Q: I keep my aluminum boat in my driveway, where it is exposed to the elements year-round. I haven’t been able to find a boat cover for it that lasts more than a couple of years. I bought one this spring, and it already has a huge rip. Is there a trick or tip you can give that will help covers last longer? I put a couple of homemade stands in my boat to give the cover a high point in the middle, hoping it would allow rainfall to cascade down and off the boat. Water, however, still manages to find a way to pool, and, if there is enough, causes the material to shred.
Jeff Wilson, Thunder Bay
A: Senior Editor Gord Ellis responds: The boat tarp issue is a never-ending struggle. It was worse when I stored my boats outside, as snow and ice are the devil. I use a cover that came with my boat that has internal supports. So, that helps if it is outside and exposed to the elements. I’ve had bad luck with one-size-fits-all covers. They tend to be looser and not always of the best quality. If you are trailering, all covers or tarps need to be snug. Flapping equals ripping and that’s not good.
A: Contributor Tim Allard responds: I have never used aftermarket generic tarps, aside from buying several Canadian Tire tarps for coverage during winter — and most were done after two winters, even after I built an interior support frame out of PVC piping. For my second-last boat, I had a custom tarp made at a boat upholstery shop that also fixes seats. I bought a tarp for the Lund I use now. With both of these situations, it is a custom fit. This is going to help with water management by minimizing excess material and low spots where rain can pool. The materials on both were/are also quite good, which adds durability.
My suggestion would be to consider investing in a custom product. It will last for years and while it might be more costly up front, the hassle it will prevent in terms of time and buying new tarps every few years might be worth it.
Also try elevating the front of the boat as much as possible using the boat trailer jack to encourage water drainage. You can also go out in heavy rain and remove what you can to get the weight off the tarp and prevent damage.
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Originally published in the Fall 2023 issue of Ontario OUT of DOORS
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