Gonna Pull the trigger on a cover

[flounderpounder225]

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/us ... oat+Covers

Found this style, and think it will work easier with one person than trying to pull one over the T-Top.  The price is great, just have to get me exact centerline length, the 24.5 - 25.4 is the largest one they sell, I think that should be the one.

[daniel123]

I've got that exact Taylor-Made cover for my 170, which I have fitted with a FishMaster T-Top. When I ordered my cover, I still had the bow rail on the boat and got a cover model to accommodate it. I have since removed the bow rail, and I think the only change is that the cover hangs down lower around the bow, which I guess can't hurt. It was tricky to figure out how the cover fits and attaches to the T-top; it is actually two big pieces that zip together and the directions were a bit lacking. You literally tie the top of each side of it onto a beam up top and suspend it, then flop a big flap over the console and it loosely aligns with a Velcro panel. It's not a tight-as-a-drum fit by any means, and it requires some support where it extends across the bow area to keep water from pooling, but it's the best T top cover I came across and so far, so good with mine.

Dan

[flounderpounder225]

Thanks for the reply Dan, I have been thinking about this for quite some time, tired of cleaning the boat spotless after trips, then having to clean it again before taking it out because of all the crap from trees getting in it, and airborne dirt etc.. just trashes it.  Probably like anything else, just going to have to get used to using it.  BTW, how is material?  is it pretty heavy duty feeling?

[Aswaff400]

i just dropped my boat off this morning to have a custom cover made. it will be made to cover the entire boat all the way down to the chines, motor, and trolling motor.

[Skoot]

I have a Taylor Made on my boat now and I cant say enough good things about the fit and Its easy to put on solo. I think the quality is good for the price, but not great.

Here's what I've found after owning my cover for about 2.5 years now.
If you want it waterproof you'll have to seal the seams, cause they will leak.  I  found that Marine Goop(shoe goo), thinned with toluene and painted on the inside/outside of the seams works great. As for durability, I can get just over a year in full FL sun. :cry:  Im on my third one now(but keep reading, it gets better) After a year in the sun the material will start to shred(not rip) in your hands as you go to stretch it in place.  When I first noticed the problem they sent me a patch kit for free, but new shredded spots quickly appeared. The good thing is the "Hot Shot fabric" comes with a 5 year warranty and Taylor Made has excellent customer service.  They replaced my first one absolutely free, shipping and all.  Just had to send a few pics of the problem area.  After another year my second cover started shredding again so I sent some more pics in and they called me back the same day.  They were more than willing to send out another cover, but this time with a pro-rated price.  Its ended up being around $50.00 and free shipping. All in all I paid $130 originally, then the $50 pro-rate, and got a new cover every 1 year 2 months.  So for $180.00 I have a cover that will last a total of 3years 6months (from the time of original purchase).  Not to bad in my opinion.  Like I said, the covers are good, not great.

If your boat is under a tree/shaded Im sure you could get 2-3 years out of the Hot Shot Fabric.  Mine is literally in full sun all day long.   I got mine from here http://www.boatersland.com/tayboatcovers.html  they had the best price.  Good Luck, hope that didnt scare you away.

[Blue Agave]

A clean boat is a happy boat!  Covers are well worth the trouble.  

[flounderpounder225]

I have a Taylor Made on my boat now and I cant say enough good things about the fit and Its easy to put on solo. I think the quality is good for the price, but not great.

Here's what I've found after owning my cover for about 2.5 years now.
If you want it waterproof you'll have to seal the seams, cause they will leak.  I  found that Marine Goop(shoe goo), thinned with toluene and painted on the inside/outside of the seams works great. As for durability, I can get just over a year in full FL sun. :cry:  Im on my third one now(but keep reading, it gets better) After a year in the sun the material will start to shred(not rip) in your hands as you go to stretch it in place.  When I first noticed the problem they sent me a patch kit for free, but new shredded spots quickly appeared. The good thing is the "Hot Shot fabric" comes with a 5 year warranty and Taylor Made has excellent customer service.  They replaced my first one absolutely free, shipping and all.  Just had to send a few pics of the problem area.  After another year my second cover started shredding again so I sent some more pics in and they called me back the same day.  They were more than willing to send out another cover, but this time with a pro-rated price.  Its ended up being around $50.00 and free shipping. All in all I paid $130 originally, then the $50 pro-rate, and got a new cover every 1 year 2 months.  So for $180.00 I have a cover that will last a total of 3years 6months (from the time of original purchase).  Not to bad in my opinion.  Like I said, the covers are good, not great.

If your boat is under a tree/shaded Im sure you could get 2-3 years out of the Hot Shot Fabric.  Mine is literally in full sun all day long.   I got mine from here http://www.boatersland.com/tayboatcovers.html  they had the best price.  Good Luck, hope that didnt scare you away.

Thanks Scott, good review, I was hoping for more durability from the material, but as you said, location is key, I have some shade from the house and a wooded lot, so it is not getting the beating sun all day.  I have written Taylor Made an email with a pic of my boat and a measurement, asking them for advice on the right length.  I don't know if this top is designed to go all the way back to the motor, or come down on the sloping Euro Transom area and the aft area of the cockpit, the difference is about 2 feet, so I want to see what they say.

[wingtime]

Marc if you weren't so far away I could make a custom cover for ya out of some good material.

[fitz73222]

I went back and forth about having a custom cover built or trying to buy one off the rack and eventually went with a custom cover made from Sunbrella; built exactly the way I wanted it. with all the double reinforcement and over the T-top and engines. 10 year warranty against everything except battery acid or a tree falling through it. Wash it once a year and re-waterproof every 2 years. Takes ten minutes to install and tie down. Best $1400.00 I ever spent. I shopped this number alot; was as high as $3000.00 and as low as $900.00 so I went in the middle and am very happy with it.

[RickK]

How do you wash it Fitz?
My canvas guy said to use a pressurewasher.  My 230 cover is now 5 yrs old and getting pretty mildewy again - I did scrub it a couple times with a little bleach in the soapy water, no p-washer yet.  Came out much cleaner - it's a big cover and kinda hard to handle so I'm sure I didn't get it real clean.  My canvas guy said no bleach although Sunbrella site says ok.
My 170 cover gets mildewy real quick  :(

[Blue Agave]

Rick a vent will help with the mildew, and you should open it and let it air out every so often.

[RickK]

I put vents in the top of the 170 cover (maroon) - didn't help. I forgot to mention that these boats are in the direct sun 60% of the time.  I recently bought a small solar panel from HF and then a 12v oscillating fan from somewhere and put that under the 170 cover - that seems to help a little.
The 230's cover I have not vented yet but uit's not nearly as hot under it as the 170's.  I think the 230's breathes better?

[Blue Agave]

Maybe the mold is alive in the 17 or on the clover itself, have you tried bleach?  A good cleaning under the cap and the hard to reach places along with the vent should help.

[RickK]

It's a ventilation problem. I have 6 small vents at the top of the cover's peak.  I think I need more free fan power  

[GoneFission]

I got a over the t-top cover for about $350 on eBay and have been very happy with it.  Good quality material, lots of straps and a pully-winch on the drawstring to get it tight.  It even came with reinforcing material to stick on the inside where there are corners or edges.  It's not hard to pull over the top - and it keeps everything on the boat out of view for those who might want to "borrow" something.  I think it's this one, but not sure:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Trident-Full-Tr ... 78&vxp=mtr