Whether you have a new boat or a used boat, one of the first things you should check is the boat cover to help protect your investment. Many people claim that a boat is a hole in the water into which you throw money, but a boat cover can help protect it from damage by the weather and just road debris while it is being transported. The sun and rain can wreak havoc on a boat, wood or fiberglass and to help it live to a ripe old age, it should be protected whenever it is not is in use.
The boat cover should fit snug around the entire top of the boat and held in place securely so the wind cannot blow it off. Especially, when it is trailered and being transported to and from the lake the cover should have a means to hold it in place, usually through a series of snaps placed about every 18-inches on the entire circumference of the boat.
The two most often used materials for a boat cover are canvas and synthetic materials and which one you choose will depend on the size of the boat and your budget. Canvas is one of the most popular choices as it retains is water resistant qualities while allowing the fabric the breath, reducing the incidence of dry rot in the boat or the areas to which it is secured to the craft.
Plastics Protect Against Water, May Promote Rot
There are boat cover materials made of plastic that are completely waterproof, preventing any water from getting into the boat. However, they do not breath like canvas and tend to hold any moisture from humidity inside the hull, possibly leading to wood rot in wooden boats. They can also promote discoloration on fiberglass boats, however they are also less expensive than a full-size, form-fitting canvas boat cover.
When transporting your boat, there is always the danger of road debris flying into the boat and the trailer can prevent most of it from striking the bottom of your boat. A good boat cover can provide protection to the top of the craft, but unless the cover goes low enough, debris can still strike the sides of the craft.
Many boat moving companies, when transporting a boat over a long distance, will wrap the entire boat in plastic to prevent damage from flying objects from the road. While this may not be practical for many personal owners, no matter what size boat cover you use, it will help prevent major damage.
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