Who uses a Boat Cover?

[tcbass]

When you buy the matching boat cover for your boat from the manufacturer, they aren't cheap. 

 

Who uses one and do you always use the cover?

[nocluefisher]

My boat is only a couple months old, but if it is going to rain I cover mine. If not than no cover goes on it.  My boat came with the cover.

[J Francho]

Get one from Aurora.  Always cover your boat.  Protect the gel coat from the sun.

[NHBull]

Short of hitting a rock, the sun does more damage to your boat than you can imagine......I cover everything including the motor

[Jig Man]

I use the cover when the roads are wet.  I use it for long road trips like to TX or MS.   I also use it when I am camped which is usually 8-10 weeks per year.  Normal back and forth to the lake I don't use it.

[euroshowoff]

Unfortunately I don't have a garage and keep my tracker covered 100% of the time. As others mentioned, the sun is the hardest than most other elements. I've had custom covers on previous boats, but the specific tracker model cover that came with the boat has the best overall fit than others i've tried. And its super tough. No rips/tears etc in 2+ years.  Pricey, but i suspect I will get the money back when I go to sell and upgrade. 

[S Hovanec]

I didn't buy the manufacturer's cover.  It wouldn't have covered the trolling motor or the outboard.  I had a custom one made for less, that covered everything, and it is of better material.

 

The only time I don't tow with the cover on is when I'm on the way back to camp or home and it's not raining.

[A-Jay]

Purchased Manufacture's Custom Cover when I purchased the boat. Very satisfied with the fit & finish.   Use it often for travel, works well. Worth every penny.   Boat is stored inside, no cover.

Motor & Talons have custom covers from http://www.tuffskinz.net/ ~ Superior Product. 

A-Jay

 

 

 

 

[tcbass]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Purchased Manufacture's Custom Cover when I purchased the boat. Very satisfied with the fit & finish.   Use it often for travel, works well. Worth every penny.   Boat is stored inside, no cover.

Motor & Talons have custom covers from http://www.tuffskinz.net/ ~ Superior Product. 

A-Jay

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice. So is it all from Tuffskinz? 

 

 

Does it use buttons that are attached to boat?

[A-Jay]

On ‎8‎/‎18‎/‎2017 at 6:11 PM, tcbass said:

 

 

Nice. So is it all from Tuffskinz? 

 

 

Does it use buttons that are attached to boat?

The manufactures cover is a LUND and it uses snaps on the bow & stern only. 

All the sides utilize the Lund Protrak system.  It's an integral groove extending around the edge of the boat which receives adjustable anchored fasteners to hold the boat cover which attach to the fasteners.  

A-Jay

[slonezp]

@A-Jay Don't see the trolling motor

 

Boat stays outside year round. Sun, rain, snow etc. Factory travel cover lasted from 2013 until recently. Was dry rotted in a couple areas and got torn up. Had a custom cover made that covers the trolling motor as the factory Lund cover did not. Cost about as much as the factory cover and comes with a 7 year warranty.

[Russ E]

Ranger added a free cover when I bought the boat. (not sure how free it was, considering the price of Rangers).

the boat is always in the garage when not on the water.

The only time I use the cover is when it as at Cabelas waiting to be serviced.

they let it sit outside until it gets serviced.

 

[A-Jay]

3 minutes ago, slonezp said:

@A-Jay Don't see the trolling motor

 

Boat stays outside year round. Sun, rain, snow etc. Factory travel cover lasted from 2013 until recently. Was dry rotted in a couple areas and got torn up. Had a custom cover made that covers the trolling motor as the factory Lund cover did not. Cost about as much as the factory cover and comes with a 7 year warranty.

 It's mounted on the quick slide bracket.

So it gets unplugged and placed on the deck in front of the seats.

A-Jay

[12poundbass]

Better question who doesn't use a cover? My boat is a POS for now but still cover it.

[Yakalong]

I keep my boat on a lift, during the summer I have an aftermarket cover. During the winter I put the factory snap caver on it. 

[gim]

I have a cover that came with my Ranger when I bought it in 2015.  As part of an inventory closeout special, the salesman threw in the cover (and a few other items) at no additional cost.  I don't use it much unless I'm travelling and the boat has to sit outside where I'm staying (like at a resort or hotel, etc).  The boat is in the garage otherwise so I don't use it at the house.  I would say that during a whole season, I probably use it maybe 4 times.

[tcbass]

2 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

Better question who doesn't use a cover? My boat is a POS for now but still cover it.

 

 

I don't. However, I keep my boat in a polebarn. I'd say the majority of boats I see at the landing don't have covers on them. 

[12poundbass]

15 minutes ago, tcbass said:

 

 

I don't. However, I keep my boat in a polebarn. I'd say the majority of boats I see at the landing don't have covers on them. 

I admit I was a little vague. If I had an inside area or no vinyl or gel coat I wouldn't have a cover. But if you have vinyl or gel coat and no inside storage a cover is a must if you want it to last any time at all. My apologies. 

[dwardmba]

This may sound cheap but it works. My dealer still had the white cover the boat was shipped with. I use it. The boat stays on a covered lift 9 to 10 months out of the year so the cover is mainly to keep spider poop off the boat and curious hands out.

 

Dave

[Scott F]

I never use a cover. My old Ranger has always been garage kept. I tried some inexpensive covers years ago but they did not fit well and got tore up the first time I travelled using them. 

[badgerboyng]

I've never owned a boat, but I was under the impression that people only use boat covers when they store their boats outside. I don't think I've ever seen a boat pull up to a launch with a cover on it. Why would someone cover their boat only for the ride to and back from the lake? I ask because in my mind why protect the boat from the sun during the 30min-2hr drive to the lake and then fish on the water with the boat exposed to the sun for 4-12hrs? Can someone explain their reasoning? 

[A-Jay]

11 minutes ago, badgerboyng said:

I've never owned a boat, but I was under the impression that people only use boat covers when they store their boats outside. I don't think I've ever seen a boat pull up to a launch with a cover on it. Why would someone cover their boat only for the ride to and back from the lake? I ask because in my mind why protect the boat from the sun during the 30min-2hr drive to the lake and then fish on the water with the boat exposed to the sun for 4-12hrs? Can someone explain their reasoning? 

 

For me, the cover goes on for long distance transit; regardless of the destination.

Specifically, I'm looking to keep the following off & out of my rig; big fat rain and all the road dust, grime & nasty grit that comes with it, Dust - long dry dirt & especially gravel roads are good for this,  swarms of mashed & partially pulverized insects of assorted sizes, colors & dimensions, and pretty much anything & everything else you can possibly think of that can & does end up in an uncover rig on the highways & by ways of America.

A-Jay

[badgerboyng]

12 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

For me, the cover goes on for long distance transit; regardless of the destination.

Specifically, I'm looking to keep the following off & out of my rig; big fat rain and all the road dust, grime & nasty grit that comes with it, Dust - long dry dirt & especially gravel roads are good for this,  swarms of mashed & partially pulverized insects of assorted sizes, colors & dimensions, and pretty much anything & everything else you can possibly think of that can & does end up in an uncover rig on the highways & by ways of America.

A-Jay

That makes sense. It's easier to put on the cover than to clean bug guts and dirt out of the interior. 

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, badgerboyng said:

That makes sense. It's easier to put on the cover than to clean bug guts and dirt out of the interior. 

 

Well next time you're driving in the rain, open all your window and let me know. 

A-Jay

[12poundbass]

27 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

For me, the cover goes on for long distance transit; regardless of the destination.

Specifically, I'm looking to keep the following off & out of my rig; big fat rain and all the road dust, grime & nasty grit that comes with it, Dust - long dry dirt & especially gravel roads are good for this,  swarms of mashed & partially pulverized insects of assorted sizes, colors & dimensions, and pretty much anything & everything else you can possibly think of that can & does end up in an uncover rig on the highways & by ways of America.

A-Jay

Hauling a boat in northern Michigan during the may fly hatch requires a boat cover. 

 

I remember as a kid walleye fishing Black lake, we'd always be up there when the may flies hatched (not by choice) and our boat would be one big may fly by the time we got back to the campground after a day of fishing.