How to Cover a Boat in Water?

Last Updated on October 1, 2022

Boats are and would always be amongst the finer things of life. Owning a boat comes with a sense of responsibility for it. Although, it’s a boat and you’d think it’s water-friendly but that’s on the exterior.

The interior on the other hand is not. Unless you want your boat looking like something the moss dragged in. Okay, that was a bit harsh but honestly, it doesn’t cost anything(actually it does cost something but your boat costs way more. Like extra thousands way more) to get your boat a good and basic covering while it maintains a lasting polished look free of unwanted wearing.

By basic covering, I mean a cover that fits the model, shape, and size of your boat. Nothing too big and nothing too small. You would want the perfect size of the cover.

Covering a boat is necessary especially if it is not in constant use. It is a protective measure required to maintain the boat’s exotic demeanor. Imagine wanting to go on a sailing trip and you find your boat filled with bird poo. Not a pleasant sight I tell you. Okay, enough tossing.

The first step is deciding where you would like to store your boat either outside or inside.

• Outside storage: Although this has always been the most used and traditional storage method, it’s not always the best. It exposes your boat to harsh weather conditions and possibly theft but this option is much cheaper if you can handle it because it eases the strain of looking for a space for larger boats.
• Inside storage: This is easily the best option if you already have a built-in garage or shaded space around you. But if you don’t and you like this option, you can always lease a commercial storage facility. This option not only preserves your boat from the harshest of weather but also keeps vandals at bay.

When your mind’s made up on your preferred storage option, it is advisable to do thorough maintenance on both the exteriors and interiors of your boat. Check the engines and fix any fault no matter how minute it may seem, wipe interiors like the dashboard and deck.

Now, our editors at Boating Buddy would tell you how to cover up your boats and recommend some really good options out there and trust me, they are worth it.

Getting a boat’s perfect fit

Boats are made in different shapes and sizes depending on what you want so are covers.

Although there are different types of coverage ranging from the universal fit which is usually made to accommodate a lot of excesses like windshield, seat configurations, and so on. It is loosely fit and baggy, to semi-custom which is a lot more tightly fit especially when properly secured and then there is the custom fit which is made specifically for your boat.

So getting the cover that will fit snugly on your boat should not be too difficult and although it would cost you more it is my advice that you allow a professional handle covering your boat especially if you are a new boater. The reason is that you do not want your cover flapping to the wind in a terrible storm because you did not get the proper fit. In this case, a horrible boat covering is worse than not at all.

Quality of the cover

Overall, owning a boat or any watercraft at all can be expensive even when you are trying to not run the cost up, it still happens. So it’s advisable to always opt for long-lasting covers that you wouldn’t have to change often. One of the qualities of a lasting cover is that it is waterproof. In the battle against the elements, the best option oftentimes is waterproof tarps made from polyester or acrylic materials. Yes, you may decide to have a custom-made cover but most of those are not practical because they are made for appearances rather than the actual covering especially if you would be covering your boat for a long time. But that is not to say that there are no custom boat covers that have met all the requirements of a boat cover.

Air Circulation

This may be one of the most underrated qualities of a good boat cover but it is very important. The reason why boats are covered in the first place is to prevent water from entering the boat. So the material used in covering the boat should be breathable. Although the more breathable a cover is, the less water-resistant it becomes but fears not because every good boat cover has tiny vents included in it. But just in case it doesn’t, you can always create some yourself by going through some DIY processes.

Framework

So there are the basic things to look out for when checking for a cover but there are other factors to also consider when covering a boat. Like the support frame holding the cover. You have to make sure it is angled in a way that does not allow water to form a pool on the cover rather, water should always roll off to the sides because the more water pools on the cover, the heavier it gets causing an expansion on the cover and making it lose its snug fit nature and eventually this would result in a cave in ruining the entire reason why the boat was covered in the first, which is keeping water and moisture out.

How to cover your boat in water

If all of the above-mentioned requirements are met by your cover, you can now cover your boat by:

• Gently place the cover on the bow of the boat.
• If frames are to be used, make sure they are placed correctly under your cover before covering the boat.
• Unroll the cover to the back and Open up the sides of the cover while making slight adjustments until the cover seats properly
• Take your time in making adjustments to avoid sagging in the cover, then tighten the straps in the cover to the sides of the boat firmly.

Bottomline

One thing to also take note of when getting a boat cover is the color of the cover. As much as water damages the interior of the boat, ultraviolet rays from the sun also affect it. So it is advisable to use light-colored covers like blue or white that repel the UV rays instead of dark colors that absorb them.