Selecting the Right Boat Cover Material for Your Needs
Making the Right Choice
A boat cover is only as good as the material it’s made of. Depending upon the weather conditions in your locale, the right boat cover material can make the difference between a cover that protects your boat for years and one that quickly deteriorates. In choosing a material, the wise boater will consider not only year-round weather conditions, but also the role a cover is to play. A boat stored in a protected area, and seldom if ever trailered, will not require the same protective cover needed by a boat stored in weather conditions or trailered.
Boats stored in the sun will need a boat cover material with good UV protection, while boats stored in humid areas will need a cover made from a fabric that breathes and is resistant to mildew. And for boats that sit under snow or are exposed to heavy rainfall, primary considerations will be the material’s strength, weight, and resistance to penetrating water.
The accompanying table identifies five popular boat cover materials along with their corresponding strengths and weaknesses. | 
