Keeping Your Boat Properly Covered & Tight is Important

A poly cover is designed for outdoor use and will remain waterproof for approximately two years of regular use in UV sunlight. A Sunbrella canvas cover is much heavier duty and will last ten years or more.

The cover has a perimeter line, which is tied at the transom. This line needs to be tied quite tightly to insure that there will be no sagging of the cover when the rains come. If you’ve received your cover with your boat at time of purchase, your cover’s perimeter line has already been tied with the correct tension. Do not untie the line unless stretching occurs (usually over a period of several months). It is not necessary to untie the perimeter if you use the following 4 steps when putting your cover on and again when taking your cover off.

1. Stretch the cover over the boat and hook the bow end over the bow. Leave the sides alone for now (this is important).
2. Hook the stern (back) end of the cover over the stern.
3. Pull one of the sides (preferably the one with the lines attached) down over the same side (gunwale).
4. Pull the remaining side down over its gunwale. It will snap into place with a little extra effort and the cover will be tight.

Now you can stretch the lines, or bungee cords if you prefer these, under the hull and tie or hook them to the other side. If it is too difficult to get the line/bungee under, use a "puller" line (length of cord with loops in the end, which acts as an extension and can be walked around or flipped through under the hull). Attach to end of line or bungee, then remove the "puller" when the line is through and tie or snap into the grommet.

If you're storing the boat where there's a chance the cover can fill with water or be collapsed by snow we recommend installing a "ridgepole" running from the transom to the bow. A Ratcheting Webbing Strap works great for this. Loop a line through the stern eyes and over the transom and another through the bow eye and over the bow. Attach the hooks on the ratchet strap to these loops and cinch up tight. Voila! Instant ridgepole and no water pooling in your cover. Alternatively a piece of rope and a "trucker’s hitch" could be used to perform this job.

1. Untie or unsnap one side of the lines or bungees.
2. Pull up one side of the cover from the gunwale and let it lie in the boat.
3. Pull up opposite side of the cover.
4. Now the tension is off and you can unhook the bow, then the stern.
5. Fold the cover in half lengthways and roll up for storage.