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Outdoor storage cover
Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 10:11 am
by BIGGUSBLOCKUS
sharkskin plus.jpg
Looking at this cover for my 232. It has the cutouts for the bimini and covers the swim platform as well.
It's about $400. Westland Sharkskin Plus is the Manufacturer.
I have indoor storage for the winter, but for the summer my boat will sit on a concrete pad next to my garage. Long term plan is to build a permanent car-port type structure over the pad, but time is short right now with other projects/obligations. I have the snap in cockpit and bow covers but those seem to be better for towing than for storage.
Do these type of covers work well for outside storage and are they relatively easy to take on/off? Comments appreciated!
Re: Outdoor storage cover
Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 11:19 am
by cmattj
Westland was the OEM manufacturer for Cobalt and I have one I use frequently and it's sharkskin.
The sharkskin is lighter and has some pull ratchet hooks with hide folds. Next level up is sunbrella fabric but it does add weight.
Keep in mind they only go a foot below the rub rail. Good price
Re: Outdoor storage cover
Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 11:24 am
by rrfisher
I'm down south and store mine outside 24/7/365 & the best I could find was the Sunbrella brand. Water doesn't get in if it doesn't pool on the cover after a rain and breathes so no mildew forms if it's covered for an extended period. I have a 21' boat with no tower and can take it off in 3 minutes and put it on and secured in about 10.
I am member of a fishing forum and there is a vendor that sells them in which I have a 10% off code. PM if you're interested.
Re: Outdoor storage cover
Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 12:34 pm
by Big Block Power
Hey big block us. Call the knucklehead you bought the boat from. He sells those. I have one for my boat. Works great in the garage.lol just kidding. Great cover
Re: Outdoor storage cover
Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 3:21 pm
by TommyTahoe
I have the Sharkskin Supreme and I’m quite happy with it. Easy to take on and off after a few times to get a routine down. My advice would be to make sure you get the poles and snap patch’s so you can tent the cover to prevent water pooling when storing outdoors.
Re: Outdoor storage cover
Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 4:14 pm
by ColinC
Ditto on the recommendation to add a pole or two. I went with an adhesive snap and it didn't work, so ended up using a Vico Marine vent that has a sleeve for the pole. Works great. The ratchet system could use some improvement. It is a cheap rope and really should be a 3/4" or 1" web strap. And the sleeve that it runs through should be padded. The actual ratchets are also sub-optimal. Without the protective pocket they could easily damage your boat. The hooks are bare metal and should come plasti-dipped (at a minimum). I've modded my ratchets and the protective pockets.
For my Westland cover I went with Sunbrella. Can't comment on the two grades of Sharkskin, but I will say that my cover didn't leak a drop last summer and we had a ton of rain last season. Zero fading. Will treat it with 303 each season to keep it looking good and working great.
If you're getting a quote of $400 for that cover that sounds like a deal. FWIW, I did a lot of comparison shopping last year and found SavvyBoater to consistently have the best 'all in' price, regardless of material.
Re: Outdoor storage cover
Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 7:57 pm
by 2ridgebacks
Bbp, who is your contact in covers? I forgot.
Re: Outdoor storage cover
Posted: Sat May 05, 2018 1:22 am
by TommyTahoe
ColinC wrote: Fri May 04, 2018 4:14 pm
Ditto on the recommendation to add a pole or two. I went with an adhesive snap and it didn't work, so ended up using a Vico Marine vent that has a sleeve for the pole. Works great. The ratchet system could use some improvement. It is a cheap rope and really should be a 3/4" or 1" web strap. And the sleeve that it runs through should be padded. The actual ratchets are also sub-optimal. Without the protective pocket they could easily damage your boat. The hooks are bare metal and should come plasti-dipped (at a minimum). I've modded my ratchets and the protective pockets.
For my Westland cover I went with Sunbrella. Can't comment on the two grades of Sharkskin, but I will say that my cover didn't leak a drop last summer and we had a ton of rain last season. Zero fading. Will treat it with 303 each season to keep it looking good and working great.
If you're getting a quote of $400 for that cover that sounds like a deal. FWIW, I did a lot of comparison shopping last year and found SavvyBoater to consistently have the best 'all in' price, regardless of material.
I agree with Colin. I ended up going with my purchase through SavvyBoater as well. Good outfit.
Re: Outdoor storage cover
Posted: Sat May 05, 2018 7:18 am
by Big Block Power
2ridgebacks wrote: Fri May 04, 2018 7:57 pm
Bbp, who is your contact in covers? I forgot.
It's the knucklehead he bought his boat from. Bald Mike. Great guy. Just let him know I sent you. The bad thing offs he was running a sale in April and it sounded like a big price increase was coming his easy in May.
https://baldmikes.com
Re: Outdoor storage cover
Posted: Sat May 05, 2018 10:03 am
by Mr Hahn
Big Block Power wrote: Sat May 05, 2018 7:18 am
2ridgebacks wrote: Fri May 04, 2018 7:57 pm
Bbp, who is your contact in covers? I forgot.
It's the knucklehead he bought his boat from. Bald Mike. Great guy. Just let him know I sent you. The bad thing offs he was running a sale in April and it sounded like a big price increase was coming his easy in May.
https://baldmikes.com
Glad this thread showed up, I got 2 storage covers with the 1999 232 I picked up a couple weeks ago. However, one is the original cover and the thread on two of the main seams is letting go if I pull on it al all. The other is from another boat and is short by almost 2 feet. If I call baldmikes is he going to know who “Big Block Power my internet friend from Cobalt Chat” is, or should I give him a different name?
Re: Outdoor storage cover
Posted: Sat May 05, 2018 10:23 am
by Boatrover
I am in the same situation with my boat sitting next to the garage during boating season. I have a full Sunbrella cover and just ordered universal boat skirts from boat covers direct to cover the sides. I have not received them yet so I do not know how easy they are to put on each time. The skirt has a hem sewn in that you slide pipe insulation/ pool noodles into and place that under the rope of the full cover.
Re: Outdoor storage cover
Posted: Sat May 05, 2018 10:29 am
by cmattj
Boatrover wrote: Sat May 05, 2018 10:23 am
I am in the same situation with my boat sitting next to the garage during boating season. I have a full Sunbrella cover and just ordered universal boat skirts from boat covers direct to cover the sides. I have not received them yet so I do not know how easy they are to put on each time. The skirt has a hem sewn in that you slide pipe insulation/ pool noodles into and place that under the rope of the full cover.
I'm curious too.. my full mooring cover has a skirt to cover the drives.. impossible to install on a hoist.
But a side skirt that doesn't whip against the hull side would be nice.. avoid the half fade caused by the cover.
Post some pics when you get them!
Re: Outdoor storage cover
Posted: Sat May 05, 2018 11:35 am
by Big Block Power
T5555500000 should post his side skirts or his skirt on here. It was pretty nice.
Tell Bald Mike, Chad from Bald Mike's North sent you.
Re: Outdoor storage cover
Posted: Sat May 05, 2018 12:33 pm
by cmattj
Big Block Power wrote: Sat May 05, 2018 11:35 am
T5555500000 should post his side skirts or his skirt on here. It was pretty nice.
Tell Bald Mike, Chad from Bald Mike's North sent you.
"Yo! Yo! Hey bald Mike.. you Gotz some skirts I might like"
Re: Outdoor storage cover
Posted: Sat May 05, 2018 1:19 pm
by Big Block Power
cmattj wrote: Sat May 05, 2018 12:33 pm
Big Block Power wrote: Sat May 05, 2018 11:35 am
T5555500000 should post his side skirts or his skirt on here. It was pretty nice.
Tell Bald Mike, Chad from Bald Mike's North sent you.
"Yo! Yo! Hey bald Mike.. you Gotz some skirts I might like"
You dork. He's not on here. Go to his website. You still drinking lemonade.lol