Boat covers... which ones last?

[mikejson 35]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has found any after market boat covers that they'd recommend.

I have a 16' tracker(bench seats) that I'd like to get a new cover for. The one I bought from North Country for about $300 I feel wasn't that great. It lasted about 3 years. My boat is stored in the middle of my yard, no trees or anything like that. I put posts in to make the water run off it, but it still got either sun damage or water rotted. It now has holes in it and I bet if I gave it a good pop with my hand, would rip right through.

If there really isn't anything better on the market, is there tips to keeping these things from rotting/sun damage? I mean, isn't part of the reason to have a cover is to prevent sun damage to the other things in your boat(ie rubber mouldings, seats etc)?

Thanks in advance for the tips...

Mike.

[Some Old Guy 968]

Hi Mike,

They really don't last long the way you have it set up.

To make your next cover last longer, just continue exactly what you are doing but then throw a tarp over everything. This helps the snow slide off easier and keeps the sun from damaging your cover. Tarps are cheaper to replace.

Roger

[mikejson 35]

Hi Mike,

They really don't last long the way you have it set up.

To make your next cover last longer, just continue exactly what you are doing but then throw a tarp over everything. This helps the snow slide off easier and keeps the sun from damaging your cover. Tarps are cheaper to replace.

Roger

I have the original cover that Tracker uses to ship the boats(North Country tossed it in while my boat cover was backorderd when I originally bought the boat) so I toss that on in the winter... but I never toss it on in the summer... guess I'll start doing that.

[filletandrelease 17]

The best cover you will find in town will likely be a custom made one at Milani's. I wouldn't wait too long to go though you can get better prices in the off season.

[Guest littlegm]

Yup... I've tried many covers for my boats over the years and by far the best one has been from Milani's (345-5403). Custom made to fit your boat, well worth the $500 (if I remember). Because my only option for now is to store my boat outside for the winter I built a wood frame to support the cover should the snow build up. Who am I kidding, I brush it off every day, read it a story before bedtime... I bet the cover would support enough snow to crush the boat windows before tearing the cover.

Good luck,