Boat cover for Sport Nautique

[swc5150]

I do the same thing Brennan does. Quick and easy once you get it down.

[east tx skier]

On land or on the lift? Do you have open walking access all the way around the boat? My understanding is that the Coversports covers use the same exact design as the Rankin, as the business was started by a former Rankin employee. If you could get my Rankin on while my '90 Ski Nautique is on its lift in under 3 minutes, then that is something I would pay to see! Ive had this cover for 4 seasons... its super tight and is built like a tank- but it is NOT easy to put on when the boat is in the water! I am not dealing with tower cut outs, etc, either.

Theres also no "half-arsing" the Rankin... if I ski late and plan to ski again early the next morning, and just want something to protect the boat from dew, I cant just toss it on as a dust cover. Maybe I wont tighten the straps *quite* as much, but theres really not much time to be saved over the full up, water tight install.

Now that Ive got a canopy for the lift, I bought another cover that will be easier to put on... Im looking forward to the speedier cover on/off process! The Rankin will be reserved for when I tow.

Again, I would highly recommend taking a look at Angola. I would also put in a call to skiboatcovers.com, as Ive heard very good things about their covers as well. I dont have any first hand experience with them though. Also call around to see if someone local can make you something custom. Its always nice to support local businesses... but in my experience, their quotes are 50%-100% higher than a comparable mooring cover from Angola or skiboatcovers, and even slightly more expensive than a towable cover like a Rankin.

It's a little trickier in the water or on the lift, but I just start at the nose and roll it back. I unroll it a bit and toss the front of the cover forward to hook the nose. At each hook, I pop it over the rub rail. as I walk it back. Cinch the transom hooks and straps and, while standing on the platform, cince up the draw string. Doesn't usually take me more than 5 minutes.

On land, it's easier. But the same is true with any cover. Unroll it. Tighten the center transom strap. Do the side hooks. Do the rear hooks. Tighten the draw string.

[TRBenj]

Interesting tricks guys- thanks for sharing!

I cant seem to get the hooks to stay on the rubrail until the cover is close to being in place (ie, the back fastened loosely). Seems there is always a few popping off as I continue to roll it back. I do have it adjusted super tight though.

Regardless, Im looking forward to not having to snake all 5 straps through my platform slats, plus string the cinch rope through the platform brackets, avoiding the pitots, etc every time I cover up. The euro tail of my '90 probably makes it a little trickier than some of the other boats whose rub rails extend all the way around the boat. I imagine it will last a lot longer too, if I only use it to tow.

[swc5150]

I'll show you my handy work in person in Green Lake this summer. We'll be camped next to Quinner.

Brennan,
You're not far from GL, WI. You should come on down to the reunion this summer - it's worth the trip!

[TRBenj]

I'll show you my handy work in person in Green Lake this summer. We'll be camped next to Quinner.

Brennan,
You're not far from GL, WI. You should come on down to the reunion this summer - it's worth the trip!

Sounds good!

Ill second that sentiment about GL... its worth the trip whether youre close or not. 1200 miles each way for me.