How To Make A Boat Cover
by Ian ForteyUpdated on August 27, 2020.
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You should never underestimate the importance of a boat cover. A good boat cover will protect your boat from dirt and debris. Not to mention wear and tear from the sun and the rain. And of course it can protect from dings and scrapes as well. Not every cover needs to be a custom boat cover.
The problem is that many boats are oddly sized and shaped. Theres no real quality boat cover you can buy on the cheap to cover your boat. There are generic box covers you can buy at stores like Walmart. Walmart boat covers are not very high-quality, however. If you want a boat cover built to last, its not the best place to go. The boat covers Walmart offers are cheap for a reason.
If you head to a canvas shop to get one made for you, the price could cause you to do a double-take. On the low end of the scale you can expect to pay about $60 an hour for custom canvas boat covers. Its also going to take about 9 hours worth of work at the minimum. Thats a $540 custom boat cover. At the high end of the scale you could be looking at over $1,300 for a mooring cover for a 24 foot Ski boat.
Towers Fly Bridges Masts
Then you gotta think about all the stuff on top of your boat. It only makes sense that a boat with a T-top will need extra material and work to get wrapped up, compared to a speedboat that has everything non-aerodynamic ‘shaved off’.
The same goes for a mast. Although you won’t be shrink-wrapping the whole thing from the bottom all the way to the mast top, the wrap has to go around the mast bottom and that is more work than if the mast was not there. If you take your mast down, you don’t have to worry about a price increase, but if you leave it up, add around 2 or 3 dollars extra per foot.
Average Boat Trailer Prices: 7 Common Types
Having a boat is fun, but you need something to haul it to the water. For that, a durable boat trailer is your best bet. However, many new boat owners have no clue about the cost of boat trailers.
We have researched this topic and show everything you need to know about the pricing of boat trailers and more.
What is the average cost of new boat trailers?Depending on the size, type, and make, the average price of a new boat trailer is starting at $600 to over $8,000. The price of a boat trailer depends on its gross weight carrying capacity, material, design, and size among others.
Heres everything you need to know in order to get the best deal on a boat trailer.
Now, there are different trailers for various hull designs and weight specifications. In most cases, people buy the trailer along with their boat.
But over time, you may want something more durable or buy a bigger boat and need another trailer for easy transportation of the boat.
In that case, it helps to know the typical cost of a new boat trailer and the different types on the market.
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How To Reupholster A Boat Seat In Simple Steps
ReupholsteringVinyl Boat Seats can be easily done by yourself, instead of going to professionals. It doesnt take much effort or time but you can save some bucks if you choose to do it yourself. However, if you dont feel comfortable doing it yourself then you can always go to the professionals.
List of equipment you need to reupholster boat seats.
- Screwdriver.
- A Staple-gun Recommended: Porter-Cable Upholstery Stapler
- Needle and Thread
Step 1: Use a screwdriver to take out the screws from the seat so that you can unfasten the seat and save the screws to use them later.
Step 2: Remove the staples from the fabric to remove the fabric from the seat.
Step 3: Use a knife to strip out the stitches from the cloth so that you can lay the fabric out flat.
Step 4: Measure the old fabric so that you know how much fabric you need to buy for the reupholstering. Measure the length, width, and thickness of the fabric and add an extra inch so that you do not run short of the fabric while stitching the fabric together.
Step 5: Use a marker or a pencil to trace out the design of the new fabric from the old one. The new fabric should be traced out exactly as the old one as we need to place the new fabric on the boat seat as old one.
Step 6: Use scissors to make the necessary cuts in the fabric for stitching.
Step 8: Use a screwdriver and the screws to reattach the seat in place.
Tools You Need for it:
Best Boat Upholstery Kits For Your Boat
Boat Upholstery kits for carpets is a set which you can use and replace easily. The multiple carpets you get are easily washable. They are resistant to moisture, mildew, fire, ravel and other external elements. The yarns need to be highly flexible and stress resistant. Boat Upholstery carpets with rubber and metal mesh backing can be used for many years without developing blisters and breaks. Aluminum meshes are preferred as they are rustproof in nature. Installing metal screws at the corners of the carpets can ensure slip-free surface. You can also search online for the other types of Boat Upholstery to suit your beautiful yacht. Removable carpets are recommended for easy and faster cleaning and maintenance. There are many quality boat seat upholstery materials
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How Long Will A Sunbrella Boat Cover Last
The Sunbrella fabric I use normally lasts 4-5 years. The SeaMark or vinyl-coated Sunbrella material lasts about 3 years. My first experience with flocked Sunbrella from Glen Raven Mills is yet to come. 303 High Tech Fabric Guard can be applied to extend Sunbrella fabric’s life by regularly cleaning and recoating.
Just How Much Does Boat Upholstery Repair Work Cost
The price of reupholstering boat seats will depend on the material/fabric being utilized, the number of seats, where you live, and the company or professional employed for the task. In general, the cost per seat cushion is typically around $100 to $300+. Most companies will have a minimum hourly cost, which typically starts at $55 hourly and can reach $150 or more. You can check out the list below to see what these jobs might cost you.
The rate increases as the workload of the task need more than just changing a set cover. On an online forum thread, for example, an online forum member stated an upholstery task that consisted of 2 bolsters, a leaning post seat, seatback, and the 2 small back cushions can cost $1,000 to $2,000.
An online forum member on iBoats.com stated he was just returning from the upholsterer and was charged $1,100 for four-seat bottoms, the sun deck, and the bench back.
Another family-owned boat upholstery service, for example, uses a price quote for layback seat panels that keep the same seat frames, foam, and hardware at $290 each. A sample upholstery task for layback seats, complete with brand-new frames , is priced at $345 each, according to the businesss site.
Part of the Boat and its Average Cost
So how much would it cost to reupholster a 20-foot boat for example? Its pretty complicated to say. It all comes down to the individual pieces that need reupholstering, the level of degradation, and the professionals you choose to work with.
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Carver Universal Fit Flex
In addition to semi-custom and custom boat covers by Taylor Made Products, West Marine now offers Carver Universal Fit Flex-Fit PRO Boat Covers. These economically-priced boat covers are an excellent choice for mooring, trailering, or storage. They are made of Carver’s solution-dyed, Poly-Flex II, 5.3-ounce material with a 3/4-ounce urethane coating. These covers also feature a durable, water-repellent, mildew-resistant finish. Carver’s Flex-Fit Pro Covers are the only domestically-produced universal boat covers cut and sewn in the USA.
How Do You Fly Fish With A Drift Boat
Fly fishing froma drift boat can be a bit of a challenge if you havent done it before. In mostcases youll need to have at least two people in the drift boat. Its best torotate between who is fishing and who is navigating the boat, its pretty muchimpossible to fish in a drift boat by yourself.
Youll also needto adjust the way that you cast and anticipate cast as you drift down theriver. Orvis has put together some helpful tips on how to fly fish from a driftboat. You can check out their article here.
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Boat Ownership Costs And Budgeting
How much does it cost to run a boat? Find out with the boats.com guide to budgeting for boat owners.
The costs of owning any craft are an important consideration when you are looking at buying a boat. Theres no escaping that boat ownership can be expensive, but if you count all the nights on board, days out and holidays afloat, it can still compare very favourably with alternatives.An oft-quoted figure is that you should budget for a certain percentage usually around 20 per cent of the value of the boat to cover annual costs. On face value can make sense the most expensive boats are likely to be kept in the most expensive marinas, while lower-priced craft will gravitate towards progressively cheaper moorings.However, a number of factors have changed to make this rule of thumb one that can easily mislead potential owners. The biggest of this is a sharp decline in the value of many second-hand boats over the past decade. Of course, in many ways this is a welcome development for boat buyers, but it also means annual running costs could be a much higher proportion of the boats market value.
Periodic haul out and boatyard fees are unavoidable, but careful planning can minimise these.
Best Upholstered Boat Seats To Buy In 2018
Although you can take care of your boat pretty well by making good efforts to keep the hull clean and keeping the surface of the boat protected from the sun and other things. But the most important and difficult part in making your boat look beautiful is maintaining the look of your boat seats. The grace of your boat seats upholstery might wear off with time and they might start looking dull as they go through a lot of harsh use. You can improve the looks of your boat by either putting in new seat covers or having the old seats reupholstered or by adding benches or either by purchasing new seats for your boat. These things might not be as easy as they sound and you might have to put in a lot of effort for each one but you can improve the beauty of your boat and have a sophisticated looking boat by doing all of this.
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Why You Need To Make A Boat Cover
A boat cover is more than just an accessory. Its a way of protecting your investment. Considering how much money a boat costs, you should want to do whatever you can to keep it in the best shape possible. When properly fitted, a boat cover does just that. Not every boater is convinced a boat cover is necessary. But take a look at exactly what a good quality boat cover can do.
- Protects against dust, dirt, and debris
- Prevents fading and damage from the suns harmful rays
- Keeps water and moisture away from your boat
- Prevents mold from forming
- Can keep animals from getting into your boat, and especially birds for making a mess on your boat
- It can also act as security for your boat by discouraging would-be vandals or thieves
The key to all of this is a well-fitted boat cover. Using any old boat cover wont do. Thats why making your own boat cover to fit your boat specifically is one of the best things you can do.
Boat Cover Selection Guide
Most of us have seen that boat at the marina or on a trailer in someones yard that, although its only a few years old, has faded upholstery, dry and cracking wood brightwork, mildewed gelcoat and smells like a musty locker room. Whats the easiest way to avoid that? A boat cover. Its also a good way to make it difficult for rodents to take up residence and protect your electronics from dust, dirt, bird droppings or sticky-fingered intruders. Well cover the basics of choosing boat covers below, but for a more thorough explanation and installation videos covering each type, see our West Advisor article: Selecting the Right Boat Cover.
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What Color Do You Want
Colors and dye: We recommend dark colors, which at first may sound surprising. But the higher amount of dye in dark materials increases a fabrics UV resistance and contributes to its longevity. Blue, black and green last longer than white, tan or red. Of course, darker colors also absorb more heat, and transmit it to whatever is under them.
How Long Will Sunbrella Last
There is no other outdoor fabric in the world that can match Sunbrella’s unique craftsmanship and typically lasts for up to 10 years, which is more than twice the lifespan of most other outdoor fabrics. Therefore, your patio furniture will look fantastic for years to come after most consumer-grade fabrics have fallen out of favor.
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How Much Does A Flybridge Enclosure Cost
In both these boats, the cost of the flybridge enclosure can range from $6,500 to $12,000, depending on the type of material and design. In comparison with a new boat, buying a used one has one huge advantage: most used boats come with all the expensive equipment a new owner would need for outfitting.
Sew Sew Sew Your Boat
Sew a straight seam down the length of the fabric, leaving about one-quarter of an inch between the seam and the edge. Then reinforce your work by sewing a second seam alongside the innermost edge of the first one, leaving a quarter-inch between them.
Take your fabric out to your boat and drape it over the entire structure, keeping the seam centered and running straight down the length of the hull. Use straight pins to create pleats and folds, fitting the canvas over protrusions as snuggly and evenly as possible.
Trim the edges of the fabric to create a consistent amount of overhang all the way around. Measure as you go its more accurate than trying to eyeball things. If necessary, mark the position of snaps.
Take the cover back inside and sew in any pleats, darts, or folds you pinned in. Fold the edge in and pin it in place to create a hem, then sew a double seam all the way around.
Fit the cover over the boat and make adjustments as needed. You may want to add wide, heavy-duty elastic in some areas, such as around the bow and along the stern, to keep the cover snug. Finally, install snap heads where appropriate, or attach grommets at regular intervals so that they line up along either side of the boat.
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How Much Does A Boat Cover Cost
3555 South Main Street
Just like every dock needs a boat, every boat needs a cover. When youre on the hunt for a cover, there are a few different routes you can go. Deciding on that route will determine the cost, quality and craftsmanship of your cover. Lets take a look at a few of these choices.
Generic
A Generic Box cover will usually run you between $50 and $150. These are the kind of covers that you find online, or at a big-box store like Walmart or Costco. These covers are designed to be mass produced. They fit any number of boats, and they use cheap, low-grade material. All of this means that these covers usually dont fit very well. Their lifespan is very low, usually lasting only about three seasons, at best. If money is tight and youre in a bind as winter approaches, these are a great option. In any other circumstance, though, these covers are just about a waste of money.
Custom Shop Cover
The thread choices may be the most important option in a cover. By using a good quality thread, a good portion of Boat Cover repairs will be eliminated. Unbounded thread will be the cheapest . Bonded Dacron, and PTFE are some other choices. The most important thing is to use the right thread for the right application, so make sure you are asking your fabricator what they intend to use to hold your cover together. Youll want to know, just in case something ever happens to it.
Now, how you pick which fabricators to use is a whole different article.
How Much Does A Boat Lift Cost
A boat lift is a large structure that is capable of lifting your boat out of the water.
Whether youre keeping your boat at a marina, in your backyard or at a private pier, keeping your boat on a lift will offer a few advantages: you wont have to worry about painting the boats bottom, you wont have to worry about your boat floating away nor will you have to worry about your boat sinking.
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