April's Boat Covers

There are several types of fasteners that secure your boat cover to your boat or connect different covers or parts of covers to each other. The particular application to which you need a connection is paramount to the best decision made. As a person who spent many years in the boat maintenance business, taking covers off and putting them back on, I have a great deal of insight into what works effectively and efficiently.

Most single boat covers, especially the type used on small boats, are secured to the boat via the elastic edging that is sewing into the edges. This works great when the cover is sized well. There are usually also tie down ropes that are used to secure the cover to the boat trailer or boat lift.

Another method of connection is the use of snaps. In one application the male end is connected to the surface of the boat and the female end is attached to the cover itself. If the boat cover is well constructed, it will match up well and hold the cover tightly against the boats surface. It’s then easy to go along holding the cover in one hand and snapping it into place with the other. They usually last for a significant amount of time and are fairly easy to change out if they need replacing. Often snaps are used to gathering edges of a cover together such as on grab rails. These seem to pass the test of time also.

As a quick side note, if you ever experience shrinkage to your boat cover to the point that the snap will not reach there is a product called "Extend-a-snap" which increases the distance by ¾ of and inch. This can come in very handy at times.

On another page we will discuss other fastener options for your boat covers.