CoverMATE vs. CoversSPORTS Covers -- need opinion

[GoBig]

I can get a Sunbrella CoverMATE cover right now with a discount for $563 (normal price $735). I've been wanting a CoverSPORTS cover, primarily because of the great reviews on here but also because of the ratchet system and strapless towing capability. I dont believe the CM cover offers this. Based on janswake's recent CoverSports purchase for his 236 at $890, I'm assuming my 210 would be a bit less expensive albeit comparable. I've been playing phone tag with CS but don't yet have a quote.

Does anyone have a CoverMATE sunbrella cover? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Trying to weigh whether the CS cover would be worth the extra ~$300 or so. Thanks...

[obd666]

am interested to hear feedback on this topic too, have been considering the sunbrella covermate for some time. am definitely looking at other options, especially if its going to be an aggravation to get one from coversports ... just took a look at the "performance polyguard" covers from white lake and they look like a great alternative also. if anyone has one of them, i would love to hear their opinion as well

[east tx skier]

I've got a Coversports cover and have not even seen a Covermate cover. So, as for a comparison, I can't offer an opinion. However, from the description, it seems as though it would be like comparing apples to oranges.

Both are sunbrella. So quality of materials is even in that regard. After that, it comes down to fit and use. I've never seen anything fit like these ratchet cinch rubrail hooked covers. They are drum tight, require no straps or poles, and are trailerable (as much as anything is truly trailerable). In other words, I have trailered with mine, but prefer to leave it off because it will move a bit if you get your speed up there. I figure the cover will last longer if I don't trailer with it on.

I have not yet seen a cover that uses straps achieve as tight a fit as one that uses hooks. The hooks put the cinch cord right under the rub rail allowing the ratchet to draw it in so tight that it's not going to move. You could easily install a turnbuckle/ratchet on any cover's cinch cord to get it extra tight without having to run loops. But keeping it below the rub rail when it's that tight can be tricky.

Also, if you leave the boat on the water for any length of time where you want to install a cover, not having to have attachment points for straps is a plus.

Don't get me wrong. I've had strap covers that do a fine job (probably as well as anything when you set them up correctly and prop them with poles. But I find that the hook and ratchet covers are much easier to deal with.

[janswake]

I definitely agree with tx skier.In my mind the extra money is well spent and since you have the old style 210 it will use even less fabric maybe lowering the price, but maybe not. I believe Brent has plenty of business where he lives so I am not sure distant customers make a huge difference in his mind.But the customer service was great, he called a couple times to let me know what was going on.The cover held up great with a massive snow load on it, see snow boat posting.I also took it for a small tow the other day with out the side hooks in and it was not moving at all only got up to 55 but seemed like it could handle higher speeds especially with the side straps installed.

[uwhusky]

From a covering your boat standpoint, and as a new Nautique owner, let me share my observations and see if people agree or disagree. This is about covers in general but if my assumption are correct, would steer me and others in the proper cover direction.

Trailering - most people, including myself think trailering with a cover is not necessary a good idea since the cover will move and potentially cause rub marks on the boat. At high speeds, most covers will have a rough time. So in general, even a trailerable cover is not necessary.

Storage - I store my boat in a garage but I think putting a cover on the boat even in a garage is smart. However, it won't need to be tight since no water or wind will be getting to it.

Docking / Vacationing - I will be doing some longer vacationing where I either leave my boat at a dock or put it on the trailer at nights and leave it in a hotel parking lot. In this case it seems like a cover is important to keep the elements out but to also hide what's in the boat. Even this, however, doesn't require a top notch cover.

It sounds like most people who want the really high end covers like CoverSports or the Vacu-Hold covers store their boats outdoors?

[east tx skier]

From a covering your boat standpoint, and as a new Nautique owner, let me share my observations and see if people agree or disagree. This is about covers in general but if my assumption are correct, would steer me and others in the proper cover direction.

Okay.

Trailering - most people, including myself think trailering with a cover is not necessary a good idea since the cover will move and potentially cause rub marks on the boat. At high speeds, most covers will have a rough time. So in general, even a trailerable cover is not necessary.

I agree about potential for the gel coat getting a work out and the cover having increased wear even though it is possible to trailer with a trailerable cover. A trailerable cover is not necessary if you don't have any plans of trailering with the cover on.

Storage - I store my boat in a garage but I think putting a cover on the boat even in a garage is smart. However, it won't need to be tight since no water or wind will be getting to it.

I agree. It won't need to be drum tight or supported like it would be if it was out in the weather.

Docking / Vacationing - I will be doing some longer vacationing where I either leave my boat at a dock or put it on the trailer at nights and leave it in a hotel parking lot. In this case it seems like a cover is important to keep the elements out but to also hide what's in the boat. Even this, however, doesn't require a top notch cover.

I like sunbrella, whether you want a trailerable cover or not. Leaving a boat out in the elements, especially rain or snow, requires, in my opinion, a cover that fits well, and is supported. Sunbrella is meant to breathe. Thus, if you don't support it (or have a drum tight cover like the hook and ratchet style covers), the water will pool and seep through the cover. Having the ratchet and hook style cover means no more messing with support poles and makes for a little less work after a long day on the lake.

It sounds like most people who want the really high end covers like CoverSports or the Vacu-Hold covers store their boats outdoors?

My boat is garaged unless we are at the lake house. And even then, it is ordinarily on a covered lift with the cover on it. It is sometimes stored outside at the lake house when there is another boat on the lift. It is for those times that I really appreciate having a cover that fits my boat so well.

I had a somewhat functioning cover that was due for replacement when I bought my Coversports cover. Having a closed bow with no tower, my price was a bit lower than what you guys with the larger boats and towers are looking at. Having owned it for more than a year, I would not want to own any other type of cover for my boat.

[uwhusky]

I hate to hijack this thread but do people have opinions on the Vacu-Hold cover vs. the CoverSports cover?

Vacu-Hold is rougly $1050
CoverSports is roughly $890

There is also this cover from White Lake Marine (Nautiqueparts.com) I am considering for $441.
http://nautiqueparts.com/skinautique...cover-1-1.aspx

The URL indicates it is for a 196 closed bow but the webpage and picture show a 210 with a pretty tight cover on.

[GoBig]

This is all great feedback and the discussion I was hoping for, thanks. As far as my usage, we do a couple trips a year where we load the boat up with camping gear and tow for about 4 hours. This would be the only time I would trailer with a cover to cover up the gear. The boat is occasionally but rarely left outside when it is at our house, otherwise it is in indoor storage.

[BrennanK]

I would recommend the Coversports cover.
I bought mine for several reasons, it didn't require any hardware to be placed on the boat, didn't need any support poles, and could be trailed with if the situation required it.

Putting any hardware on my boat was not going to happen, I looked at several cover manufactures that wanted to use buttons and other forms of attaching the cover. I would not allow it, I walked away at that point.

Being able to use the cover with out any extra hardware is a huge bonus for me, in a ski boat storage is at a premium.

Being able to trailer with the cover for me was a requirement. We always trailer with the cover on, and have never had any issues. We drive on a few dirt/gravel roads to get to our launch and they kick up a lot of dirt. Once the cover streches out you are able to tighten it down to the point where it doesn't move. Our cover also doesn't touch any of the gel coat below the rub rail anyways, so no rub marks.

[east tx skier]

ATI, for what it's worth, our coversports cover did not mess up our gel coat the few times we have trailered with it. You probably already know this, but keep and eye on the gel coat on the tops of the gunwhales. If you get any cover rub, it will be there. It's very slight and hard to see, but you can feel it if you drag your fingernails across it lightly.

I had it happen with my old boat before I knew better (before trailerable covers). It takes a fair amount of polishing to get it out. I know some people who stuff towels under the cover at any contact points with the gel coat. I know another guy who had a sheep skin lining sewed into the underside of his trailerable cover. That's overkill, but it works great.