Which full cover / trailer cover do you use on your sport?

Bumble

Bumble

New Member
Aug 5, 2013
30
Lake Hopatcong, NJ to Ponce Inlet, FL
Boat Info
2006 195 Sport
Engines
Mercruiser 4.3 MPI with A1 Drive
My head has been spinning looking at all the different full cover options out there. A ton of companies make them, and I have no idea about any of them. I'm looking for a full cover to be used for part of the winter and for use on the trailer up and down from FL to NJ a couple times a year. I'm looking for something that would be a specific fit for the 195, not a generic type one. I need it to handle some snow prior to winterizing (I will usually take the boat down to FL around Thanksgiving, and we have had snow before that many times), handle long trips without too much buffeting or rubbing on the gelcoat, and I'm not looking to break the bank. Tall order...I know. Would just like to see what actual SR owners are using for the same or similar type boats.
TIA!
 
I have the OEM mooring cover, which I've used to tow in wet weather (i.e. very rarely). During the summer or it's not raining, if I'm towing more than a few miles (storage to the marina) I'll use the OEM snap-on cockpit and bow covers. I would think you could order the custom moorning cover from a Sea Ray dealer?
 
I would go OEM or have a custom cover made from Sunbrella. Mine has lasted since the 1985 boat was new. I did have it restiched a few years ago and it is still in great shape.

The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of the low price is forgotten...

MM
 
+1 on the Sea Ray OEM mooring cover. It is streamlined and trailers great. It fits perfect. You can get it for the 195 but its about $600 but well worth the money for the custom fit.
 
I will have to see what I could get a Sea Ray one for. When I looked though I thought it was like $800. I didn't want cheap, but hoped there was a premium aftermarket one. For you all with the SR cover, how does it attach? Utilize any stock snap locations?
 
The moorning cover doesn't have any snaps on the gelcoat (on the current gereration 190). It has custom cutouts (zipped or pleated) for the gas gap, bimini supports/tower, cleats, and swimplatform latter joints. There are buckles at both sides mid-boat (concealed behind velcro'd flaps), and the ratchet is at the back corner - also concealed behind a velcrop flap. There are two tenting poles, with attachment snaps (which are at the end of each pole) sew into the cover - one in the bow, and one in the center of the cockpit. The cover is also vented - there are two of them, one over each helm seat. The material is also different than the OEM bow and cockpit covers - which are more like a thick canvas, while the moorning cover is like a thin canvas backed with nylon.
 
Bumble said:
Anyone ever deal with these folks? They say the company is the OEM manufacturer for the tops. Their Sunbrella one is "exact fit" and is $579 shipped and no tax. I will see what dealers get too, but wanted to see if this company and product is legit. 10 year warranty too.
http://rnr-marine.com/SeaRay.shtml
Click to expand...

I haven't dealt with them but I can comment that a one piece sunbrella cover will be really heavy and difficult to manage. That reason along with how the Sea Ray cover fastens, closed the deal for me.

To secure the OEM cover there are clips and Velcro midship around the Bimini. The strap, hidden inside the cover, tightens around the boat just below the rub rail. There is a ratchet in a pocket at the stern. There are no extra straps to vibrate while towing. It also has two vents built in. It keeps the inside of my boat nice and dry.


I started this thread a while back.

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.ph...ring-cover-is-not-Sunbrella-fabric?highlight=
 
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Sounds like the Sea Ray one might be the smartest option. I will have to price some out and see. I thought the OEM was Sunbrella though, so I am a bit confused about that part.
 
My boat is mostly stored in a dry garage, and my road time is not as extensive as yours.

The OEM covers look great, but I'm not sure Sea Ray has offered them for more then a few years, and I'm not sure you can get one for a 2006 model. Considering your needs, the price may be worthwhile if you can get one.

I ordered a Sharkskin custom cover from Overton's a few years ago. The custom fit is pretty good. For an annual trip or two of perhaps 700 miles round trip, it works, and keeps the rain out while stored on the ground. I use it over the OEM Sunbrella cockpit and bow covers I have that came with support poles. It works, keeps things dry, but is not great for long term storage. There are no vents, and things can get wet in there (like a terrarium), or sometimes the boat is wet from use when the cover goes on. Not ideal by any means. It does not ratchet at the back, but ties, which is a bit of a pain. It uses straps that go to the trailer to rails when traveling. It has to be pretty carefully adjusted to avoid any chafing while on the road, but it can be done.

I could have had the same cover in Sunbrella, but like some have mentioned, I was worried it might be pretty heavy to handle. But, I've never actually done that, and Sunbrella is an excellent fabric and you can re waterproof it periodically.

If in the market again, I would look for vents, a ratchet at the rear of the boat, a support pole system and would consider the Sunbrella fabric.

I believe Sunbrella is merely a fabric, and other companies such as Great Lakes Boat Top Co. manufacture various covers for OEM use.
 
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NorCalGlenn said:
I believe Sunbrella might be the supplier.
Click to expand...

I'm still looking. My OEM covers say "Great Lakes Boat Top" on the snaps, so I'm wondering if they were the supplier too for the full cover. I have a message into that to see if the ones they are selling have the vents and all the other good stuff the OEM one does.
 
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