Boat cover or tarp?

[jbmaine]

Hi all,

I don't trailer my boat covered, but when it's sitting in my yard I like to cover it to keep out rain, pine needles, bird poop etc. It seems you could buy several good tarps for the price of a cover, yet most people seem to have covers. I was wondering what your thoughts are on the advantages, disadvantages of each, just for when the boat is sitting.

                                                           Thanks

                                                                       Jim

[senile1]

Here's a list of pros/cons of a cover versus a tarp, which is by no means exhaustive but it is a start.

 

• Pros

1. Should be more waterproof than a tarp
2. Fits the boat better so the wind can't get under it as easily and rip or pull on it
3. Better fit results in less dust and pine needles getting under the cover and on the boat
4. Custom fit cover performs all of the above and can also be trailered

 

• Cons

1. More expensive
2. Costlier to replace

 

 

[J Francho]

A tarp adds to that Sanford & Son nuance.  Get a fitted cover, even if it's a generic one.

[flyfisher]

I used to use a tarp to cover up my kayak which is stored on a trailer for the same reasons you mentioned.  I got a fitted cover and it is way easier to put on and does a better job keeping the rain and stuff out as well.  And as a bonus, i could trailer with it on if i so desired.

 

So yeah, spring for the cover

[JustJames]

For those of you who use cover, what type of UV and water repellent spray, you guy use?

I used to use tarp but got a letter from HOA to use fitted cover instead of loose tarp otherwise I would get some ticket (suck to live under HOA, huh?).

 

I like fitted cover better, easier and faster to cover the boat, but fabric is pretty thin and might not last a full season. My old one lost water repellent within first season and fabric started to tear with strong wind right after.

[Further North]

Go with a cover.

 

Generic is OK

 

Fitted is better

 

Custom made for you boat is the best.

 

...for short local trips (call it 90 minutes or so) I don't usually use the cover, but if I'm going to be towing on dirt roads there's no way I'd not use a cover.  Dirt will get in everything, including your reels.  Bad Juju.

[jbmaine]

Thanks for the input everyone.

My situation is I only trailer my boat for an hour max and don't see the need for a travel cover. I am hoping within a year or so to move to a house with a garage to keep the boat in, so spending big $$$ for a custom cover is probably not needed. That being said if I could find a reasonable $$ cover that fit my boat I would go for it. However my boat ( Lund Fury XL Sport) seems to be an odd size.

 I had a cover on my last boat from Empire covers and really liked it. But when I called about a cover for my new boat I found they don't have a cover to fit it ( I gave them measurements on my boat ). Apparently the windshield is the problem. I measured from rub rail to rub rail across the top of the windshield and came up with 150". The closest cover they made for a windshield that size was for a 20 ft boat. Mines 16 ft.

 I thought a cover for A Lund Rebel XS Sport might fit, ( they make one for that ) but was told the windshield on that was only 108".

All this makes me wonder if a tarp is the way to go. If I spend $$ on a bad fitting cover am I really any better off than just using a tarp.

 As A reference, If I could find A good fitting cover from Empire, I could get it for around $ 200 or less, I really don't want to spend any more than that.

                                    Thanks

                                           Jim

[TOXIC]

You get what you pay for in a cover.  You can save some cost by not getting a trailerable cover.  Call Aurora Canvass or Dean's Canvass.  They make covers for most all manufacturers.  I have a cover for my Ranger but I do not trailer with it.  I will put it on in the Hotel parking lot.

[NHBull]

A non-trailerable cover will cost about 300.00

Heck, Overtons has 20% off several times a yr.

Use 303 Fabric Guard

[3dees]

I have always used a custom cover even though I never tow with one. what are you going to do with a tarp if you are at a motel? thieves will target a coverless boat before a covered one. a tarp would be easy to climb under. I can't se spending thousands on a boat, electronics, tm, etc. and cheap out on a good cover. if it's just a john boat with nothing in it, then a tarp would be ok.

[J Francho]

Bass Pro shops have storage covers for $75. Seems like a no brained to me. 

[Vilas15]

I got a Cabelas RSS cover on sale for around $150 I think. They have different ones for bass boat vs deep V  so you choose the right type and then by length/beam. It fits a Lund 1650 rebel well enough. It's mainly used for storage inside or if we don't want to push the boat inside for rain overnight. I wouldn't trailer it because its got a lot of straps that attach to the trailer and wouldn't do too well at high speeds in my opinion. It would work for storage outside if you prop it up so that water doesn't sit.

 

We traveled a mile on a sandy/snowy road to a lake last April and had to vaccuum out a couple pounds of sand over the last year so if we ever go back we'll bring the cover for rainy days or wet sand roads.

[jbmaine]

38 minutes ago, Vilas15 said:

I got a Cabelas RSS cover on sale for around $150 I think. They have different ones for bass boat vs deep V  so you choose the right type and then by length/beam. It fits a Lund 1650 rebel well enough. It's mainly used for storage inside or if we don't want to push the boat inside for rain overnight. I wouldn't trailer it because its got a lot of straps that attach to the trailer and wouldn't do too well at high speeds in my opinion. It would work for storage outside if you prop it up so that water doesn't sit.

 

We traveled a mile on a sandy/snowy road to a lake last April and had to vaccuum out a couple pounds of sand over the last year so if we ever go back we'll bring the cover for rainy days or wet sand roads.

Thanks, Is your Rebel the sport, with the full windshield?

[Vilas15]

2 hours ago, jbmaine said:

Thanks, Is your Rebel the sport, with the full windshield?

No its a side console with single windshield. Youd have to look at the different cover descriptions because they may specify whether they fit full windshield or not.

[sully420]

Go with the cover dont be that guy with a ragged tarp. Its a boat not firewood.

[jbmaine]

57 minutes ago, sully420 said:

Go with the cover dont be that guy with a ragged tarp. Its a boat not firewood.

As I said earlier, if I could find a reasonably priced cover that would fit, I would go for it, but the dimensions on my boat seems hard to find a cover for. A poor fitting cover would let rain water, pine needles etc. in which is what I am trying to avoid in the first place. 

                                                     Thanks

                                                                Jim

[jbmaine]

Just an update-- I finally found a cover to fit my boat. Ordered it this P.M.

              Thanks again for all the input everyone.

                                             Jim

[scaleface]

On 4/18/2018 at 4:13 PM, jbmaine said:

Just an update-- I finally found a cover to fit my boat. Ordered it this P.M.

              Thanks again for all the input everyone.

                                             Jim

Where   did you get the cover ?  I need one for a Lowe 2220 LS   for    traveling .

[jbmaine]

Sorry, I should have updated this post.

 To date I have tried two covers from two different companies, neither came close to fitting. I sent them both back and just cover my boat with a tarp when it's in the yard.

[DINK WHISPERER]

I do both! My factory Procraft cover first then a heavy duty 12mil tarp over that. Nice, dry and clean next time I use her. 

[Slade House]

Walmart boat cover 39.99, works great , seriously , i spent way too long researching this

[rejesterd]

I just installed snap studs on my boat and got a generic cover from Walmart that fits my size/type of boat.  Then I just installed the snap fasteners and 2 vents with poles to hold them up.  Works great.