Boat cover fabrics compared: polyester, acrylic and canvas
Boat cover fabric explained: polyester, solution-dyed acrylic, cotton canvas and vinyl-coated polyester, denier vs ounces, waterproof vs breathable, labels.
Guides to boat covers, bimini tops and winter covering
Boat covers that fit and last
Plain, step-by-step guides to measuring for a boat cover or bimini top, choosing the fabric and fit, tying it down for the road, covering for winter, and keeping canvas clean and sound.
Guides by subject
Four sections: covers, bimini tops, winter covering and canvas care.
Boat covers
How to measure a boat for a cover, custom vs styled-to-fit vs universal, fabrics, support poles, tie-downs for trailering, and covers for pontoons, center consoles, outboards and personal watercraft.
6 guides
Bimini tops
How to measure for a bimini top, what bow count and frame material change, installing and adjusting a top, trailering with it stowed, and replacing the canvas.
2 guides
Winter covering
Shrink wrapping a boat step by step and safely, a fitted cover vs shrink wrap, snow on a cover, recycling the wrap in spring, and indoor vs outdoor storage.
2 guides
Canvas care
Cleaning covers and bimini tops, removing and preventing mildew, restoring water repellency, repairing tears, seams, snaps and zippers, and storing canvas off season.
0 guidesNew guides
Boat Cover vs Shrink Wrap: Which Is Better for Winter?
Boat cover vs shrink wrap for winter: snow, ventilation and mildew, winter access, seasons of use, waste and cost factors, and how storage and climate decide it.
Custom, styled-to-fit or universal: which boat cover fits
Custom boat covers vs styled-to-fit and universal: how each is cut and sized, when each is the right buy, and how to find a custom fit cover for your boat.
Boat cover support poles and stopping water pooling
How a boat cover support pole stops water pooling: why covers sag, where poles go, how many, strap systems, tension, snow limits and removing poles to tow.
Bimini tops for boats: choosing bows, frame and fabric
How to choose a bimini top: 2, 3 or 4 bows, aluminum or stainless frame, round or square tube, acrylic, polyester or vinyl fabric, mounts, boots and pontoons.
How to measure a boat for a cover: length, beam and fit
How to measure a boat for a cover: centerline length, beam at the rub rail, what to add or leave out, the heights that matter and how size charts work.
How to tie down a boat cover for trailering
A trailerable boat cover survives the highway only when it is fitted bow first, pulled under the rub rail and strapped to the trailer frame. Steps and checks.
Boat covers: measuring, fit and fabric
How to measure a boat for a cover, custom vs styled-to-fit vs universal, fabrics, support poles, tie-downs for trailering, and covers for pontoons, center consoles, outboards and personal watercraft.
Boat cover fabrics compared: polyester, acrylic and canvas
Boat cover fabric explained: polyester, solution-dyed acrylic, cotton canvas and vinyl-coated polyester, denier vs ounces, waterproof vs breathable, labels.
Custom, styled-to-fit or universal: which boat cover fits
Custom boat covers vs styled-to-fit and universal: how each is cut and sized, when each is the right buy, and how to find a custom fit cover for your boat.
Boat cover support poles and stopping water pooling
How a boat cover support pole stops water pooling: why covers sag, where poles go, how many, strap systems, tension, snow limits and removing poles to tow.
Bimini tops: sizing, choosing and fitting
How to measure for a bimini top, what bow count and frame material change, installing and adjusting a top, trailering with it stowed, and replacing the canvas.
Bimini tops for boats: choosing bows, frame and fabric
How to choose a bimini top: 2, 3 or 4 bows, aluminum or stainless frame, round or square tube, acrylic, polyester or vinyl fabric, mounts, boots and pontoons.
How to measure for a bimini top: width, length, height
How to measure for a bimini top: mounting width between the mounts, length front to back, frame height from the mount up, plus headroom and folding clearance.
Covering and storing a boat for winter
Shrink wrapping a boat step by step and safely, a fitted cover vs shrink wrap, snow on a cover, recycling the wrap in spring, and indoor vs outdoor storage.
Boat Cover vs Shrink Wrap: Which Is Better for Winter?
Boat cover vs shrink wrap for winter: snow, ventilation and mildew, winter access, seasons of use, waste and cost factors, and how storage and climate decide it.
How to Shrink Wrap a Boat for Winter, Step by Step
How to shrink wrap a boat yourself: the support frame, perimeter band, heat welding, vents and doors, fire and carbon monoxide safety, and recycling in spring.