Support your boat cover with a pole or PVC frame.

If your boat cover is not properly supported, it can sag in the middle after a heavy rain. You don’t want rain, leaves, dirt, and other debris to collect on your boat cover, since they can promote the growth of mold and mildew.

You have two options for a boat cover support: buy a boat cover support system or build your own.

TinBoats.net offers instructions on how to build a PVC boat cover frame. Building your own frame means you can customize the frame to fit your boat perfectly.

As long as you have the time and energy, building your own support frame is one of your best options for a sturdy, customized frame.

Here is what you’ll need to build your own boat cover support:

Materials:

• 3/4″ or 1″ PVC (available at most hardware stores)
• 3/4″ or 1″ PVC elbows, couplings, and tee’s (how many you need depends on the size of your boat)
• PVC glue
• Garden hose (to help form the arches)

Tools:

• Hacksaw
• Measuring tape

Ready to start? Follow these instructions by TinBoats.net.

Use all included straps to secure the boat cover.

Keep your fishing boat or speed boat protected with a boat cover. Winter weather, harsh sunlight, and rainy days can be hard on your boat’s finish and upholstery, but a quality boat cover will help prevent wear and tear from the environment.

Boat Cover Instructions

1. Cover any sharp points or edges on the boat (such as the corners of the windshield) with a cloth or a sponge to avoid rips or tears when the cover is strapped tightly across the boat.
2. Find the label with arrows sewn in the hem of the cover that indicates “Front.” Drape the front of the cover over the bow. Then roll the cover back over the boat and pull down the sides.
3. Connect and secure all tie down straps included with your boat cover.
4. Secure the tie down straps on the rear of the cover and secure the straps to the trailer frame.
5. After connecting all of the straps, cinch the straps down tight for a secure fit.

Trailering a Boat

If you are transporting your boat on a trailer or open vehicle, double check that all of the straps are tight and the ends are secured before taking off. Stop and check the straps again shortly after you get on the road. Then check the boat cover straps again each time you stop.

"Looks and feels just like the original cover for the boat—just MUCH better price!!" - Nicole A.

“This cover was a great fit on my RXL 28′ Benington pontoon. Delivery was quick. This was a great price on this cover. Very happy with the whole transaction and product.”

- Qweido

“Easy to install. Fits great with extra eyelets in front to secure for trailering. Straps go completely under the boat, and a simple toss from one side to the other avoids having to climb underneath.”

- Scott C.

“My boat cover arrived on time without issue. It has been very rainy where I live, so haven’t been able to cover boat yet, but the material of cover looks & feels just like the original cover for the boat—just MUCH better price!!”

- Nicole A.

“After reading the reviews, I expected this to be much more difficult to install. I’m in my early thirties and pretty active. This was not a problem to install on my 18 foot pontoon. I also read about the rain pools and was worried about the Midwest winter snow months. My solution was to build a skeleton of PVC pipe underneath to keep the cover tented. So far that is working well. We will see how this holds up over time…”

- Joshua Green

"The outside of the fabric was wet to the touch but the inside remained impenetrable to the moisture and the boat remained bone dry!"

Need a boat cover for the winter? Check out these customer reviews for the DuraShield Trailerable Fishing Boat Cover below.

“With the price being so low and free shipping, I had little expectations of this product. Shortly after it arrived we were hit with a very early snow storm and 8 inches of heavy wet snow came down on it. I held my breath after each passing hour of the storm, fearing this first test would be the cover’s last.

I woke the next morning to find that it had sagged a little bit from the weight of the snow but there were no tears in the cover or in the straps that are nicely stitched into it! I actually had to use a plastic shovel to remove the majority of the snow and then broomed off the rest. The outside of the fabric was wet to the touch but the inside remained impenetrable to the moisture and the boat remained bone dry! I was amazed!

My boat is a 16ft V-haul and even with my outboard still mounted on the transom, the cover accommodates the entire area including the motor with ease! I can’t say enough about my satisfaction of the quality of this product and how simple and quick it was to order it and receive it!”
- Sargeant V.

“Bought this to cover my Sunfish sailboat for winter storage. Not an exact fit, but plenty of loops to accommodate bungees and cords. No problem during short trailering trip.”
- C. L. S.

“Good product. Used on 15′ Old Town canoe with flat stern.”
- Chad S.

Use a boat cover support system to prevent sagging.

Want to get more life out of your boat cover? Treat it right with these boat cover care tips from DuraShield Covers.

Cleaning the Cover

The first step in caring for your boat cover is keeping it clean. If your boat cover is treated with special UV and weather resistant coatings, we recommend hand washing only. Clean the cover with a soft brush and lukewarm water.

If necessary, the cover may be machine washed in COLD water with NO SOAP; however, machine washing is harder on the fabric. Do not use soap or detergent, as these may remove the protective coatings added by the factory and/or void the manufacturer’s warranty. Line dry the cover if possible, or machine dry on the delicate or air only setting.

Storing the Cover

When it’s time to put your boat cover away for awhile, make sure it is clean and fully dry before storage. Brush off dirt and debris, wash the cover, and allow it to dry completely before folding or rolling the cover for storage. A mesh storage bag will keep your cover neatly folded while allowing it to breathe.

Boat Cover Support

To prevent the boat cover from sagging, we recommend using a boat cover support system. If the cover is unsupported, water can pool in the middle, which creates the perfect breeding grounds for mold and mildew.

A strap system, support pole, or support structure (such as a PVC frame) will allow rainwater to run off the cover without pooling. You can either buy a ready-made boat cover support system, or you can custom-build your own for a boat-specific fit.

"For the price, this cover is hard to beat." - J. Conover

A pontoon cover protects your boat from sun, rain, dirt, bird droppings, and everything else nature can throw at it. Check out these reviews for the DuraShield pontoon boat cover by a few of our customers.

Pontoon Cover Reviews

“This is not an easy product to buy on the Internet. The quality of this product is excellent and well made. I was nervous about buying this product, but I took a chance. I highly recommend this product.”
- Larry Koester

“Awesome product…love that after researching covers, this price, along with the quality, was without a doubt unbeatable.”
- Christina P.

“I have a 2010 Sun Tracker Fishin’ Barge 21′ pontoon boat. I needed a cover for it, and this cover is by far the least expensive one I have seen. The fit is not like shown in the picture for my boat, as it barely covers halfway down the walls on both sides. Also the motor is not covered at all. The back and front also have a lot of play even when strapped down, so I find leaves and whatnot blown in when covered. It is not a perfect fit but definitely covers it enough for the price. I bought an inexpensive cover for the top cowl of the motor at academy, and the two keep my boat mostly clean when not used for a while. For the price, this cover is hard to beat.”
- J. Conover

Unlike cotton material, polyester boat covers do not support the growth of mildew.

Synthetic boat covers do not support the growth of mildew; however, any dirt, pollen, or grime that is allowed to build up on the cover creates a prime environment for mold and mildew. That’s why no matter how mildew-proof your boat cover is, you still need to keep it clean in order for the cover to do its job.

What Makes a Boat Cover Moldy?

Mold and mildew thrive under certain conditions: 1) something to feed on (dirt, pollen, leaves, etc.), 2) the right temperature range, 3) moisture, 4) darkness, and 5) no air flow. The more factors you can eliminate, the less likely you will have problems with mold and mildew.

Mildew-Resistant Boat Covers

A boat cover that resists mold and mildew will be synthetic (think polyester instead of cotton), water-resistant, and well vented. The right venting design allows moisture and condensation to evaporate and air to flow underneath the cover while keeping rain water out of the boat.

Mold and Mildew Prevention

Preventing the growth of mildew is easier than getting rid of it. One way to prevent mildew is to make sure the interior of your boat is clean and dry before installing the boat cover. Remove life jackets and removable seat cushions and let them dry in the sun. Any sun lotion, pollen, crumbs, or dirt left in the boat will attract mold, so clean the boat thoroughly. Then let it dry in the sun. Remove any trace of moisture or condensation before covering the boat.

Another prevention tip is to place packs of silica gel (or other moisture-absorbing packs) underneath the boat cover. The silica gel should absorb any moisture that forms inside the boat.

"Better than the more expensive one we purchased..." - Sarah G.

“My husband said he likes this boat cover and that it is good quality. He said it was better than the more expensive one we purchased at Walmart a few years back that finally fell apart. I like that the color is neutral enough that I haven’t even noticed that ol’ boat with its new cover.”
- Sarah G.

“For what this costs, it’s working great as a winter cover. It stays waterproof (it rains sometimes here in the northwest), keeps crud out (the boat is parked under a tree), and breathes enough not to mold.”
- NWGuy (Seattle, WA)

“Love the product and cannot beat the price. It fits my Gheenoe almost perfect when otherwise I would have had to special order one. Thanks so much!!”
- Cigi H.

Secure your pontoon cover tightly for trailering.

If you want to protect the value of your pontoon boat and keep it looking good for years to come, we recommend investing in a pontoon boat cover to prevent weather damage and dirt buildup.

Getting a Secure Fit

In order to get the most secure fit for your pontoon cover, find a cover that fits your boat as closely as possible. You don’t need to spend hundreds on a custom cover, but the fit should be close enough to prevent excessive sagging or wind lofting. Universal pontoon covers are usually available in more than one size. Choose the size that most closely fits the dimensions of your pontoon.

Securing the Cover for Trailering

Once your cover is on the pontoon, secure it with the straps provided. Add extra tie downs if needed. Tying down the cover is especially important if you will be trailering your boat. Don’t allow the cover to flap in the wind. This causes excessive wear and tear on the cover, and it could even cause the cover to come loose and fly off during travel. The tie downs for trailering should be secure, and there should be enough tie downs to keep the cover tightly in place.

Securing the Cover for Storage

Even if you are just storing your pontoon and not trailering, the tie downs should still be secure in case of heavy rain or strong wind gusts. Because of the large deck space on a pontoon, sagging is likely to occur without support poles to hold the cover in place. Most likely you will need more than one support pole to prevent sagging.

Keep your cover from sagging with a boat cover support system.

Without proper support, your boat cover can collect pools of water and debris that cause the cover to sag. Over time, the extra weight and moisture buildup can ruin your cover. Here are a few ideas to keep your boat cover from sagging, protect your boat, and make your cover last longer.

1. Get a boat cover support pole.

A support pole is the cheapest way to prop up your boat cover. For larger boats, use several poles, placed strategically under the boat cover to prevent sagging and water pockets.

Some support poles include a venting system. These vented poles serve a double purpose by propping up the boat cover and providing extra ventilation to prevent moisture buildup underneath the cover.

2. Build a PVC support system.

If you’re the do-it-yourself type, building your own PVC boat cover support gives you a custom-designed, inexpensive support for your boat. Use at least 1.5″ thick PVC pipes for a sturdier system. Thinner PVC pipes can break under the weight of a heavy snowfall.

3. Get a strap system.

A strap system mounts to the four corners of your boat and connects at the center to a padded support pole. This type of system is especially useful for boats with large cockpits.

4. Get some bows and sockets.

A bow and socket system provides one of the most secure support systems for your cover. The sockets mount either to your rails or deck wall, and the wooden bows provide just enough arch to allow rain to roll off the cover. Nylon socket mounts require no mounting holes, so the support system is easily removed for boating season.