Waterproof Boat Covers

Boat covers are used for a variety of reasons. They protect against dirt, grime, ultraviolet rays, and random elements that are blown around in the air. Another big reason is to keep rainwater or over-spray from hoses sprinklers etc. out of the boat.

It is nice to be able to use your boat after a rainstorm and not have to spend part of the day mopping up water. It also helps the interior surfaces in better shape.

Most boat covers manufactured today are coated with a fluorocarbon finish, which enhances water repellency. This is usually very effective under normal conditions. If your area happens to have record rainfall and there are places that the cover sags where water accumulates in massive amounts, then you may have some leakage into the interior areas of your boat.

One way to avoid this problem is to figure out which areas might take on water and put a post underneath it to raise that area up and allow for drainage. Some of the companies listed on this site carry telescoping poles, which are very convenient because they adjustable.

This waterproofing finish needs to be replenished every few years or after a through cleaning. See our page Boat Covers Care and Cleaning for some tips and product recommendations to complete this task. These tips also relate to any canvas awnings or patio furniture covers that you may have.

Some boat owners use a regular boat cover and then add a standard issue tarp. This may seem redundant but does have its merits. The fitted boat cover protects your boat in the best way possible. The tarp adds a layer of waterproofing, plus protects the boat cover itself. The down side is that you give up the clean look of just the boat cover and now you have an extra layer to remove when you want to look at or work on your boat. That is obviously an individual decision.

In conclusion, there is not too much problem with the water protestants properties of most standard or custom boat covers. The materials used are manufactured with these standards in mind. Feel free to inquire about this subject when considering your purchase.