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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Boat cover while in water - pics added 1/19/08

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/18/2008 : 13:53:03

Taking the idea from another on this forum, I purchased a powerboat cover on Ebay, had a 6" x 4" hole for the mast and a zipper to the edge on one side installed. What I ended up with is a new cover for a 20' powerboat, came in a Bass Pro box, complete with a set of straps, for about $25 after shipping. The canvas shop was another $50 plus tax. Total cost less than $80. Almost covers the forward hatch and most of the cockpit. I let the end drape onto the floor of the cockpit. Thanks for the suggestion!!

DavidP
1975 C-22 SK #5459 "Shadowfax" Fleet 52
PO of 1984 C-25 SK/TR #4142 "Recess"
Percy Priest Yacht Club, Hamilton Creek Marina, Nashville, TN

Edited by - dmpilc on 01/19/2008 22:59:17

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2008 : 14:01:39

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2008 : 14:41:14

David - That sounds exactly like something I'm considering - I'd like to upgrade from the white tarp I've been using...can you post a photo?

Edited by - jerlim on 01/18/2008 14:42:18

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2008 : 15:53:24

I haven't learned how to do pics yet. I do need to learn, so I'll try to this weekend. Visualize a skiboat cover that is laid out so about 5-6 feet of material is in front of the mast and the rest extending back to the cockpit. I did make one or two mistakes that I hope you can avoid, so here are the basics. Don't take measurements when you are in a hurry! You'll overlook something. On Ebay, I just typed in "boat covers" on the search line and browsed til I found something that looked good, length, color, material, price, etc. and bid on it. You may find a buy-it-now item that's attractive. The cover I bought was for a 20' ski/fishing boat and worked well, but one for a 18' boat should do well also. (The one I bought would work better if it was about 4" shorter side to side.) It should come with webbed rings to attach straps that would normally go under the boat while on a trailer. When you lay out the cover on your deck, be aware of where those points are and where you will want to secure the cover to the boat. Slide the cover forward or back til you have it where you want it. I just lucked out that they lined up fairly well with my stantions after the mast hole and zipper were added. I should have planned it that way. Use masking tape to mark where want the the mast opening to be. The material may not accept pen markings. A 4x6 oval gives a snug fit, but you may want different. Think about allowing for halyards led aft, etc. If you want to square off the pointed tip of the cover like I did, make sure you line up the sides first and then mark it with tape so you have at least 5' in front of the mast hole. I tried to tell the guy at the shop over the phone and did not communicate my intentions well. I wanted to have a squared off front about 12" wide. They heard 12" back from the point and cut off a little more material than I intended. Anyway, I don't have too much $ invested, so I can re-do it later if I feel like it. The cover easily stretches all the way across, stantion to stantion and covers almost all of the cockpit front to back. It easily covers both winches, too.
If you do the zipper and hole yourself, sew the closed zipper to the cover before you cut the cover. Also, they placed it so the zipper closes from the mast to the cover's edge and they lined it up parrallel to the cover's seams.

PICS ADDED BELOW!

Edited by - dmpilc on 01/19/2008 23:23:42

dave holtgrave
Captain

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USA
427 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2008 : 11:33:21

david p
sounds like a great idea.
can you convince someone to help you take photos??

it seems you may be on to something very useful for lots of us.

thanks
dave holtgrave
5722 sk/tr

hard and dry near carlyle lake
in southern illinois

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3463 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2008 : 17:01:40

PO had a custom cover made up by a local sailmaker. It's made of something heavier than sunbrella material. If inches of snow are predicted, then I put the cover on. Sometimes, I am back down at the boat the day after and brushing the snow off the cover. Then that day or the next, I'll take the cover off and go sailing.

Edited by - OLarryR on 01/20/2008 08:45:54

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2008 : 22:41:56

Here are the pics. Learned how to do it last night. I'm not finished adjusting it yet, especially for high wind and rain, but you get the idea. As you can see, they cut off too much of the front of the cover. It was supposed to cover the forward hatch completely.

Edited by - dmpilc on 01/19/2008 23:26:15

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2008 : 00:19:45

Larry - Do you happen to have the name of the sailmaker that made your cover? I'd like get a quote to have one made like yours.

David - Do you the Item or Model # off the box that your cover came in?

GaryB
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3463 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2008 : 08:34:41

Gary,

By the way, I edited my comment regarding the cover material. It is a heavier material than Sunbrella. It is like a canvas material/heavy tarp type...I don't know what you call it but it's a heavier grade material.

Recalling the side label on it...it is made by Potomac Sailmakers out of Alexandria, VA. I now have had the boat for over 2 years and the PO indicated he had the cover made up about a year or two earlier. So...that is going back...to maybe 2004 or thereabouts. The boat used to be called "Miss Q" if that is any help. It was quite expensive...previous owner indicated it cost something like $600...or was that $900 ? It is a rugged cover in very good shape - fairly easy to set up and take down using plastic hooks and and custom placed twist snaps. I fold it up and store it in the garage in a 33 gallon plastic trash can and know where it is when the time comes to break it out again. It just fits in.

By the way...this season...it made it into my trunk - brought it to work. I was ready to install it that afternoon but I took a chance on the weather...and only 1-2" snow which cleared easily...so I did not have to use the cover this season yet. That was just this week with the 1-2" snow...and I was out sailing the next day.

Edited by - OLarryR on 01/20/2008 08:39:20

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2008 : 08:41:14

Larry $600 / $60+ per new tarp < 10 tarps. Been there already so the cover looks to be good value.

I'll be looking for that kind of material at the Nautical flea market that's due here soon.

Paul

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2008 : 11:12:18

What's that white stuff on Robin's Nest cover and decks??? Do you have a big problem with birds?

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2008 : 12:32:20

GaryB, About half of the label on the box was torn off. I'm sure the cover was a return item. It may not even go with that box. The label did say for a Tracker or Nitro boat, both of which are Bass Pro brands of powerboat. Also, I'll say again that for my purposes a cover for an 18' boat would probably work better than the 20' I bought. Also, I just browsed Ebay for boat covers, found something that interested me, and bid on it.

Larry, Your cover on Robin's Nest is really very nice! I just didn't want to spend that much $ and I wanted something easy to work with to leave on the boat all the time.

My cost was under $80 and if it lasts 3 years or more, I'll be happy.

Edited by - on

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