Essentials of Boat Cover Care
You work hard to maintain your boat, including a proper cover to protect your investment from the elements. And, like your boat, a boat cover needs its own care and maintenance. Today, you have a variety of boat cover care options, including supports and tie-downs that can help you attach and maintain your cover properly. Whatever your choice, make sure your cover has a tight, snug fit.
Boat Cover Supports
Without a proper fit, a
boat cover will sag or slide around, forming pockets that can collect water and debris, distorting the fit and exposing your boat to rot and mildew. Boat cover care solutions include boat cover supports such as strap supports, cover support poles, combination support systems and boat cover bows.
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Boat Cover Support Strap Systems use simple straps to create an internal structure to shape your
boat cover. For example, an Attwood Y-strap is an adjustable polyweb strap with non-marring hooks that attach to your boat to form a tight Y- ridge under your boat cover from bow to stern, preventing water from collecting. A buckle adjustment and shock cord make it easy to create a custom fit.
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Boat Cover Support Poles are probably the most common
boat cover supports. Most are adjustable aluminum poles that fit against the deck and under the cover tenting the cover. There are a variety of styles including rubber caps that slide into place, grommet and peg systems that provide a more positive connection between the pole and cover and snap end systems where a snap installed in the canvas, snaps onto the top of the pole.
Some support pole systems provide venting to allow heat and moisture to escape from under the cover. For example, the Westland Boat Cover Support and Vent System features a vent and back plate that are attached to the
boat cover. The support pole connects into the back plate when the cover is in place providing support while nylon straps provide stability and depending on the connection points, ridge-lines for the cover.
Many boats will use a single support pole with satisfactory results, although larger boats and some styles like the pontoon boat will require 2 or more supports to get the desired shape and protection
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Bow Style Boat Cover Supports are less common with modern boats, but they consist of a pair of sockets that mount to railings or the boat’s gunnels and accept either end a flexible wooden or plastic slat. The length of the slat causes it to bow upwards, supporting the cover. Think of a covered wagon.
Boat Cover Tie-downs
Boat cover tie-downs keep your cover in place, critical when you are trailering, but also important when in storage if there is a chance the cover could be blown or pulled off, exposing the boat and allowing moisture or debris to get in. A cover that has been properly tied down will be less likely to sag or shrink, or flap in the wind, shortening the life of the
boat cover.
Typical boat cover tie-downs provide an adjustable strap that connects the cover to the boat trailer. These include various types of hooks that hook to the trailer frame and wrap around type straps that simply loop under the frame and connect back to themselves with a buckle.
The number of tie-downs you will need may vary with the size of your boat, but most trailer boats will use 6.
Cleaning and Storage
With the cover on the boat, hose it off once a month and let it air dry. To thoroughly clean cover for boat, brush off loose dirt, hose it down, put about ¼ cup mild soap (never detergent or cleaning agents like bleach) in a gallon of water and use a mop or soft bristle brush to clean. To remove stubborn stains, contact the manufacturer for their recommendations. Allow the cover to air dry thoroughly before folding and storing. Caution: Never put your cover in a dryer. If you are going to store the cover for your boat for a while, a bag will help keep the cover clean and dry. A reasonable attention to boat cover care will give your cover a long life.
Summing it Up
Once you’ve selected the right
cover for your boat, (See “
Boat Covers - Getting the Right Fit” and "
Boat Covers- Selecting the Right Material”) you will want to keep it in good shape and assure that it will provide optimal protection for your boat. Appropriate
boat covers supports, tie-downs, regular maintenance and a vigilant eye will extend the life of your boat cover, and help assure it provides the best protection possible for your boat. Periodically checking on your cover will alert you if there is a problem. Regular cleanings, even if it doesn’t look too dirty will help remove microscopic debris that can feed molds and mildews. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning your cover and keep your supports and tie-downs in good working order so they are ready when you need them
Make sure you consider a variety of boat cover care options, as the right choice will protect your boat and its cover while the wrong choice will not.
