The type of fabric used to make a boat cover or PWC cover affects how durable, breathable, and waterproof it will be. Not all boat covers are equal in quality. Below are some factors that affect the quality of a cover.
Type of Fabric
Boat cover made with marine-grade polyester fabric
- Poly/Cotton Blend
The cheapest boat covers are made from a poly/cotton blend. This fabric breaks down faster and doesn’t protect the boat as well as other types of fabric. Covers made from a poly/cotton blend are typically only under warranty for a year and are only suitable for mild climates and minimal use.
- Marine-Grade Polyester
Marine-grade polyester is a much more durable fabric than poly/cotton blend. These boat covers are slightly more expensive, but the durability is well worth the cost. Polyester boat covers offer an ideal balance of strong protection and cost effectiveness. They resist wear and tear and mildew growth much better than poly/cotton covers.
- Acrylic
Acrylic boat covers are high end covers that offer superior protection; however, they are also more expensive to produce, which means that their cost is much higher than for other types of fabric.
Fabric Weight and Weave
In most cases, the heavier the fabric, the more durable it will be. However, durability is also affected by the tightness of the weave. A boat cover with a lighter weight and tighter weave may be more durable than a cover with a heavier weight but a coarser weave.
Fabric Color
Reds and yellows tend to fade the fastest. Blues seem to keep their color the longest. A UV protective coating will make the color last even longer.
This is our third in a series of winter storage tips to help you protect your boat during the harsh winter months.
Winter Boat Storage Tip #3: Don’t let pockets of rainwater collect on your boat cover.
Don't let rainwater collect on your boat cover.
Your
boat cover should be properly supported to prevent rainwater from collecting in puddles on top of the cover. These puddles collect dirt and promote the growth of mildew. Eventually these stagnant pools of rainwater can cause the thread and cover material to rot.
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Support your boat cover with a support frame from a marine store or a homemade PVC boat cover frame. Make sure there are no pockets where rainwater can collect. Put a tuck in the cover or reinforce the frame where necessary. You can even use life jackets or seat cushions to keep the cover from sagging in specific areas.
This is our second in a series of winter storage tips to help you protect your boat during the harsh winter months.
Winter Boat Storage Tip #2: Brush the snow off your boat cover every time it snows.
Never let the snow build up on your boat cover.
The weight of snow—especially wet, heavy snow—can damage the
boat cover and compromise the quality of protection that the cover provides.
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After each snowfall, brush the snow off the boat cover. Make it part of your routine along with clearing the driveway and sidewalks. You can use a push broom to drag the snow off the cover.
Don’t let the snow pile up more than a few inches. The more snow on your boat cover, the heavier it weighs and the more likely it will damage the cover.
Don’t wait for the snow to melt off the cover. If it melts and then freezes again, it will turn into ice, which is even heavier than snow and harder on your cover.
