How To Clean A Boat Cover
by Ian ForteyUpdated on May 31, 2021.
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Keeping your boat canvas clean is an important part of boat maintenance. Unfortunately, its not always as simple as taking a hose to your boat cover. A canvas boat cover cant just be tossed in a washing machine. Cleaning stained canvas requires the proper cleaning solution and technique. If you took the time to cover your boat with a canvas cover then you should take the time to keep it clean.
The 9 Best Boat Covers Of 2021
The best products to protect your craft from the elements
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Best for Center Consoles:
“This pick provides the additional space needed to protect your center console from the elements.”
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“They work with you to take your whole boating set-up into account so that youre guaranteed custom coverage.”
As any boat owner will tell you, theres always something in need of repair. And thats why its smart and sensible to outfit your craft with a boat cover, which will protect your boat when you’re not sailing around the world from the damaging impacts of rain, snow, and the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. It also blocks out salt air, as well as bird droppings, lengthening the longevityand cleanlinessof your prized possession. The best ones have an almost-custom fit, with extra straps to lock things down, and can be tossed on or off in as little as five minutes.
Ahead are the best boat covers you can buy today.
Protection And Materials Used
The first, and probably most important, factor youll be concerned with is how well the spray will waterproof your boat cover. Simply put, sprays that use chemicals tend to be more effective for waterproofing purposes. Ingredients such as Teflon, silicone, and petroleum distillates form a more effective moisture repellant.
However, you need to balance this against the obvious downsides of using these harsh chemicals. They are unsafe to breathe, and may be flammable as well. Additionally, they might affect the look and feel of the fabric in different ways.
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How To Create Waterproof Seams
When youre making a boat cover, outdoor storage cover or tarp, you want to be sure that it will keep your possessions safe, clean and dry. But did you know that when you sew, the holes the needle creates in the fabric can leave your cover susceptible to leaks? If youre concerned with leaking seams, never fear. We’re going to share a few ways you can seal up your seams to keep them as watertight as possible.
Testing Anti-Wick Threads water resistance
If youre sewing a new project, you can add built-in protection from leaks by using an anti-wick thread. Antiwick thread is a bonded Dabond polyester thread with a wax coating that was specifically designed to prevent weeping seams. The way Antiwick works is that the wax plugs the stitch holes to prevent water from leaking through. Its the same V-92 polyester thread that most marine fabricators use, just with an extra coating so its still UV, mildew and abrasion resistant. You can see for yourself just how well Antiwick Thread works by watching our test video.
Classic Accessories Stellex Boat Cover
There are a lot of cover options out there. But not all of them are the best choice. Whether you’re looking at pontoon boat covers or a cover for a yacht, you have to feel good about the quality of the product.
Because of this, it is normal for you to have doubts when purchasing a product.
In this case, however, you don’t need to have those typical reservations.
For added durability, this cover is made of polyester Stellex fabric. This material prevents the top from tearing down or getting frayed. This means you will not have to worry about replacing it anytime soon.
This material also keeps it protected in all types of weather. Whether it is snowing outside or raining, no moisture will penetrate the layer and reach your boat.
This product is one of the best boat covers for hauling your boat on a trailer. The cover includes trailer straps which make it easy to secure the cover on long road trips. Along with that, it also includes a storage bag for protection of the top.
This product makes it so that you don’t have to worry about whether it will fit your boat. The cover comes with integrated buckles and a convenient strap system to hold the cover in place.
To ensure a tighter fit, this top comes with elastic hemming. The cord makes sure the cover is wrapped as tightly as possible around the vessel. The fabric choices of the manufacturer are important for boat covers, and this one does not disappoint.
As a result, it will not flap during stormy or windy weather.
Pros
Pros
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How To Waterproof A Boat Cover: The List Of Materials To Have
To successfully waterproofing a sun awning for sailboat or motor boat, you need to be well equipped. Thus the material identified as a priority is:
A canvas brush
The average duration of a boat cover waterproofing operation is 2 hours. This duration is a little longer when you operate by application with a wide brush.
Should You Cover Your Boat When It Rains
Well, boats are meant to be used in the waters . Does it really hurt your boat when it is uncovered in the rain?
Boats should be covered during rain because it not only damages the boats interior but can also flood the boat with rainwater if the bilge pump is incapable of pumping out water or if the drains are plugged with trash or any. And boats without covers are vulnerable to insects, sun, rain, snow, etc.
So, it is essential to cover the boat with a waterproof cover when it rains. Even the water-resistant fabrics do not inherently repel water but, rather, are treated not to let the water soak through. If it is a normal boat cover , its better than no cover at all.
Waterproof boat covers will protect the boat during rains by repelling the water completely. Yet, the rainwater will not sink the boat, but in heavy rains, there is a possibility. Later it will be a mess if you didnt cover the vessel or used a cover that isnt waterproof.
However, occasionally leaving the boat uncovered in the rain for an hour or two is OK, but ensure the bilge pump is working well enough and the scuppers are clean without any debris or trash blocking them. But the cover is essential if the boat is kept in the waters.
And it is a good practice for every boater to remove the boat from the water when it rains and properly waterproof the boat, which will protect the boat from rains and other damages.
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Msc Heavy Duty Canvas Boat Cover
To meet the needs of various sized vessels, MSC is offering 6 different sizes of boat cover starting from 14 to 24 feet long, and between 68 inches up to 102 inches beamwidth. However, the size specs given by the manufacturer might not be the exact match for your boat.
The boat cover is made of marine-grade 600D polyester canvas with double PU coating for higher durability. The fabric is also mildew and UV resistant that will not shrink or stretch even after continuous use.
The cover has adjustable straps and quick-release buckles so that you can fit the cover quickly and remove without much effort. Its all about time efficiency. When the cover is not in use, it can be stored easily in the storage bag that comes with it.
The entire bottom has elastic hemming so that the cover can have a tight fit which is almost like a custom fit. The boat cover is suitable for long-term storage, mooring, and traveling. It has a 2-year warranty.
Pros
- Adjustable straps and quick release buckle
- UV and mildew resistant fabric
Cons
Relax We Have All Of Your Cover Needs Covered
Outdoor Cover Warehouse carries industry leading cover brands such as WindStorm, WindStorm Elite, Windstorn CoolTech, Wake, Trident and Ding. We offer the best quality boat covers at prices everyone can appreciate. Made from fabrics like Marinex and Sunbrella, your cover will protect your boat for years to come. Our semi-custom boat covers offer a tailored fit specifically for the year/make/model of your boat.
For many, boating encompasses the warmer temperatures and the mist of water off the wake, but as any boat owner knows, boating isn’t limited to a specific season. The responsibilities of boat ownership change with the seasons and once the temperatures start to dip and the outings start to limit themselves, storage becomes the primary topic of conversation. Protect your boat with our full selection of semi-custom and universal boat covers, pontoon boat covers, mooring boat covers and motor covers. Don’t let the winter threaten or delay your next adventure when boating season rolls in, properly cover and store your boat when necessary.
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Icover Pontoon Boat Cover
If you are familiar with this brand, then you already know that they produce amazing covers.
And this particular one is no different. Every feature that makes a cover perfect is included in this product.
If you like lightweight tops, then this one is an apt option for you. This product is made of 300D marine grade polyester. So, the cover will not tear down or get frayed easily, and it will not feel very heavy either.
With this cover, you will not have to worry about any weather conditions, as it is extremely versatile. Your vessel will remain safeguarded from UV light, snow, debris, and growing fungi. Cleaning will not be a matter of concern for you either.
Furthermore, the cover includes an integrated buckles and adjustable straps system. These elements will make sure the top fits perfectly around the vessel. As a result, it won’t get blown away when there’s too much wind.
On the other hand, the heavy-duty elastic cord is also sewn into the fabric. The cord facilitates an even better fit, which entirely restricts the entrance of substances.
This waterproof boat cover comes with support poles. This is to make sure no water pools at the top of the product. Also, the cover is designed in a way that allows extra room inside the vessel for additional accessories.
Pros
- Users end up getting delivered the wrong size
- Difficult to install
How To Waterproof Canvas
Canvas Covers
Traditional cotton canvas is waterproof in the same manner that traditional wooden boats are waterproof. The cotton fibers like the wooden planks swell when they get wet. This seals the weave.
But because cotton canvas loves mildew and hates bird droppings, it is not used aboard pleasure boats much anymore. It has been replaced in most applications with either a vinyl-coated polyester or woven acrylic.
The vinyl-coated fabric is waterproof for the life of the fabric, but unlike traditional canvas, it doesn’t breathe. Unless it is well ventilated, condensation wets the underside of the fabric, eventually leading to mildew. Vinyl-coated fabrics are a good choice for Bimini tops, but unsuitable for enclosures such as sail covers or boat covers.
Acrylic canvas, like cotton canvas, is a tight-weave fabric. It is waterproof yet breathes it stands up to ultraviolet radiation better than any other fabric it snubs mildew it resists staining it is colorfast and comes in every color imaginable and it looks marvelous. Not surprisingly, acrylic canvas Sunbrella being the best known is the most popular marine fabric by a wide margin.
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How Do You Prevent Covers From Collecting Water
Standing water can dramatically impact the durability of even the burliest of boat covers. A tight fit is essential so that the water runs off the flat surface rather than pooling on top. Tom recommends considering a semi-custom or custom cover. Semi-custom covers are designed to fit several makes and models with the same hull type. Most boat covers come in sizes by range , which means that the perfect boat cover to fit your boat may have some excess fabric.
To prevent pooling be sure to tie or strap things down so that the covers lie taut, and also consider a support pole or support system, which sits inside the boat, under the cover, to create a tent-like sloped surface to avoid pooling water. A custom cover made just for the year, make and model of your boat, and designed to cover its individual accessories, will fit like a custom-tailored suit, says Tom. It costs the most but is the easiest to put on and remove, is the best for trailering, and will last the longest.
Sew With Antiwick Thread
Testing Anti-Wick Threads water resistance
If youre sewing a new project, you can add built-in protection from leaks by using an anti-wick thread. Antiwick thread is a bonded Dabond polyester thread with a wax coating that was specifically designed to prevent weeping seams. The way Antiwick works is that the wax plugs the stitch holes to prevent water from leaking through. Its the same V-92 polyester thread that most marine fabricators use, just with an extra coating so its still UV, mildew and abrasion resistant.
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Clean Your Boat Cover
Before taking any action, its important to thoroughly clean your boat cover. To do that, grab a soft brush and scrub the canvas/nylon. If there are any stains that you cannot remove with a simple brush, you can also hose down the cover and even use some mild detergent.
However, try to use as little detergent as possible. You want to clean the cover, not cause additional damage.
You can also take your boat cover to a cleaning service and have it cleaned there.
How To Waterproof A Boat Canvas
Its easy to hitch a boat to a dock and forget that the top of the boat needs to be waterproof as well. If you want to be ready for when it rains, you should do more than just acquire a boat canvas. Youll want to ensure that this canvas is waterproof enough to protect the top of your boat from the elements without letting issues like mildew linger. Heres how to waterproof a boat canvas.
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Ventilation Could Be A Problem If The Boat Is Covered For Long Periods
These waterproof covers wont allow any air or water to pass through them. Condensation inside the boat could be a problem, resulting in causing mold or mildew due to the trapped moisture under the boat cover.
To prevent mold and mildew inside the boat, you need to select a boat cover with vents capable of releasing any air that may build up inside the vessel over time. If vents are not an option, you need to look for other cover materials .
Keep everything dry before covering the boat for extended periods. If water is present in the hull, it will evaporate over time. If the cover has vents, it is OK because the water vapors will escape through the vents. Otherwise, it will cause mold and mildew.
After taking the boat out of the water, just leave it for some time and remove all the water inside the hull and the bilge area . Then wait for an hour or two and then start covering the boat. Now mold and mildew occurrences are less even if you use waterproof boat covers.
Features To Look For In A Boat Cover
Nowadays, there are so many styles out there all claiming to be the best boat cover, so you really need to think about your vessel and which cover would suit it. Consider things like the usual climate and weather conditions where you live, how and where your boat is stored, and whether you transport it long distances.
All of these considerations will help you choose the best boat cover for your needs and one thats going to be tough enough to protect your most prized possession. Here are a few features to think about in terms of what would suit your boat, so you can be sure youre choosing the best one.
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The Importance Of Choosing A Quality Boat Cover
Our boats are a serious investment, and for many of us, theyre our most beloved possessions. Whether you take yours out for a spot of fishing when the weather is nice or use it more regularly, youre always doing what you can to keep it protected.
Boats are built tough, but the harsh conditions of the water, wind, and sun that theyre constantly exposed to can gradually take their toll. When you combine all of these potentially harmful factors, it makes sense to invest in boat cover support that can offer you all of the following:
- Keeps your boat free from dust and debris eeps your boat free from dust and debris
- Protects from the sun and prevents fading and cracking
- Adds a level of protection to your boat from potential theft
- play-circle-o Keeps animals and insects out of our boat when not in use
- play-circle-o Repels moisture and water in all settings
For many boat owners, their boats are the most costly thing they own, so just as youd keep your car protected in a garage or under some form of shade, so too should you do the same with your boat.
Whether youre transporting it from home to the water or need something to keep it safe while its being moored, the easiest solution is to invest in a high quality and heavy duty waterproof boat cover that will keep it safe when you cant be around to keep an eye on it.
