over? I don't have a walk way sides of my boat. Ok, now that I'm thinking about it, it doesn't sound so bad.

How do people keep rain from coming in on the inside of the arch?
 
Ok, so now I think I will go with that style, to the base of the windshield IF and only if I don't have to put more snaps in the fiberglass. I just don't want to have all of those snaps and along the side clutter things up. So the next step is to see if those windshield clips will work with my frame. If so, I'll go this route.
 
I can reach down and over the windshield to get them snapped then as you go aft you unroll the cover as you snap along the sides.
 
Cincy Aquaholic said:
I just confirmed with GL that they would only make the kind that goes to the base of the windshield. Bummer.
Click to expand...

This is why many people eventually buy boats with hardtops.

I don't understandy a company that says they will only make a piece of canvas one way. Custom should be custom. I've always used companies that did what I wanted.
 
I could not figure out why Cincy and Gunn did not have the snap posts on the deck along the base of the windshield. I checked the specs for both boats and discovered the Cockpit Cover was actually and option- I am assuming their boats were not ordered with that option if the snap posts were not placed at the factory.

Why would a boat of this size even be ordered new by a dealer without a cockpit cover? Seems like a strange thing to leave off as a standard feature given the cost of these boats new. I can't imangine not having a cover for the boat when the camper is not on.
 
That's the thing, Great Lakes does not do custom work. Only OEM and OEM replacement work.

No way could I reach to the base of my windshield without laying completely on it.

I'm going to order a few of those snaps and see if they will work with my frame.
 
jason78 said:
I could not figure out why Cincy and Gunn did not have the snap posts on the deck along the base of the windshield. I checked the specs for both boats and discovered the Cockpit Cover was actually and option- I am assuming their boats were not ordered with that option if the snap posts were not placed at the factory.

Why would a boat of this size even be ordered new by a dealer without a cockpit cover? Seems like a strange thing to leave off as a standard feature given the cost of these boats new. I can't imangine not having a cover for the boat when the camper is not on.
Click to expand...

No kidding! That's why our canvas went back up after every weekend and its taking its toll on it.
 
My cockpit cover has 2 pieces; sort of....the part I use most of the time snaps at the top of the windshield, like what's been discussed here.

I have an additional piece that is basically just a windshield cover, that if I want to use it, snaps on first, and the larger cove snaps on top of it at the top of the windshield. If I need to cover the windshield for some reason, it would keep out light or heat. I do keep the dash cover snapped on, so I never use the windshield cover.

Don
 
I had mine custom made and used the snaps at the top of the windshield. It is easy to put on and works and looks good. I kinda of like being able to see in the boat through the windshield with the cover on. I dont worry about the sunlight on the dash because i am in a covered dock.
 
Not sure if this will work for you or not, but I am able to stand up on the bow and start snapping the cover on, and then step over the windshield and then continue snapping. Having long legs helps!
 
Cincy,

On the 290DA we just bought (delivery on Monday the 7th), we had the factory cockpit cover installed after the fact. The PO had ordered it and then backed out, so we got a good deal on it (supposedly). If you can wait until next week, I'll have pictures of it that I can show you how it is installed. I know that the snaps do not come installed on the canvas - those must be put on at installation and I believe the cover goes to the bottom of the windshield. As I said, give me a few days and I'll tell you for sure.

As for towing... We had a 210SEL and towed it all the time with the cockpit cover and bow cover installed. After three years of towing, there were never any rips or tears due to towing. Also, the one time I towed it without the cockpit cover on, I got all kinds of tire bits and tiny asphault rocks inside. I hated it. I was still finding road debris inside when I traded it a year and a half (two months ago) later. I would always tow it with the cockpit cover installed. The outside of the boat is much easier to clean than the inside. Just my $ .02.

BTW, mine will be on the road from AL to here in Knoxville with the cockpit cover on the entire way. That is what I wanted it and the selling dealer also recommended it that way.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,248
Messages
1,429,278
Members
61,128
Latest member
greenworld
Back
Top