Good way to cover a boat and outboard.

[Catch and Grease]

Im getting so tired of tarps ripping, getting blown away by the wind, filling up with water etc.... its so frustrating, what do you guys use to cover your boat? How do you secure it? And what kind of support system do you use to keep it from filling with water?

 

I bought a dinky POS pole from my work place that was supposed to be a support pole for boats but it turned out to be made of cheap hard plastic and snapped the second I put alittle pressure on it.

[slonezp]

I use a cover

 

If you want to use tarps or similar, you can make a support system out of 3/4" pvc pipe and fittings

[Catch and Grease]

I am using a "boat cover" too but I cant find one that wont have pockets for water when I tighten it, I reckon just because of the weird shape my boat has.

[Bass Turd]

I don't know what kind of boat you have but maybe this will work? I use something similar with a generic Bass Pro cover.

 

[S. Sass]

I use a cover that came with my boat. Turns out it's a Cabellas looks like this one with the name and the funny pockets right above the name it fits OK. I just have the single console off to the side so it's not a perfect fit. But my boat stays in a carport with one side completely closed in and doesn't get directly rained on. Using the proper straps for my tarp help a lot, they were missing and string was used by the previous owner. I got a set of new straps with the clips off ebay for like $20 and it stays on nice and snug now. I was more trying to keep the dust, bird ___, and stray cat vomit out. 

 

 

[Ski213]

I also use a cover. It's not a true custom cover so I use pvc  for support and to create a pretty high ridge down

the middle of the boat. If I don't water will pond in a couple places. Due to the height of the windscreens on my consoles I can't do the right to left bowed pvc with success. I used 2" pvc. There are 3 vertical pieces. One at the front deck seat mount, one between the consoles, and one on the rear deck. T's at each vertical. From the front deck T to the bow I heated and bent a piece of pvc to land on the tip of the bow. Just straight pvc between the other T's. It's a pretty primitive contraption but it does the job. That handles getting the water to sheet off. 

 

I strap it down with the plastic buckle type straps. One at the bow that goes from the port edge of the cover to starboard edge, one on each side about middle point of the front deck strapped to the trailer. One one each side behind the fenders strapped to the trailer. More straps would be better, but with my particular cover that's evough for in the driveway. 

 

I'm not great at explaining things so if it sounds like something that might work

in your application I can get a picture or two. 

[Catch and Grease]

1 hour ago, Bass Turd said:

I don't know what kind of boat you have but maybe this will work? I use something similar with a generic Bass Pro cover.

 

 

That could work for me, Can you buy pipes for a boat like that in a store or is it something id have to make.

[Ski213]

28 minutes ago, Catch and Grease said:

 

That could work for me, Can you buy pipes for a boat like that in a store or is it something id have to make.

They make boat cover support kits. Would be pretty simple to

make what's in the pic though. Each support looks to be two T's and pipe in between. It's pretty slick how the T's are cut to kind of "grab" the hull. 

[boostr]

I have a boat cover, it's not the one for the boat so its kinda big, but it's perfect for my winter or non use storage. I use 2 plastic saw horses and a 2x4. I have he saw horses facing front to back and the 2x4 on top of that. The cover is the perfect size to fit over the raise support and the motor, then I just tie it off to the trailer with tarp ball bungees . I cover that with a tarp, and i use the tarp ball bungees that fit thru the holes and tie those off to the trailer also. So far it's held up great with the snow storm and wind storm we've had up here lately.

 

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Sigman-6-in-Tarp-Ball-Bungee-25-Pack-BB06B/203217327

[WIGuide]

Your options are either buying a custom made cover, or making due with a semi custom. The custom made will be the best option, but will be the most expensive. Making supports out of pvc or wood and using a cover off the shelf will work. In some cases, really well. They take some time, but don't really require much in the way of specialized tools or building skills. Your last option would be not buying a cover at all, and getting a portable garage. That's what I use for mine and it works well. I've got a cover too for when I'm on the road and staying over, but it doesn't get that much use. 

[boostr]

19 minutes ago, WIGuide said:

Your options are either buying a custom made cover, or making due with a semi custom. The custom made will be the best option, but will be the most expensive. Making supports out of pvc or wood and using a cover off the shelf will work. In some cases, really well. They take some time, but don't really require much in the way of specialized tools or building skills. Your last option would be not buying a cover at all, and getting a portable garage. That's what I use for mine and it works well. I've got a cover too for when I'm on the road and staying over, but it doesn't get that much use. 

 

Which one do you have? I just looked at some, and they are reasonably priced. Cheaper than renting a garage space.

[WIGuide]

10 minutes ago, boostr said:

 

Which one do you have? I just looked at some, and they are reasonably priced. Cheaper than renting a garage space.

I'm not sure which brand it is. I got it from my parents after it got bent up a little in a wind storm because they didn't have it secured to the ground. I made it work and it looks similar to this now http://www.homedepot.com/p/Caravan-Sports-10-ft-x-20-ft-Domain-Carport-22006200010/205602069  Normally they sit up pretty tall, but the legs are in two sections. I removed the bottom section so my boat barely squeaks in, but it does a better job of keeping the sun off that way. When it wears out, I'll either one with full sides, or go with one of the metal versions. 

[boostr]

15 minutes ago, WIGuide said:

I'm not sure which brand it is. I got it from my parents after it got bent up a little in a wind storm because they didn't have it secured to the ground. I made it work and it looks similar to this now http://www.homedepot.com/p/Caravan-Sports-10-ft-x-20-ft-Domain-Carport-22006200010/205602069  Normally they sit up pretty tall, but the legs are in two sections. I removed the bottom section so my boat barely squeaks in, but it does a better job of keeping the sun off that way. When it wears out, I'll either one with full sides, or go with one of the metal versions. 

 

I've been looking a those to set in front of may garage so I can work  on my car or boat without having to worry about the weather. I'll probably get a sturdier one for sure.

[WIGuide]

8 minutes ago, boostr said:

 

I've been looking a those to set in front of may garage so I can work  on my car or boat without having to worry about the weather. I'll probably get a sturdier one for sure.

http://store.alansfactoryoutlet.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=12x21-Regular-Carport&gdffi=cfd76161b1044426a274dcd40d9e70bb&gdfms=7C4A6BD82F2E4D3BA270AD97318BEF2D&gclid=CjwKEAjw5M3GBRCTvpK4osqj4X4SJAABRJNCMlJTiGaCPj8M9Ih94Mktn0BFJjULKHdt8B896KcMJRoCFGzw_wcB something along those lines might be better suited for what you want out of it. Definitely sturdier and the tin will last a lot longer than a tarp.  

[BassnChris]

I use a custom boat cover and a metal carport. Carport cost only about half of what the cover cost.