New Boat - How to Buy a Cover

[OnTheH20]

I just purchased a Sea Ray 175 Sport and now I need a cover. The problem is I know nothing about boat covers. I know I don't want a "snap on", but beyond that I have no clue. The boat will mostly be kept in the garage, but will be outdoors overnight occasionally. Anyone have any recommendations on where to start?

Thanks!

 

[redone4x4]

Re: New Boat - How to Buy a Cover

$55 walmart cover should do just fine.....i store mine indoors most of the time, but the few times it was outside, the cover was waterproof and held water instead of it leaking thru when it rained. if you wanted to trailer with it, then thats a different story. but otherwise it should more than suffice.

 

[brian3127]

Re: New Boat - How to Buy a Cover

those walmart covers are not good if left out all summer and they do leak. go get one custumc made. i had to buy a walmart cover every year. the 3 that i bought would have paid for half of what i paid for the custum cover.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: New Boat - How to Buy a Cover

those walmart covers are not good if left out all summer and they do leak. go get one custumc made. i had to buy a walmart cover every year. the 3 that i bought would have paid for half of what i paid for the custum cover.

yea, you could get a custom cover for 300-500 bucks if you want to.....but do you need to if it is stored indoors most of its life? sounds like he needs a good dust cover.

 

[Thad]

Re: New Boat - How to Buy a Cover

If you have the $$$, get a custom made cover. It will be fitted to YOUR boat and should be made with extra padding and reenforcement at all rub spots.
If you plan on trailering it on vacation or just 50 miles to another water body, the cover comes in very useful.
Also, with a custom cover, the only way for rodents to get in is to gnaw through. We have had ours seven years and never so much as a fly in the boat come spring.

We did not want snaps on our new boat. Did some research around the area and already had the shop picked out. We spent a little more than most shops wanted, but the quality, warranty, and overall construction far outweighed the cost.
So look around, see actual covers that a shop has made, ask about warranty, highway speed rating, etc.etc. I do not believe you will be disappointed.

 

[calvinman]

Re: New Boat - How to Buy a Cover

Hi OnTheH2O,

We have a mooring cover on our 176 glastron, but being seasonal campers our boat is out in the elements all summer long. We picked up a nice cover from Costco for $95 canadian.

It does not fit like a custom cover but keeps the sun from fading the gelcoat and with the mooring cover underneath with the support poles, water will not pool and leak into the boat.

Calvi

 

[ramster]

Re: New Boat - How to Buy a Cover

If you are getting a custom made cover that snaps on, get Sunbrella. Do not go with vinyl, it is cheaper, but you will hate it in a short time, it's heavy, it shrinks, and becomes a real pain to install over time.

 

[AguaSki]

Re: New Boat - How to Buy a Cover

those walmart covers are not good if left out all summer and they do leak. go get one custumc made. i had to buy a walmart cover every year. the 3 that i bought would have paid for half of what i paid for the custum cover.

Wal-Mart has one of the best return policies I know of. My Wal-Mart cover has a 5 year warranty and is holding up fine in the AZ sun. I still have the receipt and the original box the cover came in. If I don't get 5 years of service out of my cover it is going back to be exchanged for a new cover. I will continue doing this until I have reached the 5 year anniversary of my original cover. After 5 years I will gladly pay for new cover and restart the process. Wal-Mart has met my expectations with returned items in the past, and I expect they will support me if the cover fails before its time. I say get the Wal-Mart cover and hold Wal-Mart to the advertised warranty.