Cover recommendations?

[bwana50]

I'm shopping for a boat cover ('96 SN) and looking at Overton's Sharkskin or Sunbrella. Which would you recommend? (or any other brands.)

Also, the trailer is the style with the vertical stop pads for the bow; can a full-coverage cover be finagled between the rub rail and the trailer stops (maybe "shim" the boat a bit away from the stops when loading) or should I just get a cover with the bow cut-out?

[wakecrashin]

RE: Cover recommendations?

I got a Cover Craft like cover and it fits like a glove with no straps and I trailer 400+miles with it with 0 issues

[03Air210]

RE: Cover recommendations?

Rankin Cover......We had a group buy last year through PN and It worked out great. Awesome cover!!!!!!!

[TRBenj]

RE: Cover recommendations?

I second the Rankin, heres a pic of mine.



Rumor has it that there will be another group buy VERY soon.

[NHcrossfan]

RE: Cover recommendations?

"Rumor has it that there will be another group buy VERY soon."


Count Me In!

[dmiracle]

RE: Cover recommendations?

Count me in as well.

TRBenj - Is the skirt a separate part of the cover? That's exactly what I want.

BTW.....I love the fact that they even extended the cover for your outboard motor, however I didn't realize Nautique made an outboard version. Is that a Mercruiser?? Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

[jc]

RE: Cover recommendations?

My new Rankin pools water like crazy, and comes off the sides when I trailer it, I do not recommend it. It does not fit at the window and is too loose at the sides and rear. It usually takes 2 people to position it properly with the hooks and velcro which is a pain when your by yourself.
Any tricks or ideas with those stupid hooks and vecro would be appreciated.
I bought it because it was supposed to be drum tight to stop pooling but it is tight and loose in the wrong places.
But I am noticing in the pictures that some are using supports under there tarps so I guess it's back to that.

[M3Fan]

RE: Cover recommendations?

I don't think you're seeing supports JC. Those are the hooks, I'm guessing.

FWIW I can get my Rankin on by myself, even with the boat moored at the dock. It is drum tight and does not pool water. I'm guessing you have a fitting issue there. Did you reach out to Rankin for direction in adjusting the cover?

[bobchris]

RE: Cover recommendations?

So how much of a kick back do you get from them Tim?

[jc]

RE: Cover recommendations?

Yes I have talked with them, my option is to send the cover back for them to check out, but that will leave my baby uncovered for too long. The boat is in storage now, once it is out I will bring the cover to someone local and have it tailered to fit properly. I would appreciate some pictures of the hook placement and where the drawstring sits on the rubrail if possible. With the hooks on, my drawstring sits on the rubrail and will not wrap under, by the window or widest part, just not enough material it seems, unless you have 2 people yanking and pulling on it which is impossible on a boat lift. Then on the back I can't seem to get it tight enough to stop pooling.
I'm out of ideas so like I said any help or info (pic's) would be great.

[TRBenj]

Re: RE: Cover recommendations?

I don't think you're seeing supports JC. Those are the hooks, I'm guessing.

FWIW I can get my Rankin on by myself, even with the boat moored at the dock. It is drum tight and does not pool water. I'm guessing you have a fitting issue there. Did you reach out to Rankin for direction in adjusting the cover?

Joel nailed it, those are the hooks- no supports necessary here. No issues with pooling or installing by myself, whether its on the trailer or lift. I towed 2500 miles with the cover on last summer and it worked great.

JC, im very surprised to hear that youve had issues. How many times have you gotten the cover on properly? The first few times were VERY difficult- after break in it became a little easier. If you arent getting the drawstring below the rubrail, its no wonder youre having the other problems- the cover simply isnt on the boat! Im sure Rankin would be willing to fix it (if there is a problem with the fit) if you send it back.

Dmiracle, it does look like an outdrive in the pic, doesnt it? Thats just the skirt (obviously). The skirts are 3-piece (1 for each side, plus the back) and are held on by very heavy duty zippers. I remove the skirts when I tow. Rankin can retrofit any cover for the skirts.

Chris, Im not getting a kickback but that sure would be nice! Ive got a few boats that could use new covers, so the group buy prices help a lot. The last few rounds seemed to benefit everyone involved, so Rankin is game for another round.

[MikeC]

RE: Re: RE: Cover recommendations?

JC, I initially had trouble with fitting my Rankin cover the first few times. But you just have to stretch, strerch, stretch and keep moving the hooks as the cover stretches. After fine tuning it I can now install it by myself in about 2 to 3 minutes and it looks like my boat has been shrink wrapped it fits so tight.

[jc]

RE: Re: RE: Cover recommendations?

That's what I have been saying, it does not fit properly, it is not on the boat correct. Is there a trick or procedure with fitting/ bending the hooks and the velcro so they fasten properly and don't slide off in transport? I would love to hear and see(PICTURES) how others are fitting them. It takes me and 2 others to stretch the cover and hook it over the rubrails and keep the drawstring on without pulling it off either side, once enroute on the highway it lasts about 5 miles before the wind or vibration causes the sides and hooks to ride up rubrail and flap in the wind. I will try and get a picture of it in storage to show how much water is pooling on the back, since I need to go clear it off periodically.
Rankin told me the group buy was not an option back in November, another bonus.

[TRBenj]

RE: Re: RE: Cover recommendations?

JC, the hooks are metal under the fabric. If theyre too wide to grab the rub rail securely, put them in a vice and tighten them up. I suspect that you arent getting the drawcord tight enough, though. Once the hooks are on and I tighten the drawcord (below the rubrail), there is absolutely no way that the hooks could slide off.

It does take 2 people to put the cover on the first few times. It gets easier after that.

[tadelfio]

RE: Re: RE: Cover recommendations?

I would cosider getting in on a group buy on this cover. Mine is getting old and showing it's age a bit. Mine was custom made and had a skirt too. The skirt is invaluable.