Boat cover/Protection during transit

Crtunez

Hello! I have 2 sets of questions for you all:

1. Boat covers for a 23 Venture
I'm getting my 23 next week and will be needing a cover, as my boat will be exposed to the elements at all times. As this is the case...

a. is there a specific cover you would recommend?
b. what is a good price for a good cover?
c. are there things I should avoid? (Certain materials, strap types, etc.)

2. Appropriate cover during transit
This bad boy is being transported across the country. The transporter is currently leaning towards plastic wrapping the boat. He said he wouldn't be able to secure a cover tightly enough because of the rocket launchers and Garmin above the Pilot House, which would cause the cover to flap and damage the gel coat. So, here are my questions:

a. Do you think a good boat cover world work to protect the body during transit?
b. What is your opinion on transporting it long distances without a cover?

Thank you in advance for your help!

ssobol

thataway · Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 9:10 pm Post subject:

Most of us trailer with no covers. A cloth cover does not usually fair well on a road trip. I had one boat which was commercially shipped from the Great Lakes in the winter to Pensacola. The driver had to repair the shrink wrap.

I know that. you don't have the option of a good wax job before trailering, but I feel that is advisable.

Some of the boats had an external Sunbrella windshield covers which shaped on the outside.

Agree with ssobol on Angola Canvas. They probably do not have a 23 pattern, and the differences are significant so that I would not adopt a cover.

I would find a quality canvas shop in your vicinity. It will not be cheap. I would use Sunbrella with Tenara thread. This is UV resistant--it costs more, but you will avoid having to re-stitch the cover in 6 to 7 years.

Crtunez · Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2021 2:59 am Post subject:

Great info, thanks guys. As it turns out, the current owner did just give it a wax. So, that's a plus. The cost to wrap it would be $414. Based on everything in hearing, I'm going to save the money and skip it. If anyone is aware of a good place in south Florida, please advise.

hardee · Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2021 6:56 pm Post subject:

I would do something to cover the front windows at least. That plastic corrugated (like Cardbaord), or something. Those windows are expensive to replace, and this season may be boating season for some of us, but it is also road construction season for at least half of every road in the country I think.

Totally agree, a storage cover is not a transport cover. Most commercial boat haulers shrink wrap for the haul. I just did a half cross country trip. I saw 2 boats that were bare hulled and probably 15 to 20 trucks all with shrink wrapped boats on the load.

I would think that the shrink wrap could be done up to, but not include, the radar arch and rocket launchers.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

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ssobol · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2021 2:10 am Post subject:

ATPNW · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2021 2:53 pm Post subject:

For what its worth, I think C-Dory ships new boats from HQ to dealers in shrink wrap. Never know what road conditions one might encounter when traveling cross country.

As for the cover. I am giving this a shot first:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KG13M4E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Angola's look really nice but last i heard they were near $1k.

ssobol · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2021 7:00 pm Post subject:

ATPNW · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2021 9:14 pm Post subject:

hardee · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2021 11:00 pm Post subject:

Might be interesting to hear the thoughts on that from NMI. I kind of doubt that truck load was just going to Master Marine, but maybe. . . ?

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

SeaSpray · Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2021 2:45 am Post subject:

ATPNW, I have one of the Budge covers, have had an Angola cover, and a local custom cover.

The Budge cover is okay. It's heavier and not as nice as a Sunbrella cover but the price is much less. Mine is 2 1/2 years old, and still in one piece. I do get a dust that seems to come off the surface when I take it off. I think it is from sun damage to the material. I'm not sure if it is a waterproof as it was when new, and it does not breath as well, but it is dry here.

I think I looked at the price vs service between the Angola and Budge and if I replace it every 2 1/2 years it comes out about the same.
When I finally gave up on the Angola it had pin holes and stitching was starting to come out.

Let me know how it works out.

Steve

ssobol · Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2021 11:52 am Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2021 1:20 pm Post subject:

To add to ssobol's excellent suggestion:

Each year, I wash any Sunbrella with laundry detergent and a cup of bleach in the washing machine, or make up a solution of detergent and bleach in a couple gallons of warm water, and lay the material out, to scrub it with a brush.

After drying it out of doors, I then spray Marine 303 Fabric Guard to fully wet out the material, and let it dry before putting this back on the boat. I buy the 303 marine fabric guard in gallon containers. (I see that the price has almost doubled in the last several years!).

One should be able to get close to 10 years out of the cover doing this.