When your boat is sitting at the docks unused, it's under attack from sunlight, corrosive saltwater spray, bird droppings, and extreme weather conditions which sometimes include hail. If it's parked in your driveway or on a lake, add tree sap and falling branches to the mix. Even in the best of calm, clear weather conditions, UV rays from the sun will dull the finish on your fiberglass hull, dry out any vinyl, wood, or carpeted surfaces, and oxidize metals.
Fortunately, there's a solution to these problems in the form of boat covers. Here, we'll discuss key things to consider when purchasing one of these for your boat.
A boat that's covered also has more protection from the prying eyes and hands of thieves - especially since most covers feature grommets which can be used with a cable and locks to secure it to the boat. To get the cover loose and get underneath takes way too long and draws too much attention for most thieves to risk.
Boat covers are intended for outdoor use and, as such, are created to resist water penetration rather than prevent all water from getting through. This is a good thing, because a truly waterproof cover would trap a lot of moisture beneath it. Combined with the sun's heat, a hotbed of dampness below the cover would cause ample mildew growth and rot along with rapid corrosion of metal components.
Instead, water resistant covers we sell allow proper breathing. This means any water that does permeate will evaporate quickly thanks to perforated designs that release moisture instead of trapping it. The covers and everything underneath start to dry practically as soon as precipitation ends.
Thanks to multi-layer construction, dirt and debris do not get to make their way through the cover. Should grime begin to accumulate on the surface over time, just give the cover a good hand scrubbing while it's on the boat.
We understand there are a lot of cover choices, and many of them are similar to one another. To help you find the cover that works best for you, we've outfitted the boat covers section of our website with check boxes for different categories which are visible along the left side of the screen. Select one box in each category to narrow your product search, or select multiple boxes to broaden it. While we confidently say that most covers excel at giving you great protection across more than one category, using the check boxes will ensure your final selection is the best match for your needs.
Measuring Your Boat For A Cover
To determine the right size of cover, you first need to measure the boat's center line and beam width. It's important to take those measurements in a straight line without deviating for the windshield or anything else. Start at the pointed center tip of the bow (front) and measure straight back to the edge of the stern (rear). If you've got a lower step for climbing in, make a separate measurement of the distance to the end of the swim step. Some covers may be sized to include a step, and some may not be.
Semi-Custom Fit vs. Universal Fit Boat Covers
Choosing between "semi-custom fit" and "universal fit" designs is as important a decision as any when it comes to boat covers. A semi-custom fit cover will typically cost more than a universal fit cover. But depending on how and where you plan to cover your boat, upfront savings on a universal fit one can turn into false economy if an improper fit ends up causing damage. Below are some things to consider about each style.
Semi-Custom Fit
"Semi-custom" fit covers aren't quite the same as "custom" fit covers, because a truly custom fitting one would be created with a single make and model of boat in mind, similar to the way a tailor-made suit is tucked and let out in areas to be a perfect fit for one person.
Why are there no completely "custom" fit covers tailored for boats the way there are for cars, you ask? The simple reason is boats come in a much greater variety of shapes and sizes than cars do, and producing custom fit covers for all of them would prove impractical from a cost standpoint. But that doesn't mean semi-custom fitting boat covers don't do a great job of clinging to your boat and protecting it.
Semi-custom covers are created by hull style to fit a few different models of boats which are similarly shaped. Because pockets to accommodate windshield bulges are placed where they're commonly located on most boats, this is one area where fitment may not be 100%. Like most covers, semi-custom ones include holes for tie-downs along with built-in elastic hems which tighten things up nicely to achieve a snug overall fit that still leaves room for adjustment.
Universal Fit Covers
"Universal" fit covers are designed to fit a bigger variety of boats within a given size range, and they are not as specific to hull type. Thanks to economies of scale, these end up being more affordable than semi-custom covers made of identical materials.
Covers made for an "average boat" that's approximately the same size as yours may not have pockets exactly where your trolling motor, center console, anchor pulpit, or other onboard fixtures are located. However, elastic hems along bottom edges and other areas will keep a universal fit cover well attached.
Unless they've been lashed down firmly, it's a good idea to take universal fit covers off during windy conditions that occur during towing or severe weather storms. A cover that's too loose can actually cause damage to paint and trim by flapping against the body when wind gets underneath it. Should sand or grit blow underneath a loose cover also, abrasive damage occurs quickly.
Conversely, a cover that's too tight may put undue stress on exterior fixtures, damaging them or body areas where they're attached. A too-tight cover may also be more difficult to remove and install.
Pontoon Boat Covers
Unlike other types of boats, the entire body of a pontoon boat is suspended above the water level on top of air-filled tubes which are used for buoyancy. Since the body doesn't need to be narrow and streamlined in order to cut through water, pontoon boats tend to be square in shape for maximum passenger space.
We've got pontoon boat covers crafted with the contours and fitment necessary in order to fit tight and work right on these boats. If your pontoon boat is equipped with side rails and/or a "Bimini" canopy top section, use check boxes along the left side of the screen under the BOAT STYLE heading to find applicable covers. You can also narrow your cover search by centerline length.
Some examples that we recommend for smaller boats under 20 feet in length include the Dallas Manufacturing polyester Pontoon Cover (17'-20'L x 8.5'W up to 21'-24"L x 8.5'W), Classic Accessories polyester Stellex Pontoon Boat Cover (17-20'L x 8.5'W up to 21-24'L x 8.5'W), Classic Accessories polyester StormPro Pontoon Boat Cover (17-20'L x 8.5'W up to 21-24'L x 8.5'W), and Taylor Made polyester BoatGuard Eclipse Pontoon Boat Cover (18-20'L x 8.5'W up to 22-24L x 8.5'W).
For pontoon boats on the larger end of the scale measuring over 25 feet down the centerline, we recommend Carver's polyester Pontoon Boat w/ Fully Enclosed Deck & Bimini Top Boat Cover (16.6'L x 8.5'W up to 26.6'L x 8.5'W) and Eevelle's polyester Monsoon Wake Pontoon Boat Cover (17'-20'L x 8.5'W up to 25'-28'L x 8.67'W).
Outdoor Boat Capsules & Canopies
If you keep your boat on private land but don't have a garage for it, the CarCapsule Outdoor Boat Capsule effectively serves as an indoor garage that protects boats from dust, tree sap, dings, mildew, musty odors, and pests. It's available in 25' or 30' lengths - both of which measure 9' wide by 7' high.
Made of heavy-duty PVC vinyl, the capsule surrounds your boat on all sides and is attached to a vinyl floor mat that's resistant to fuel, coolant, oils, and other types of spills. Once a trailer and boat are parked on top of the mat, top and bottom sections are sealed together by "self-healing" nylon zippers which won't scratch paint. Drawing power from any standard electrical outlet, built-in fans circulate 380 cubic feet of air per minute to eliminate airborne dust, humidity, and moisture condensation within the bubble.
When the air pump is running, there's enough outward pressure on the bubble surface to deflect common objects outside that may fall against it such as medium-sized branches, most hail, basketballs, and more. Additionally, the capsule has been tested to withstand temperatures from 30 to 158 degrees F. No matter what your boat is worth, the satisfaction of knowing it's fully protected is worth every penny of the capsule cover's upfront cost.
If you use a boat lift at a dock, Patriot Docks offers the Canopy Frame & Cover for Boat Stands/Lifts. This includes a heavy-duty 18-ounce vinyl canopy cover measuring 10' wide x 24' long with aluminum framing and four 4' aluminum pipe supports with expansion sleeves designed to fit onto most boat lifts of comparable size. For a little more, the Free Standing Marine Frame & Canopy provides full-height standing legs for use on dry land along with wheels for easy transport.
Support Poles & Straps For Your Cover
Recommended for use with any boat cover are boat cover support systems which include a center pole (or poles) and straps to put in place before the cover goes on. These poles and straps serve to prop up and suspend center areas of the cover at a higher elevation so that water drains off instead of pooling where it shouldn't. Sitting water only shortens the life of a cover, and serves as starting points for mold growth.
We offer individual support poles (which telescope from 12" to 54") in the Product Options section of most of our boat cover products. If nothing else, you should always use one or two of these underneath your cover. But for complete support during windstorms, we strongly recommend a full support system kit.
Individual Covers For Seats, Consoles & Outboard Motors
Despite the benefits they offer, sometimes using a full cover is not preferable. During the warmer months when your boat's in use early and often, yanking a big bulky cover on and off all the time is a hassle. That's why we have small, lightweight covers designed to protect individual items on board against damage from UV rays and the elements.
Take a quick look through our seats & console covers and outboard motor covers sections, and you'll find these items are relatively inexpensive, made of the same durable materials as full covers, and effective thanks to elastic hems and/or Velcro adjustment straps that create a snug fit every time.
In conclusion, we'll note that in addition to boat covers, we also carry a variety of accessories such as bows, fasteners, grommets, repair kits, and more.
We also encourage you to browse through other sections of BOATiD where you'll find some great marine electronics for navigation, cartography and communication, safety items, replacement parts for engine & assorted trim items, anchors and docking-related components, plumbing & sanitation products, lighting needs, maintenance & winterization, sailing-related parts & components, and much more. Should you have questions about anything on our website, we'll be happy to help seven days a week!