Usinng boat cover for storage.

[phughes200]

I am in NC. We get very little snow where I am and it melts within a day or two. The boat will be stored on a boat lift. It will be winterized for Dec-March. Any reason not to use the factory canvas for covering the boat. I realize that the cover will see another 4 months of UV and will shorten the life by maybe 2 years. Any other downside to this option?

 

[OldSkool]

I am in Asheville NC and I use the cover as you can see by the nighty night picture of my boat. I do use a full tarp over the cover with one gal milk jugs of water tied off at each eyelet to keep it tight. I hang the jugs inside the trailer frame rails so they don't move with the wind. Looks good too. I don't use bungies or tie it to the trailer as the tarp can loosen and leaving water pockets.

I built an A frame so the cover has full support and also supports the tart at a good pitch. My tube supports the bow and keeps it from pooling at the railing. After a heavy snow I broom it off so it can dry quickly and remain tight.

I'll take a picture of it tomorrow and attach for you. I used just the canvas cover one year and it faded really bad. Lesson learned.

 

[phughes200]

I'll take a picture of it tomorrow and attach for you. I used just the canvas cover one year and it faded really bad. Lesson learned.

If you got the orginal canvas from Great Lakes, they gaurantee the canvas (actualla Sunbrella fabric) for ten years for sun rot and fading. If yours faded that badly, you might want to talk to them. My cover (new this year, still in the box) is the "toast" color. Fading probally won't be a big issue but thanks for the warning.

 

[comsnark]

I think you got the main reason not to use the factory cover: Wears it out!

Also, the factory cover is a "cockpit cover" right? Most other covers people use are stem to stern affairs; keeps the fiberglass out of the sun as well!

 

[phughes200]

Comsnark,

Now you know one of the reasons I left NJ. Our season here is April-November. The hardier of us (not me) boat year round. In my case, we would be talking another 4 months of exposure. Since the boat would be stored on a boat lift, properly securlng a tarp or generic cheap boat cover would be difficult, A semi custom cover should work fine but not sure the cost/benifit works out. A good semi custom cover seems to cost 1/3 of a custom cover. I could use my old cover but it's in bad shape (old owner didn't take care of it). A bow to stern cover really doesn't cover that much more of the fiberglass.