Hey Jeff ? about your boat cover

[Miljack]

Jeff,
I saw a post of your boat with the cover, and you stated that it had snaps under the rub rail, is that correct? Your cover does not have a drawstring?
If just snaps, how do you get the cover taut like that? It appears as though your cover fits very well.

Another question for those that have the "extended" pylon ala Pro Air/Air boats, do you use the cover support pole at about the same height as the pylon, or lower? If I set mine up lower, I can't get the water to drain, and when I set it up the same heigh, I'm getting big(!) pools next to the gunwales almost right in line with the engine cover (DD boat). My cover is a Sunbrella cover that was built in Indiana(?), purchased from Craig @ NECC.

thanks,
Jack

[NautiqueJeff]

I really like my boat cover. Yes, it snaps under the rubrail, and no, it doesn't have a drawstring. It stays in place very well, even at highway speeds on the trailer. It has two support poles. One is in the bow, one is at about the center of the main section. I also cut a piece of PVC, lined it with an old towel, and placed it over the pylon behind my rear seat. With those supports in place, I don't have any water pooling up on the cover at all. In the picture below, you can also see the cutout for the Ram-Lin trailer crash pad. There is a mini bungee cord that keeps the flap in place when the boat is on the trailer. The cover was custom made by a shop in Ohio at the request of Mid-Ohio Watersports.

[scottrob]

Jeff - can you elaborate on the snaps more?

You got snaps put on your boat? OR you have something that grips the rub rails?

I've been putting off snaps - so am very curious.

[ScarletArrow]

More information is found...

Here

and

Here

[NautiqueJeff]

I have regular snaps mounted to the underside of the rubrail. You would never notice them when the cover is off. I have been totally happy with this setup. I just towed about 300 miles with the cover on yesterday through rain, and it did as well as it always does.

[redelf75]

Our cover is just like Jeff's but without the crashpad cutout or the swimplatform section. We are very pleased as well and the rubrail snaps are only visible upon close inspection at a low eye level.

[NautiqueJeff]

I like the way the back of yours doesn't cover the platform, and is cut out for the lifting ring. There's no reason to have a fiberglass platform covered. I wish mine was like that, although 210 lifting rings are different.

[Miljack]

Jeff,
Is it difficult to get tension on the cover, and get the snaps onto the bottom of the rubrail? Are your snaps sewn into the "seam" of the cover?
Sorry for all of the ? but my cover is pooling badly, and I'm trying to get it fixed before the cover is totally stretched out of shape.

thanks,
Jack

[dabigkahuna]

I'm thinking of converting my Nautique draw-string cover into a snap-on cover. How do you attach the snaps, do they go into the fiberglass or just the rubber? What are the specifications for the screw/snaps (length, diameter, etc.)?

THANKS!

[NautiqueJeff]

Jeff,
Is it difficult to get tension on the cover, and get the snaps onto the bottom of the rubrail? Are your snaps sewn into the "seam" of the cover?
Sorry for all of the ? but my cover is pooling badly, and I'm trying to get it fixed before the cover is totally stretched out of shape.

thanks,
Jack

The tension isn't too hard to deal with. It is necessary to zip the tower leg sections of the cover together before snapping that part down. The snaps are in the edge of the cover, and the material is doubled over so as to give more support. The cover is still nice and tight, even three years into use. I haven't had a single snap pull out of the cover or the rubrail.

[igkya]

IMO, Do not put snaps into your gel coat... PITA when waxing. If they do break off, you now have gel coat maintenance. whereas if they were put in the rubrail, you can easily remove the broken piece and put in a new stud. Just make sure you use stainless snaps. Size doesn't matter... right?

[Socbum]

Miljack,

I have a cover similiar to Jeffs except it doesn't cover the platform. The snaps are screwed into the bottom of the rubrail not the gelcoat so the stay out of sight. The snaps can be ripped out if you come into contact with a dock. I had to replace one of the snap bases this weekend due to a large wake bouncing us around while I was in my dock slip (GRRRRRRR).

I found the stainless snaps at West Marine and screwed a new base into the rub rail. Good as new!

My cover set up includes 2 tension poles and a PVC extension that goes over the ski pylon.
With the snaps, pvc pylon extension and the adjustable tension poles I can get a perfect upside down V so the rain water drains off the boat.

Hope that helps!