Need cover for 211

[sfjakey]

OK, I've moved and my POS sharkskin cover which doesn't breathe is causing huge mildew problems in my 211. I have to leave the boat outside uncovered and am looking for my best options. I have a sunbrella full cover on my fishing boat and it is awesome. Breathes and stays dry inside. What are my current options for a 211 cover? Rankin is out of business from what I can tell, and not much about covercraft anymore either. let me know, thanks

[SBRS]

You can order a sunbrella cover from Westland Covers. This is the company that made your sharkskin cover. It will fit the same as the sharkskin...the fabric will be the only difference.

[swc5150]

Email Brent at Coversports. He left Rankin to start his own biz, and his covers are awesome. There are lots of pics throughout PN.

theprocover@gmail.com

[ETC]

Here is what I have on my 211 and have been very happy.

http://www.intracoastalproducts.com/

It's a great summer cover and I don't have mold issues putting it away.

ETC

[swc5150]

Search coversports, and select the following thread: "where to get a mooring cover for my 236"

Janswake has some photos of his 230 covered up. No poles necessary, even in a snow storm! Plus they're designed to tow as well. I don't get any kickbacks from Brent, he just flat-out makes the best cover.

[BrennanK]

I don't get any kickbacks from Brent, he just flat-out makes the best cover.

I couldn't agree more. I wouldn't even consider another cover after owning one of Brent's.

[TRBenj]

Do you want a towable cover? Or just a mooring/storage cover?

Towable covers like Rankin and Coversports are great- they fit terrific and you can tow in any weather. When just putting them on for storage/mooring, theyre overkill though. Its a 10-20 minute ordeal to put it on, even as a dustcover- it fits nice and tight, and it cant be "tossed on".

If you dont need a super tight, towable cover, then a regular mooring cover might work better- and be cheaper. Westlands are ok, but Skiboatcovers and Angola Canvas are probably better. They can be tented and strapped and be 100% water tight, or just tossed over the boat as a dust/dew cover. This style of cover is not really meant to use while towing (the pattern isnt that precise, ie not as tight) but goes on much easier- just a 1-2 minute job.

Pick your poison! I have a Rankin for my '90 (which I love), but since its lift kept and rarely towed, I find myself wishing I had a "looser" cover that was easier to put on.

[swc5150]

TR's correct. A Coversports/Rankin is not as easy to put on as a simple throw cover. I won't use my Coversports when the boat is sitting on the lift, under a canopy either. It's reserved for towing, or when a storm is coming in, and I want to keep the boat wrapped tight. Yikes, now we have you buying 2 covers!

[sfjakey]

I will never tow with the cover on. It seems ridiculous to me. Why cover the boat for the 2 hour ride, then use it in the sun on the lake uncovered all day? Destroys the cover and possibly the boat. I am looking for a cover that will keep the boat dry in rain storms, and not sweat or leak like the sharkskin does when the fog /dew forms. Right now I have to uncover the boat EVERY day to prevent mildew. I will also leave the boat on a lift in the summer, so the cover has to be able to withstand some wind as well. Skiboatcovers seems interesting, any other ideas?

[swc5150]

I use it to tow when the weather is bad, otherwise I tow it naked. If you want the ultimate cover to do what you want, it's still a Coversports. They're the best, but are expensive, which is why I use a cheapy when it's under the canopy.

[sfjakey]

spoke to my dealer and he recommends Carver Covers for what I need. I researched it here on the site and the posts seem to concur. At $515, it seems like a pretty good deal, so I'll give it a shot. 5 year warranty as well.

[swc5150]

That's a good price on a nice cover. A Coversports would likely be close to double that.

[sfjakey]

swc5150, I see your list of boats in your signature. I had an 84 Mastercraft powerslot stars and stripes. By far my favorite skiboat ever. Yeah the spray was brutal, but what a flat wake and what a blast to drive. A friend still has one we ski behind, it's like going out in a 69 Camaro, nostalgic.

[swc5150]

Our '86 was a dream come true at the time, and extremely fun to drive. The spray was killer, but it had a great wake. Those boats were unique to every other boat you'd see on the water back then. Now days it almost hard to tell, from a distance, what type of boat is coming at you. There was no mistaking an MC Skier or SN back then! I'd like to buy one, but they still catch a decent price. Just like a classic Camaro.

[Mikeski]

I have had 3 different covers for my 211, a moldskin (whoops, I mean sharkskin), a custom full sided sunbrella cover made by a local shop, and a Rankin. I bought the Rankin used, it was full of mold, had some minor tears in it, and needed the rear straps replaced. I have both sunbrella covers now and use them interchangeably. The first couple years the sunbrella works good. Once it gets dirty and starts to leak there it's difficult to stop it from getting moldy again. Last year I completely cleaned the Rankin and re-waterproofed it with 303 fabric guard, after the first two rains it was moldy again. So I threw in the towel and moved it to a covered rental storage garage this winter.