Buy or Make a Custom Cover

[LarsonChef]

I have a 2001 Larson 230 LXI, and I am in need of a cover. I purchased a cover that I thought would have been suitable for the water but it turns out it's only a trailer cover. I have been researching a couple of sites on how to make a custom cover and have found some good tips. The boat has allready been drilled and the bottom snaps intstalled, I only need a custom bow and stern cover which match the drilled holes. Companies are charging close to 900.00. Has anybody made their own cover, and do you have any sugestions on how to build one? Or should I just spend the extreme price for a profesionally made one? Thanks fo the help!

[harleyfool]

I have same problem with my 2000 Regal. I call a Regal dealer who quoted $1000 for a replacement cover. Then she said the last two covers they ordered did not fit properly and she strongly advised me to purchase locally. I emailed Regal and they said the covers came without the snaps installed and they would have to be placed by a local installer. So I am confused as to what the local dealer meant regarding poor fit.

I wasn't sure at the end of the day if the true cost of an OEM cover was $1000 + install. I did not bother calling back the dealer for clarification.

For comparison I when to a local canvas store and have been quoted $700 installed for a custom Sunbrella cover. The catch is a one month wait this time of year.. I will go this route.

[dodgeramsst2003]

LarsonChef,

I was in the same boat as you a few years ago, only I needed a whole camper canvas and couldn't afford it. I bought a commercial sewing machine ( this is a must have) read everything I could, and then had at it. Since then I've done a few for others that I know, and just last year made a mooring cover for my current boat. Its not all that hard, just remember, to get everything laid out first, give yourself plenty of reference marks on both the boat and cover. The snaps are the last thing to go on.

You can try and make it with a home sewing machine like I did the first time, but I think you're going to get about two or three long stitches in before the machine jumps time on you. If you have an older all steel machine you may get by, but the commercial machine is a much better option. I picked mine up on ebay for about $200.