cover advice for 185BR

mikestein

New Member
Jun 5, 2007
129
Columbia, SC
I lost my tonneau cover for the bow. :smt013 I can get a replacement from Great Lakes for about $150, but my color is no longer available, so it would not match. However, I can also get a full cover from Overtons for about $250. My question is, how are these things for trailering? Which would be the better way to go? I'm thinking a cover for the whole boat instead of replacing the tonneau with a different color. Thoughts?
 
Hi Mike,

A lot depends on how fast & far you have to travel. Don't expect a cheap cover to hold up to the rigors of a long haul. You should look into covers specifically designed for trailering. Overton's sells some. I'm sure others will offer advice on brands, etc. As you might imagine, the trailerable covers tend to be a bit more expensive.

If you never use the tonneau cover for anything other than trailering, there's really no reason to replace it. (Other than resale value.)
 
Just find a local canvas shop and have a new one made in your color, the material is probably still out there but Great lakes just does not use it.
 
I would 2nd Midway's approach. That your cockpit cover in and see how close a local shop can match the color. But you have to take into consideration the at over time the colors do fade and there is not going to be a perfict match unless you redied both pieces the same color.

But you know you have been wanting to recanvas anyway, so do both and save the cockpit for a spare for later. :wink:
 
I personally would never be without my bow cover just in case I am ever caught out in a storm. A few big ones over the bow and the bilge pump may not keep up. I am a fair weather boater but have seen some storms come up in a hurry.

That being said, I picked up custom fit slip cover on ebay this winter and it is great. Keeps the sun off the upper sides and the inside stays very clean now. I bought the trailer straps and have front and rear suport poles and have no issues on the highway.
 
Yes, I have thought about the shelter aspect, mainly for my two kids. They could certainly crawl up under that bow cover in a storm. nben, what kind of support poles do you use? I was thinking of just cutting a hole in a tennis ball and using my old pointy ones for a full cover (rather than cutting a hole in my new cover for the posts to fit through). You think that would work?
 
Can't see why tennis balls wouldn't work. I use small rounded tupperware cups on the top of my original poles. Anything to prevent the tips from poking through the cover should do the trick.

With respect to my post above, I was assuming you never use the bow cover except to trailer. Sounds like that's not the case. I too keep mine in the boat for bad weather and for my kids. (The call my covered bow their "secret hideout.") The folks above have some great suggestions.
 
I never thought about the shelter aspect, rather keeping my boat from being swamped by wave or two over the bow. As for the poles, my cover has snaps bulit in that the poles snap onto.
 

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