How to keep water from sagging boat cover???

[USA_boater]

Right now I must store my boat on the side of my house. I've had the boat for 3 weeks and this is the first good rain we've gotten with the cover installed. I had to shop-vac gallons of water that had pooled on the cover. The cover came with the boat and included some straps that look like they go ON TOP of the cover but I've only installed the lower straps that go under the boat. Are the top straps meant to prevent the sagging? If not, what can I do or what can I buy to prevent this?

My quick solution was to prop up several plastic bins and buckets to form a crown in the spots that could sag. It is stall raining and this solution is working but isn't a good long term solution. Any help appreciated!

 

[Scott Danforth]

most covers have a telescopic pole to tent the cover to prevent pooling

https://www.iboats.com/shop/covers-and-biminis/boat-cover-accessories/boat-cover-support-poles.html

what kind of boat?

 

[USA_boater]

Four winns horizon 180 '04...based on the 2 areas (bow, and behind passenger seats) that water pooled, I may need to 2 of them. I wonder if I can get them just by themselves?

 

[Scott Danforth]

yes....available right here on iboats, look at the link I posted

yes, you would need 2 or more

 

[GA_Boater]

The top straps are for stopping the cover from ballooning when towing covered.

It sounds like you need the supports sooner rather than later. Since you are a USA boater, a WallyWorld must be close to grab a couple support poles. Less than 10 bucks each and if your local doesn't have them, they will in 2 days after you order.

 

[Silvertip]

You can also make support poles cheaply using a length of round, wood hand rail from any home improvement store and a frizbee. Cut the hand rail to length, fasten the frizbee on top and you solve the pooling problem. Plus, the frizbee places a lot less stress on the cover.

 

[ThomW]

You can buy sets of poles that come with straps to connect them and connect to sides of boat. Builds a ridge line down the middle and a "web" of straps and the poles give you two high points.

 

[MTboatguy]

I built my last set from coffee can plastic lids and 1.5 inch PVC pipe cut to the right length, they hold up just fine against our nasty and snow drenched winters around here.

 

[robert graham]

I've heard of folks using a couple of large truck tire inner-tubes inflated and put in the boat to support the cover.....Seems like a fairly good idea, although I haven't personally done it....

 

[roscoe]

Easiest for me was 2 tall trash cans, upside down.
Measure height needed and what will fit, and run to Wally or hardware store.
No straps or poles to mess with.
Can be used to store the boat cover in when not in use.
I use a tall kitchen can in the front, and a rather tall 30 gallon with wheels.

This rectangular one fits nicely between the seats in my boat.

 

[USA_boater]

All great info...I dont feel so bad now that my quick fix was large plastic bins, foam kids' pool kick boards and various sized plastic buckets turned upside down...glad to know others have had the issue and there is many options...I will post up when I decide on the permanent solution; glad I don't live in seattle LOL.

 

[Scott Danforth]

the problem with bins, etc. is you have to stow them somewhere when you want to use the boat.

a thin prop rod, wrapped in the cover gets thrown in the back of the truck with one hand and takes up no extra space over what the cover does.

 

[mike_i]

I tie my cover down then crawl under it then prop it up with my PVC pipe thingy s, total cost 0. The red tape tells me where each one goes.

 

[USA_boater]

I tie my cover down then crawl under it then prop it up with my PVC pipe thingy s, total cost 0. The red tape tells me where each one goes.

why so many? Larger boat or do you run 2 in front and 2 in back on a bow-rider?

 

[Old Ironmaker]

The problem with poles is they tend to fall over with wind or weight of water. I used 2" ABS to hold the poles and toilet closet flanges as bases glued into a few feet of the 2" ABS. Cheap $$$. Never thought of using Frisbees on top, great idea. Mine fit snug into grommets in the cover.

 

[fishrdan]

I made a support out of 3" ABS that rests on the windshield and transom, length of pipe and a couple of fittings. It can be remove/installed while outside the boat, and the cover slides over it easily. It creates a ridgepole down the center of the boat, so water easily runs off the cover. No monkeying around with cover support poles either...

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

I battle snow and rain both in heavy amounts. No indoor storage for me either. I make a 2x4 wood skeleton planks that cross the width of the beam with a center board lengthwise then i have a piece of 1/2” plywood cut in half for each side that I lay on top. Ive elevated the center boards with a snall piece of wood on the end to give this and the plywood a little lift in the center and cut the ends of these boards at as much on angle and hit them with a belt sander to smooth all edges. This allows for water to run off. Takes about 4 2x4s and on my boat two pieces of plywood because ripped there about 40 “ on each side so $50 they usually last about 5 or 6 years. Simple enough for one man. When I remove it for use they stack against my fence or garage and take up no real space. My boats sat through two winters with a layer of three to four feet of ice and snow my covers 22 years old now. I don’t touch it once winter hits. Its so brittle it’s getting replaced this year I think, but the snow and rain sagging it without this support would have killed it in 5 years. Its funny my new boats much bigger CC its cover only needs minor bracing on the front. Because its so steep.

 

[tonyjh63]

I made a support out of 3" ABS that rests on the windshield and transom, length of pipe and a couple of fittings. It can be remove/installed while outside the boat, and the cover slides over it easily. It creates a ridgepole down the center of the boat, so water easily runs off the cover. No monkeying around with cover support poles either...

Could you possibly elaborate or post some pics of your setup? Sounds like a good solution...Thanks!

 

[fishrdan]

Could you possibly elaborate or post some pics of your setup? Sounds like a good solution...Thanks!

-Windshield end is a 3" ABS T fitting with 2' (or so) of pipe glued in each end, to go partially across the windshield top.
-Glue a length of 3" pipe into the windshield T to go back towards the transom. (I had to use a coupler and more pipe)
-From the main pipe - 45* 3" ABS fitting, then into a 3" ABS T fitting that rests on the transom. (45* fitting so the cover transitions better)
-Glue everything with ABS cement and let it cure a day
-Cut a 2-3" slot into the bottom of the windshield pipe/fitting, so it will drop onto the windshield frame

Throw a towel on the windshield and transom, so the cover support is sitting on a towel, and doesn't wear on the boat's finish. I didn't on the windshield and it eventually wore through the frame paint.... Transom is fine, since I used a towel there.

I've had this for over 10 years, used it on 2 boats, and it's sagged about 2" in the middle over time, baking in the desert sun. Never tested it with snow loads, doesn't snow here... If I was in snow country, I'd add a removable support in the middle, to use for winter storage.

 

[mike_i]

2 in front of the helm and one on the seat and the last in front of the motor on a 22' boat. I could get away with using two or three but it's no biggie using four.

why so many? Larger boat or do you run 2 in front and 2 in back on a bow-rider?