To cover or not to cover?

[ATotalSaint]

I'm new to having a nice boat (Nautique GS20 last year) and wondering when I should / should not cover it. During the summer I expect to use the boat for 3 days in a row then away for 4 days each week. Anytime I'm not out on the water I have it on a Sunstream boat lift - sunny during first half the day / shaded the later half.

The cover is a pain to put on and I think promotes mold on my Seadeck and upholstery - I'd love to use it less but more important to me that I protect my investment.

Thoughts?

[GMLIII]

Everyone is going to have a difference opinion on this but if it was my boat under the circumstances you noted above, I would have it off the boat on the 3 days you use it and put it on for the 4 days of non use regardless of the season. I don't know if your boat lift is covered or not but if it is not covered and rain is in the forecast during your use time, I would put the cover on it.

Bottom line the covers are a pain in the **** to put on but you need to protect your investment

[charlesml3]

So covering your boat comes down to a couple of points:

- The sun is REALLY bad for your vinyl. It's unreal how much damage sun can do to uncovered and unprotected vinyl. You most definitely do NOT want to leave the boat completely uncovered. If you do, you'll get 2-3 years out of your vinyl.

- Covering a soaking wet boat is bad. I see so many people do this. They don't wipe it down, they don't let the boat dry. They just get home, throw the cover on it and go to bed. This is bad, but not as bad as completely uncovered. The problem with covering a wet boat is moisture which leads to mildew. All that water is trapped and cannot adequately evaporate so it just sits. It'll eventually cause mildew in the boat. Light mildew is fairly easy to clean. 409 or Fantastic does a good job. A spray bottle with bleach & water will as well. If the mildew gets heavy, it'll stain the vinyl and those are much more difficult to remove.

So the best thing to do is let the boat dry. Open up all of the seats and hatches. Let everything dry and then cover it. If you cannot do this, then look into getting a dehumidifier and putting it in the boat under the cover.

Keep your vinyl clean and protected with 303 Aerospace. It'll last you decades if you do.

-Charles

[Bevostein]

For me nighttime bugs and spiders (and spider poop) are a real issue on my dock so the cover goes on every night before dark. I leave it uncovered up until dark to allow it dry out as much as possible. If that wasn't the case I would leave it uncovered.

[GMLIII]

For me nighttime bugs and spiders (and spider poop) are a real issue on my dock so the cover goes on every night before dark. I leave it uncovered up until dark to allow it dry out as much as possible. If that wasn't the case I would leave it uncovered.

Yep I have that spider poop problem too and that Total Awesome spray from Dollar General is cheap and it works great on the spider poop removal

[Bevostein]

Even when covered I get some spider poop in the vinyl around the tower legs. I use 303 protector on it and it wipes right off. It is not as harsh as the Totally Awesome and works great

[GMLIII]

Even when covered I get some spider poop in the vinyl around the tower legs. I use 303 protector on it and it wipes right off. It is not as harsh as the Totally Awesome and works great

I will have to try that. I had been using Totally Awesome to remove the poop first then went back over all the vinyl with 303 Aero

[sarasetp]

Side question...if you get mold on SeaDek or vinyl, how do you take it off. Bleach?


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2016 G23

[greggmck]

Side question...if you get mold on SeaDek or vinyl, how do you take it off. Bleach?


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2016 G23

West Marine or Overton' sells a mold remover. The 3M works very well and is safe for all colors of vinyl and sea deck. I would be careful with bleach.

[rossrips7]

Any of the marine mildew removers are bleach based too. If you look on the back they just use a technical term for it. .


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[skiswm]

If it were me, I would always cover it. Take a look at any cover that's been outside for a few years even part time-they're all pretty faded. Much rather the sun beat up a cover than your high dollar interior. Not to mention the dust/pollen blowing around and getting on everything. The cover is cheap protection even if it's a pain to put on. Plus if you plan to ever sell it....at lot easier to put in the description "always covered when not in use."

[Infinity]

Do you have power at your dock? Put a fan inside the boat (under cover) and you will not have to worry about mildew. I always run a fan for 24hrs after use...sometimes I leave the fan on for days at a time. A small dehu + fan and you will never have issues....but at least a fan

[RDT-G23]

From one of the most particular people on the planet-always cover-clean and dry of course. I actually double cover. Fiberglass/ gel coat has no ultraviolet protection whatsoever. For my Sea Doos and my G-23, I have covers that go all the way down to the chines. NO SUN will hit those hulls when not in use. And when my boat is in the boathouse during days I’m using it, and the western sun is hitting the rear end of the boat...I had a special “diaper” made to keep the sun off of the rear of the G... Signed, a complete anal-retentive freak...

[GMLIII]

Sweet set up RDT-G23

[Wake.BC]

Always cover when not in use. It’s a proven fact that it’s totally worth it.


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