Covering boat w/ T-Top on a lift ????

[metriccrescentwrench]

My son and I have a 21 ft. Skeeter Center Console to which we've added a T-Top. We keep the boat on a lift at my dock with a covered slip, and unfortunately it needs frequent cleanings due to bugs. (We used to also have bird poop issues but those were pretty much eliminated when I hung some highly reflective wind chimes on the dock.)

I'm looking for ideas to be able to easily cover (and uncover) the boat, so far I haven't come up with much of anything that would be both effective and easy since the T-Top makes it pretty difficult for a single person to get a tarp over the boat. Also, we have a trolling motor which I'm sure is going to limit our options.

I'm sure we're not the only boat owners with this problem..... I'm anxious to hear what others have done.

 

[dingbat]

No easy way to secure a trap like cover to withstand weather with a boat hanging on a lift.

It's my experience that you need a snap-on, fitted cover to stand a chance of success. Even then, you get tired of taking it off and on........liberal use of a hose prior to use becomes a more and more liable solution over time.

 

[JimS123]

Get a quality canvas tarp slightly larger than the boat, or make one yourself with sunbrella. Put grommets on 4 corners and the middle. Tie a water jug to each grommet.

Install pulleys in the rafters just above the 4 corners of the tarp. Attach a line to each corner, thru the pulleys and down to a cleat mounted on the side of your posts.

Easy peasy. Pull up the lines one at a time to raise the tarp. Drop them to lower it. The tarp won't be actually fastened to the boat (so no ugly snaps needed on the hull), but the weights will keep it draped over the boat.

I didn't just dream this up. I see contraptions like this covering classic cruisers moored locally in boat houses.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Get a quality canvas tarp slightly larger than the boat, or make one yourself with sunbrella. Put grommets on 4 corners and the middle. Tie a water jug to each grommet.

Install pulleys in the rafters just above the 4 corners of the tarp. Attach a line to each corner, thru the pulleys and down to a cleat mounted on the side of your posts.

Easy peasy. Pull up the lines one at a time to raise the tarp. Drop them to lower it. The tarp won't be actually fastened to the boat (so no ugly snaps needed on the hull), but the weights will keep it draped over the boat.

I didn't just dream this up. I see contraptions like this covering classic cruisers moored locally in boat houses.

Hmmmmm...... MAYBE.

The only problem I see is that the tarp is going to have to be extra large because of the T-Top. I'm not sure if one large enough to cover the boat and T-Top would be able to be hoisted high enough to get of of the way while driving the boat in and out of the slip. Guess I'll have to spend some quality time with the boat and a tape measure.