Boat Cover Ideas

[Dave R1]

I've been thinking about doing something different for a boat cover for my Weekender. Below is a picture of what I've got. It works well enough but it acts like a big parachute when towing the boat.

I've been considering something that would cover only the mast, boom and mainsail. Then perhaps I could do a cockpit cover as well. I'd have to pull the halyards from their cabintop fittings, coil them up and hang them inside the cover but I suppose that wouldn't be a big deal.

The cockpit cover would be a challenge with my sawhorse-like boom/mast crutch sitting on the seats. I could probably come up with a crutch that mounts on the stern deck.

Any thoughts?

[capt jake]

I use a cover simular to your when in storage, though I use a cover for the boom/sails when towing. This is the only photo that I could find of it. I made it myself and it works well to keep everything together when traveling. It is installed with a commercial grade zippers after it is laid on the boom.

I usually leave it on until we get out into the water. Reinstall it as we are coming into the marina.

Ah! I found two others.

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[Dave R1]

Thanks Jake. That looks good. How far do you have to tow your boat typically? I'd be concerned about the exposed halyards whipping and getting chafed at highway speed.

Next week we're planning to take the boat up to the cabin for a sail. That's about a 5 hour drive--mostly Interstate Hwy--without towing anything. I'd worry that all my lines would be tatters by the time we got thereunless they were tucked in somewhere.

Out of curiosity, did you make a pattern first? What did you use for the pattern?

[capt jake]

No real pattern. I took some circumfrential measurements along the boom and went from there.

Most of the laryards and sheets are inside the cover, though the ones that are exposed are lashed every couple of feet (to the boom) with straps.

I only have to travel about 5-10 miles. 50 MPH is about all the faster that I have gone, though I am sure I wouldn't have any problems taking it further at freeway speeds.

[Barry Pyeatt]

When Capt. Jake has it all tucked into the sleeve it is a pretty snug and secure package with nothing really to get whipped around. He did a good job on it. He placed pockets and shaped it quite well to fit everything. The front flaps are held together with velcro around the mast stub. I doubt that there would be any cause or worry about chaffing at highway speeds. And it is color coordinated with the rest of his boat. 8)

He made a great sleeve to slip the lapper into for travel on its luffwire and with the spool attached. It simply coils up in the forepeak locker for travel.

He does use a boom crutch which works out pretty slick for travel.

[Phil Gowans]

I used some of the extra kit material I had to make a boom cover. I made it with a hole in the front so that I could use it around the boom with a setup mast while on the water. I have never used it that way, but it works great for traveling. I put it around the boom, mainsail, mast, forestay and all halyards. I leave the shrouds out. It uses twist snaps on the bottom. When I return home I just throw a cheep tarp over the whole affair and boat.

I know I have had it up to 75mph, and if the UHPs ask that's the fastest it's gone.

[Dave R1]

Thanks Phil. Do the shrouds move around much in the breeze? Or do you pull them into the cover as much as possible?

[capt jake]

My shrouds stay out of the cover. I coil them up and place them in a 'canvas' tool pouch that I have. I stow this in the cockpit. The main sheet is also placed in the pouch

[Phil Gowans]

The canvas bag is a good idea. My shrouds have clunky deadeyes so I usually stick them in my seat hatches where I have fenders and other things so they won't cause damage when travelling. Getting them out of the way more would be nice.

Where can I get some nice heavy bags? I want some for my anchors and other things, but I never seem to have tome to make them.

[Barry Pyeatt]

If you have an Eddie Bauer Outlet store near you, they have some great heavy duty ripstop nylon gym bags that would work great. Quite often they are marked as low as $7-10. They have tough seams and good zippers. Other outlet stores have similar items available at some very affordable prices.