Rankin Cover

[SKIER206]

Hi all I am looking for any one with a rankin cover on a 206. I am thinking of getting a new one but have yet to see how they tie up in the rear and if they cover the platform. Thanks





Current Boat

2007 SN206

[TRBenj]

RE: Rankin Cover

I have a Rankin for my '90. Due to the way they attach, they can only cover the platform if you have them add the optional sun skirts. Here is a 216 with a Rankin- your 206 would be very similar:









My '90 with the skirts:

[raygunclan]

RE: Rankin Cover

Got my cover from the dealer - think it was a rankin and it did cover the platform on my 06 220.... When I had my 83 SN with a teak platform I did not have a cover for platform, wish I did.

[raygunclan]

RE: Rankin Cover

ok - from RBenj pics - i did not have a rankin from the dealer

[DavidF]

RE: Rankin Cover

I have a Rankin on my '93 SN. For my '99 NSS, I decided against the Rankin cover. For me, here are the pros and cons of the Rankin cover.

Pros:
1. Does not require a suppurt pole.
2. Trailers well.
3. Good quality

Cons:
1. Hard and time consuming to install.
2. Rear attachment was totally neglected in the design and just plain sucks.
3. Does not cover transom or swim platform. I purchased extra fabric to make a platform sun shade and then had to figure out how to attach....Rankin would not do it.

For me, the Cons outweighed the Pros. I will not buy Rankin again.

[Quinner]

RE: Rankin Cover

Skier206,

I picked up a spare cover for my 206 on EBay for +/- $50 brand new, as it turned out the quality and fit was equal to the cover the dealer provided at delivery, for substantially less money. Think the EBay cover was a Carver brand, only use it when towing.


David,

Did you purchase a cover for the SS yet? IIRC the SS has a tower, as you mention "time consuming" on the Rankin, that has been the case on both my tower boats, three different covers, all drawstring with Velcro flaps around the tower legs and break in drawstring, very time consuming to install. The best solution I have seen was on a MC, used a strap instead of string with buckles like your ski vest would have at the breaks for the tower legs, quick and easy to install.

[TRBenj]

Re: RE: Rankin Cover

Cons:
1. Hard and time consuming to install.
2. Rear attachment was totally neglected in the design and just plain sucks.
3. Does not cover transom or swim platform. I purchased extra fabric to make a platform sun shade and then had to figure out how to attach....Rankin would not do it.

David, I can see where youre coming with on #1. I use my Rankin as a mooring cover and always cover overnight- I wish there was a way to "half a$$" the install when I know it wont rain, but there isnt. Other than that, I think the painstaking installation process is a necessary evil if you want a tight fitting, trailerable cover that doesnt use snaps.

I understand your gripe on the rear install. Luckily my '90 can use the slats in the platform (unlike your '93). Without this, I would have had to get a little creative. Luckily many of the newer boat have a rub rail that extends all the way around the boat that can be latched onto (like the 216 above).

As far as the platform cover goes, did you ask Rankin to put a skirt on back? They had no problem installing mine. It works great to keep the sun off the transom and platform.

[skiinxs]

RE: Re: RE: Rankin Cover

The 206 is pretty much the same as a 196 in the back. On my 196, 3 of the 5 straps have a good attachment point, 1 at center lifting eye, one on each grab handle. For the two outside straps I use a couple of their "J-hooks" that are normally used to grab the rub rail. A "d-ring" is attached to the end of the j-hook and the strap is run through the d-ring and buckled. I then place so it grabs the lip of the platform in between the platform and transom and pull the strap tight. Works great. The covers do not cover the platform.
Dave

[DavidF]

Re: RE: Rankin Cover

Did you purchase a cover for the SS yet? IIRC the SS has a tower, as you mention "time consuming" on the Rankin, that has been the case on both my tower boats, three different covers, all drawstring with Velcro flaps around the tower legs and break in drawstring, very time consuming to install. The best solution I have seen was on a MC, used a strap instead of string with buckles like your ski vest would have at the breaks for the tower legs, quick and easy to install.

Yes, I did. It came from Carver Industries via Websweeper.com and was substantially cheaper than a Rankin ($400 less). The cover is Sunbrella fabric with velco closures around the tower legs and a perimeter drawsting that hides in a velcro pocket. The cover does require a support pole, but is vastly quicker and easier to install than the Rankin cover on my '93 SN. The cover covers the swim platform and was made specifically for the '99 NSS/SAN with the 1st gen FCT. Also, the manufacturer/retailer sent me a Sunbrella color swatch book and said I could pick any color fabric...there must have been 50 different choices.

[gride300]

RE: Re: RE: Rankin Cover

out of curiosity does anyone know who makes mc's covers? the one from my 05' x-2 was amazing besides not covering the rear&platform. it had 4 clips, one at each tower mount, two ratchet's on the back, and a vent on each side near the side of the window. the best thing is that it was fully trailerable even at 80mph. it also seemed like a lot more of breathable material than the one that came with my 210. sorry to hijack the thread.

[M3Fan]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Rankin Cover

For the two outside straps I use a couple of their "J-hooks" that are normally used to grab the rub rail.
Dave

Can you order these J-hooks separately? I've never attached my two outside straps because they really have no place to go, and as a result I get a lot of pooling in the back of the cover with heavy rain.

[Hollywood]

Re: RE: Rankin Cover

all drawstring with Velcro flaps around the tower legs and break in drawstring, very time consuming to install. The best solution I have seen was on a MC, used a strap instead of string with buckles like your ski vest would have at the breaks for the tower legs, quick and easy to install.

So why don't you just install some clips on your drawstring at the tower legs? You can put buckles on a string just like a strap. Plastic, no metal to damage the gel and loop the other end of the rope. Wow.

$2.52 for 10!

[skiinxs]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Rankin Cover

For the two outside straps I use a couple of their "J-hooks" that are normally used to grab the rub rail.
Dave

Can you order these J-hooks separately? I've never attached my two outside straps because they really have no place to go, and as a result I get a lot of pooling in the back of the cover with heavy rain.

You can. They are actually making a couple of them for me right now for my '09. Give Rankin a call, they are very Accommodating.
Dave

[skiinxs]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Rankin Cover

out of curiosity does anyone know who makes mc's covers? the one from my 05' x-2 was amazing besides not covering the rear&platform. it had 4 clips, one at each tower mount, two ratchet's on the back, and a vent on each side near the side of the window. the best thing is that it was fully trailerable even at 80mph. it also seemed like a lot more of breathable material than the one that came with my 210. sorry to hijack the thread.

I'm not sure who is making them, but they are now also making the same type of cover for Correct Craft. (They are the new factory cover)
Dave

[Quinner]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Rankin Cover

Hollywood,

The 99' had plastic clips, they did speed things up a bit but did not hold up if you pulled the drawstring tight.

David,

The spare cover for my 206 is a Carver, picked it up on EBay really cheap and was pleasantly surprised at the quality and fit.