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How To GuidesBoat Covers, Tops and Canvas ArticlesBoat Covers - Selecting the Right Material

Selecting the Right Boat Cover Material for Your Needs

Making the Right Choice

selecting boat cover materials
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.

Comparing Boat Cover Materials

 
Poly/Cotton Canvas
Polyester
Acrylic Coated Polyester
PVC Backed Polyester
Urethane Coated Polyester
Water Resistant
Mildew Resistant
UV Resistant
Breathability
Strength
Hot Humid Climates
Hot Dry Climates
Cool Moist Climates

Key
Not Recommended -
Good -
Better -
Best -

 

A Boat Cover Material That Meets the Need

selecting boat cover materials

Poly/Cotton Boat Covers

Poly/cotton blend canvass is typically the least expensive boat cover material. It will suffice if you store your boat in a covered facility away from adverse weather conditions. It provides good breathability, and most of these boat covers are treated to inhibit mold and protect against UV damage. Even with these added protections, Poly/Cottom covers are more susceptible to UV damage, rot or mildew than the fully synthetic Polyester based covers.
 

 

Polyester Boat Covers

The family of polyesters offers the most popular candidates for boat cover material. If you choose polyester or a polyester blend, make sure you choose the one most suited for your weather conditions – especially if you store your boat outdoors.
  • Polyester…One hundred percent polyester improved the durability of covers immensely over older natural fiber covers. Polyester boat covers won’t stretch or shrink and they provide good water resistance with a moderate level of breathability. Polyester boat covers are strong, durable, and fairly resistant to UV and rain.
  • Acrylic-coated Polyester…Polyester fabric coated with an acrylic to increase the UV resistance and water repellency of the boat cover. Acrylic coated polyester is the most popular material for semi-custom covers due to the combination of high general durability and modest price.
  • PVC-backed Polyester…Polyester with an impermeable, waterproof PVC backing. This fabric trades breathability for fully waterproof charicteristics.
  • Urethane-coated Polyester…Taylor Made’s Ultima Fabric is a urethane coated polyester and is reserved for their custom boat cover line. It provides superior UV protection which can extend the life of the cover and the level of protection it provides in hot and sunny climates
No material will meet every need in all weather conditions or in all scenarios of care and use. If in doubt, talk to your local boating brethren and you’ll quickly get a sense of the favorite materials in your locale. As in navigation, locale knowledge can play a worthwhile part in choosing an appropriate cover for your boat.
 


 
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