Pontoon cover analysis paralysis - advice appreciated

[wrvond]

I recently purchased a 2012 Avalon LS1900 and I need to do something about the cover. I have searched online and cannot find an OEM replacement cover, and I don't think they use Sunbrella material anyway (I'm a big fan of Sunbrella!).
I'm considering taking the old cover apart to use as a pattern to make my own new cover. I have access to an upholstery sewing machine or I might buy my own. Any experiences and advice concerning the Sailrite Ultrafeed LS-1 Premium (110V) walking foot sewing machine are most welcome.
One thing I don't like about the OEM cover is the number of seams it has in the "tent". The fabric is sewn in five sections - one front, one rear, and three running fore and aft. Is this design inherently stronger than simply making two halves with a double stitched seam running down the centerline?
Another thought is to simply purchase a strip of fabric and sew it along the centerline inside and outside (sandwiching the old material) and calling it good. It's hard to say how much life is actually left in the old material. All the damage appears to be the result of trailering the boat with the docking cover installed. It would certainly be a quicker repair and give me time to assemble the tools and materials needed to make a new docking cover and bimini as a winter project.

 

[Scott Danforth]

your old material is toast..... that is why its tearing

either use the old one as a pattern or take it to a canvas shop and they can do the same

it was most likely made in multiple sections to optimize material yield

 

[wrvond]

Yep. A closer inspection confirms it's not salvageable. On a brighter note, generic covers can be had for just a couple hundred dollars. That'll work until I can get around to making my own custom cover.

 

[Starcraft5834]

very few things require "brain surgery".... with ambition and a few tools, I bet you can lay that out and make your own and save some bank..

 

[98Shabah]

I'm in a similar situation with the factory (dowco) cover on my 2017 Lowe pontoon, though it did have some defects from the factory such as the reinforcement for the windshield in the wrong place, flimsy support poles that fall down on their own, and some loose stitching, it's gotten a lot of abuse from trailering with it on (I value my interior more than a cover), so it's now time to pay the piper and have a custom cover made. I'm looking at $1,500-$1,800 for a cover that'll come down to the rub rail all the way around, tie to the trailer, be vented, and trailerable. That's a pricey pill to swallow.

The best factory cover I ever had was on my '98 Mariah, it was made with Sunbrella, came below the rub rail, had a drawstring around it, and tied to the trailer.. It still looked great when I sold that boat in 2014.. no joke, that cover was 16 years old, and though it was mostly garaged, it did spend a few years outside in the elements.

 

[wrvond]

My Sea Ray's dock cover, bimini and camper canvas is all Sunbrella and factory provided in 1995 with the boat. Still looks new to this day.

I ended up ordering a cover for $200.00 and free shipping. It comes with a 3 year replacement warranty, which leads me to believe it'll at least last until I can get around to making my own custom cover.