Anybody ever made their own snap-on covers?

[Uraijit]

I've got a storage cover for my boat right now. It does the job well enough, and has trailering straps. The problem is that it's just too bulky and tedious.

I have to park my boat on the street under some trees, and if I don't put the cover on IMMEDIATELY upon getting home, it starts filling with leaves and twigs.

Anyway, I'm pretty good at figuring things out, and I'd say I'm handier than your average Joe. I'm thinking about stitching up a cockpit cover (my boat's a closed bow) that I can just snap on there. I've been looking around the internet a bit for different materials, and I've run accross Awning canvas, that looks like what they make the covers that I've seen from.

Just curious what you guys think would be the best material to use (weight of canvas), and if anybody's tried it before, and could offer some tips?

I'm not expecting it to be a professional-grade cover or anything. I just want something that's easier to put on, without having to install and remove trailer straps every time I take the boat out/put it away.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Anybody ever made their own snap-on covers?

It should be easy to do. If you can get your hands on a snap gun (like a rivet gun but for snaps), then you would have it made. I don't own a snap tool myself but have used one in the past and it is easy.

I have toyed with the idea of putting snaps on my bass boat to make it easier to fasten the cover down.

As for the material, just about any tarp would do, some kind of heavy tarp would do the trick.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Anybody ever made their own snap-on covers?

When they come to make covers for the boats at work they(Tumacs) use heavy paper to make a pattern then cut the peices from that.

Coming into the snap tool is the key , borrowed one from work last week and it makes it a breeze.

I made a camper top for my boat having never sewn before so you should be able to get this, started with a bimini top and added front, back and sides with windows and 2 zipper doors, wasn't easy but worth it.

 

[johnnyd]

Re: Anybody ever made their own snap-on covers?

I was going to do the same thing. I purchased the canvas from a custom boat cover manufacture. Purchased snaps and a punch. After I purchased all the material. I went home thought about it. Then I went back to the Boat cover place. He charged an additional $200 to fabricate and fit it. I had him do it. It has been on my boat for seven years now and still looks new. I believe I made the right decision.

 

[Uraijit]

Re: Anybody ever made their own snap-on covers?

I found all of for about $50. Just can't justify paying $200 to assemble $50 worth of materials.

I'm pretty much sold on doing it. I'll post a how-to if I am successful.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Anybody ever made their own snap-on covers?

Here ya go! This one trailers at freeway speeds with no straps other than the two bungees that secure the nose bra. The nose bra is a separate piece so I can put the main cover on at night without having to remove the trolling motor. This cover and several others I made are made of a very heavy fabric backed vinyl. Sunbrella is another covering that is popular. You will need a heavy duty sewing machine to do this. Machines with plastic gears won't cut it. You do not need any special tools to install snaps. Locate your worst phillips screwdriver and grind the point to a sharp point. Use this tool to make the holes in the cover. Buy the snaps at any department or farm store. The anvil will come with the kit. Space the snaps no farther than about 7 inches apart. Design the cover to prevent wind from getting under it. Note that the cover below wraps around the gunnel of the boat. If wind can't get under it the cover cannot billow at speed. At the front the nose bra overlaps the main cover. Again, no wind gets under it. My daughters family owns my previous boat that has a cover similar to this one that is now 12 years old and it doesn't have a rip in it although careless handling has popped a couple of snaps from the hem. Measure, measure, allow for seams, measure again, and plan all seams horizontal.