To Cover or not to Cover?

D

Dart

New member
I'm a proud new owner of a beautiful 2006 19 Angler. I've been a kayak fisherman until now, so it's a big step up for me and there's a lot I don't know. I'm outfitting the boat and have to pick and choose what to spend money on. My question is about covers. I will be keeping it in a slip in Santa Cruz, California. Not as sunny as Southern California, not as wet as the Pacific Northwest. Should I get a cover?

I've been studying the boats moored in our harbor. Not one of them has a full cover. Some have tarps thrown over parts of them. The only ones with full covers are on trailers in the storage lot. So... are covers even important? Is there something about being in a harbor that makes covers less important? And if I don't get one, will my boat age much faster?

Thanks! C-brats is a big part of why I chose a C-dory.
 
In my opinion you need:
1. a drop down canvas with a roll up 'door'
2. a mooring cover (angled canvas from top of cabin rear slanting down to cover the entire cockpit)
3. window coverings which snap on from inside the cabin

A full cover is used primarily when the boat is stored on the trailer for a relatively long period, like over the winter.

Welcome to the C-Brats and congratulation on your 19 footer.
 
The storage cover I got for our 22 C-Dory was probably the best money I spent on the boat. Our boat was stored on the trailer in our driveway, but there is no reason you cant use it even for wet storage.
 
Dart,

My 2 cents worth. Since you're keeping the boat in the water, Like Marty said, a slant back cockpit cover and curtains to keep sun out of the cabin will be your best bet. Putting a full cover on a boat in the water isn't going to be fun.
 
Dart,

You said/asked:
"I've been studying the boats moored in our harbor. Not one of them has a full cover. Some have tarps thrown over parts of them. The only ones with full covers are on trailers in the storage lot. So... are covers even important? Is there something about being in a harbor that makes covers less important? And if I don't get one, will my boat age much faster? "
Click to expand...

One of the most destructive forces working on your boat over its life time is the UV radiation degradation of the gel-coat surface. Anything that can be done to decrease that exposure is good for the boat. I'm a firm believer in weather protection for my boats. (I need to disclose here that I do not own any aluminum boats. I think they are the exception here.) That said. Marty is right. I'd go for a full cover first, next in order, a mooring cover that covers the cockpit and the splashwell and outboard covers or included. Then the window covers to protect the inside.

The moorage cover will help keep water from accumulating in the cockpit, which could be fatal to your boat. It is most effective if it covers the splashwell too, for the same reason. If I were doing it again, I would get separate covers for the outboards. They will look better longer.

A good cover is an investment in your boats value over it's lifetime.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

IMGP6319.thumb.jpg
 
The Best Solutions (IMHO):

Dry Storage on the trailer in a building such as a garage, barn, RV Shed, warehouse, aircraft hanger, etc.

DRY Storage in a stacked marine storage facility/building. (Forklift serviced.)

Slip in a covered marina on the water.

A floating boat shed on the water. (Common in the PNW.)

All these are preferable to open storage exposed to the elements on the water or on land uncovered.

Not trying to be argumentative, just saying these will cut down your UV, heat, oxidation, water, and weather damage by 80 to 95+% over outdoor uncovered storage.

Those above with the boat in the water will still expose the hull sides and bottom to considerable wear, of course, along with the motors, underwater appendages, bottom paint, etc.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Joe brings up a good point, the bottom. If you are storing on the water then bottom paint is not an option, it is a must. The option then becomes which paint, not if.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

0_CD_Cover_SlpyC_with_Classics_MBSP_2009_288.thumb.jpg
 
Dart":3e0xdyay said:
I'm a proud new owner of a beautiful 2006 19 Angler. I've been a kayak fisherman until now, so it's a big step up for me and there's a lot I don't know. I'm outfitting the boat and have to pick and choose what to spend money on. My question is about covers. I will be keeping it in a slip in Santa Cruz, California. Not as sunny as Southern California, not as wet as the Pacific Northwest. Should I get a cover?

I've been studying the boats moored in our harbor. Not one of them has a full cover. Some have tarps thrown over parts of them. The only ones with full covers are on trailers in the storage lot. So... are covers even important? Is there something about being in a harbor that makes covers less important? And if I don't get one, will my boat age much faster?

Congrats on the new boat! Lets see some pics...

Thanks! C-brats is a big part of why I chose a C-dory.
Click to expand...
 
Dart,

UV and weathering demand protection, be it a cover or storage off the water. The cost of the latter will be returned in lower maintenance costs, quicker startup when boating season returns, greater resale value.

In your area, UV is the biggest factor; in the wet zone, likely weathering.

If you opt for a fabric or plastic cover, establish standoffs to keep the cover off direct contact with the hull and cabin. Ventilation is your friend in the fight against mold and slime. Note that UV damage to the cover can destroy a cover annually. Choose wisely and ask for a UV guarantee when you purchase.
 
This is related info. I have a 19 that's coming up on 10 years old! I have always stored on trailer, sometimes with a full cover ( King Marine Canvas Seattle). I always have had my drop curtain on. After 10 years the drop curtain has given out, windows torn, zippers out. So, I have King Marine making a new one as we speak. I probably will patch up the old one and use it during storage and only use the new one when out boating. Part of the problem was the Kent factory shoddily installed the drop curtain with stresses on the zipper and snaps.

I think if you are storing boat on water for extended periods, probably a good idea to remove the interior and store it away from the water.
 
One thing to consider in all of this: There are varying ideas of what is important about a boat. On one end of the spectrum are folks who store indoors, probably still keep a sheet over the boat (dust!), and like to see the gelcoat shine like new. Sure, it's a little more work to get the boat out, tow to the water, launch, use it, wash/wax, and return to storage, but the boat looks fantastic, and they're happy.

On the other end, are folks who USE the boat as their primary function, and aren't very concerned with the aesthetics ("it's a boat for Pete's sake!"). Keep it in the water, don't worry so much about cosmetics (although keep mechanicals up), and use it hard. Scrapes and fading are just part of the experience and each one is a memory.

And of course most folks fall somewhere in the middle. Or, like me, it varies from boat to boat. When I was living on a cruising/sailboat, often in the tropics, keeping the gelcoat perfect was not only impossible - it wasn't even on my radar. Cover? Fat chance. Indoor storage? Not practical or affordable. Boat was in the sun 24/7. Had many happy miles and years that way. But now that I have a trailerable, one of the fun things to me is that I CAN keep it looking pretty and shiny. So yup, indoor storage when I'm not using it. A full cover just in case it sits outside on the trailer at some point. And a wash/wax every time I pull out after a trip. It's fun for a change. Who knows, maybe I'll shift groups at some point (say I take a year and do the Great Loop, I'm not going to be covering the boat every night!)

So I think part of the answer is: Where do you fit on this "scale"? You'll be keeping the boat in the water (presumably in an open slip or on a mooring), so how much do you want to fuss with cover(s)? If it's windy, might they chafe? Will Sea Lions use them for a hammock? I don't know about you and your local area. I'd probably go for a slant back cockpit cover at a minimum. Good protection in relation to hassle factor. (And does the 19 have an open or closed rear cabin bulkhead? If open, then a canvas "door" too.)
 
Mine is in the water, open like summer. It does fine, even after a snowstorm. I go shovel her out and she's good to go. It's incredible how much weight these boats can float. I've never even had the water come up to my splashwell drain. But I can see my boat from most rooms in my house, so I know when I need to get down there, and I have walked down in the middle of a longer snowstorm to clear off the boat once or twice.
 
One problem with a full cover, is the securing of the cover (with winds, as you have in Santa Cruz)--Generally they are put on with sand bags, or snaps under the railing. On a trailer, you can put straps under the trailer, or to the trailer to secure the cover.

I have had several boats in the water about this size in S. Calif. , with full covers. It helps if you have a full slip, and can walk around the boat--a draw string, to tighten the cover, and some way to make it secure.

The cover does protect the boat, and will make the times between waxing perhaps less. A good wax job is essential.

Generally a boat kept in the water will have slightly less value than one which has been trailer kept. I agree with bottom paint, and I would also put a barrier coat of proper epoxy on before the bottom paint if not already done. (Sort of too late if you have already painted it--you can sand off the bottom paint, but that gets to be a chore--and you will loose some gel coat. Never sand blast a boat to get the bottom paint off--A good soda blaster can remove it. But in Calif. It probably is not allowed.
 
Thanks for all the fantastic advice. So I now know I will cover it. And that the idea of covering isn't overkill, despite what I observe in our harbor here. I know I'll feel better every day knowing it is protected. It's just a question of how much of it I will cover at a reasonable cost. I've seen all the other posts on various cover companies, so I'll follow up there. I appreciate the help.
 
Dart":21sbzve3 said:
Thanks for all the fantastic advice. So I now know I will cover it. And that the idea of covering isn't overkill, despite what I observe in our harbor here. I know I'll feel better every day knowing it is protected. It's just a question of how much of it I will cover at a reasonable cost. I've seen all the other posts on various cover companies, so I'll follow up there. I appreciate the help.
Click to expand...
If your someone close to you can do strraight stitching, it is pretty easy to do up a simple cover. If you make one of Sunbrella and treat it right, it will last a long time. Once you have priced out what the commercially made covers cost, you might want to check one of the sources in this list to compare that number with what the raw materials cost. Sunbrella sews well on a decent home sewing machine.
Patterning can be done using blue tarp and double sticky tape if you want.

And the project will also save you money on the bar bill. :wink: :lol:
 
You're lucky in being in a place with more fiberglass expertise than nearly any port in the country. To find out how local conditions treat your boat, go to the harbor on a Wednesday night, find the beer can racers' barbecue and ask Bill Lee, Dennis Bassano, Alan Wirtanen - designer, builders, racers of Santa Cruz 70s, 50s, Moore 24s, et al. and ask them. Have a beer. Enjoy the humor. They're good guys all.

I'd probably cover the cockpit & motor well and as Sleepy C suggests, put separate covers on the motors, all made of Sunbrella in your choice of color. The beer can racers can point you to a good canvas shop. I'd have Sunbrella curtains with snaps made for inside covering all the windows and a black Velcro-rimmed cover for under the forehatch - good for sleeping in brightly lit marinas too.
 
Sunbeam":1zjzv62j said:
One thing to consider in all of this: There are varying ideas of what is important about a boat. On one end of the spectrum are folks who store indoors, probably still keep a sheet over the boat (dust!), and like to see the gelcoat shine like new. Sure, it's a little more work to get the boat out, tow to the water, launch, use it, wash/wax, and return to storage, but the boat looks fantastic, and they're happy.

On the other end, are folks who USE the boat as their primary function, and aren't very concerned with the aesthetics ("it's a boat for Pete's sake!"). Keep it in the water, don't worry so much about cosmetics (although keep mechanicals up), and use it hard. Scrapes and fading are just part of the experience and each one is a memory.

And of course most folks fall somewhere in the middle. Or, like me, it varies from boat to boat. When I was living on a cruising/sailboat, often in the tropics, keeping the gelcoat perfect was not only impossible - it wasn't even on my radar. Cover? Fat chance. Indoor storage? Not practical or affordable. Boat was in the sun 24/7. Had many happy miles and years that way. But now that I have a trailerable, one of the fun things to me is that I CAN keep it looking pretty and shiny. So yup, indoor storage when I'm not using it. A full cover just in case it sits outside on the trailer at some point. And a wash/wax every time I pull out after a trip. It's fun for a change. Who knows, maybe I'll shift groups at some point (say I take a year and do the Great Loop, I'm not going to be covering the boat every night!)

So I think part of the answer is: Where do you fit on this "scale"? You'll be keeping the boat in the water (presumably in an open slip or on a mooring), so how much do you want to fuss with cover(s)? If it's windy, might they chafe? Will Sea Lions use them for a hammock? I don't know about you and your local area. I'd probably go for a slant back cockpit cover at a minimum. Good protection in relation to hassle factor. (And does the 19 have an open or closed rear cabin bulkhead? If open, then a canvas "door" too.)
Click to expand...

This may be the most reasonable post I've ever read here, and that's saying a lot! I definitely fall on the "don't care about aesthetics" end of the spectrum. I am stunned (and jealous) by how spotless some boats are...I don't think they've ever seen a crab pot or a fish! However, even I have a cockpit cover. I thinks it's the single best investment I've made in my boat other than regular and meticulous engine maintenance.
 
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