Single Boat Cover

There are a few ways to accomplish this task. One way is to tie a strip of cloth or rope to the tie down hole that is closest to the front. Make sure it is a different color than the cover. If there is not a hole in this spot, a few stitches will secure it. Another way is to mark the underside of this area with permanent marker. Make sure the ink is completely waterproof and rub proof. A "B" for "bow" or "F" for "front" will suffice. Make sure it is big enough that it will stand out easily when you are searching for it. Then cover the bow of the boat first and pull over the entire length of the boat from front to back.

To make covering your boat cover easier, make sure you uncover and roll or fold it in such a manner that the recovering process is made easier. The method that has worked best for us is to start at the stern (back) of the boat and pull up on the elastic edge until it comes loose form the hull. Continue forward up the sides of the boat and fold toward the center of the boat. If the boat is very wide you might need more than one fold. As you are doing this, roll or fold the cover forward until you get to the bow of the boat at the very front (nose). Be careful in this area not to let the entire bundle slip off the boat to the ground or worse yet, the water.

Store the cover in a safe dry area. Make sure that it will not get jostled around so much that it becomes unfolded and wrinkled. If this is a possibility, tie a rope around the folded or rolled up cover to keep it in the desired position. If it will be stored for an extended period of time, make sure it is dry. Mold and mildew can accumulate here and it is very difficult to remove, not to mention the odor that might occur.

If you keep your boat outside, it is a good idea to have a pole hold up the center of the boat cover. This will help keep rainwater from accumulating and put less stress on the elastic edges of the cover. You can make this yourself with doweling, old broom handle etc. as long as you make sure there are no sharp edges to the end that will contact the cover itself. Many companies make telescoping poles made for this purpose that are very easy to use.