PVC

[skillet]

Anyone out there ever made a frame with PVC for your boat cover. This would be to hold it up to shed water and such better. If so, what size did you use...

skillet

[Wayne P.]

I used a size that fits over my seat pedistals. Two of those (one for each pedistals-short ) and then a longer one in the middle to keep the length between the pedistals from sagging and just sits on the floor. I did not glue the parts together so I could store it easily. I'm not home to check the size, but is approximately 2 1/2"

[tntitans21399]

I actually did. How my boat is designed, the front and back fishing spots the seat drop in place and when they aren't used they going their certain spot at the back of the boat.

I made one with light 0.5 inch and that was way to small. I ended up going with about 2inch (or 3inch) round PVC pipe. Once the cover is on and you pull it tight you need the thicker PVC to keep it up and not break or sag bad. My cover is trailerable so it needed to be strong enough for any wind. But what I did is get a PVC pipe long enough to go from the front fishing spot to the back. At the ends I put a 90 degree angle and that goes over the fishing post which will keep the PVC from moving. I also cut the PVC right in the middle and I put a adapter to connect the two PVC side. That way when I'm at the lake I can pull the PVC pipe apart and the lengths are short enough that I can put it in the bed of my truck. I only have a 4 foot bed. Then I just close the bed cover and you have a place to store them while you are at the lake. I have a 16 foot fishing boot, so my PVC pipe maybe about 8-9 ft long (guessing). I had fishing post (attached picture) of the type of post my fishing seat go into, so if you don't have anything like this you can just think of different ways. But my PVC pipe cover pole takes about 10-15 seconds to put in place.

I also have four rod holders that swivel and I aim them up so when the cover does on it helps make the cover tighter and no place near the side for water to sit or start pulling the cover down.

I don't have a picture of the setup I have but I plan on going to the lake Monday (weather permitting) and I can take a pic if you like to give you a idea.

PVC is very cheap so I would look at the 2inch or so width especially the longer you have to make the pipe because it will want to sag in the middle. You could get a smaller piece and have a piece connect in the middle to keep it up, but that is more parts to fall apart and put together while the thicker you can just use less and make it easier and quicker.

[skillet]

Thanks for the input my friends ! I hadn't thought of using the pedistals  :-[DUUH. I was actually thinking of making a frame like a tent. Two pieces running from bow to stern on the sides and one over the top from bow to stern. Leave it to me to complicate something beyond belief ...

skillet