Single Boat Cover Fit

If you are starting with a cover that you have purchased with your boat, you may have been given instructions from the dealership and may have had time to practice uncovering and recovering your boat with the help of someone there. It should be obvious if the cover is not fitted properly. If you purchased your boat cover separately give yourself time to get acquainted with it by following the instructions that came with the cover as well as the tips included on this site. Once installed correctly, check for proper fit.

If there is too much sag in your boat cover or fits very loosely, you need to point that out to the dealer or manufacturer. A boat cover that is too big will take on a lot of water when it rains which has a tendency to stretch the cover even more. Another possibility is that an oversized cover could possibly blow off in high winds. Also it looks plain sloppy. Often there are additional tie down metal reinforced holes to secure the cover to your trailer but these should be used as extra security and not to compensate for an oversized boat cover.

If your boat cover seems too tight, this should also be pointed out to the dealer. A cover that is too tight will be very hard to re-install. If it take more than one person using a normal amount of strength to pull the cover over the boat than it is too tight. Usually a single boat cover utilize a form fitting shape that is held in place with elastic around the edges with make it "hug" the boat. If the cover is too tight it may slip off the edges and leave your boat inadequately covered. This will leave gaps that might also catch the wind and get blown off.

Another disadvantage to a undersized boat cover is that if it is forced into place, it could wear quickly at the stress points such as where it pulls over the instrument panel, steering wheel, ski pole, rod holders, etc. The seams of the cover will be strained and this could lead to separation or rips. This could also wear the area that takes the brunt of the forced fit. Varnished wood will wear quicker when the cover is too tight and rubs against it.