This is our second in a series of winter storage tips to help you protect your boat during the harsh winter months.

Winter Boat Storage Tip #2: Brush the snow off your boat cover every time it snows.

Never let the snow build up on your boat cover.

After each snowfall, brush the snow off the boat cover. Make it part of your routine along with clearing the driveway and sidewalks. You can use a push broom to drag the snow off the cover.

Don’t let the snow pile up more than a few inches. The more snow on your boat cover, the heavier it weighs and the more likely it will damage the cover.

Don’t wait for the snow to melt off the cover. If it melts and then freezes again, it will turn into ice, which is even heavier than snow and harder on your cover.

This is our first in a series of winter storage tips to help you protect your boat during the harsh winter months.

Winter Boat Storage Tip #1: Never cover your boat cover with a tarp or plastic sheet.

Never cover your boat cover with a tarp,
except for temporary protection.

Another reason not to cover the boat cover with a tarp is because tarps are tough to secure tightly enough to keep the wind from lofting the tarp. When the wind catches the tarp, it rubs on the boat cover and wears down the material, leaving thin spots and even holes.

A quality boat cover, on the other hand, is designed for a tight, secure fit. As long as the boat cover is installed correctly, the wind will not be able to tear at or destroy the cover.

The one exception to this rule is if you need to temporarily throw a tarp over the boat cover to protect it for a short period of time, for example, if you are painting the house or doing other home improvement projects near the boat or if you need to protect the boat cover from sap dripping from the trees (although it’s best to avoid parking your boat under trees that are known to drip sap).

Travel Motorcycle Cover Reviews

DuraShield Lightweight Travel Motorcycle Cover

- C. Brennan

“I have a 1999 BMW K1200LT and the large cover fits it perfectly. It’s able to be pulled down over the saddlebags and mufflers in the back and cover most of the front tire… Construction is very good. The vents built into the cover seem like they would work well if it were outside (My bike is kept in a garage).”

- Tonia L.

“Better quality, less expensive than the previous bike cover that ripped after one year.”

- K. Joy

“The motorcycle cover is excellent quality and fits over the bike comfortably, covering all parts easily. Very good buy for the price.”

- A. Aiken

“Item received as described, fits my Star Venture completely. I’m delighted, would deal with again with pleasure.”

- Kevin H.

Lined Motorcycle Cover Reviews

DuraShield Lined Motorcycle Cover

- Shelakio

“Product arrived early and is better quality than previous covers I have purchased. A little large for my 600cc, but will definitely protect it from the outdoors.”

- M. Recla

Snowmobile covers provide protection against sun, UV rays, rain, snow, and dust.

Nylon tends to absorb small amounts of water, which extends the drying time. DuraShield snowmobile covers are made from polyester, which is non-abrasive to protect your paint. Our covers also include a special lining to protect the windshield from scratches.

A quality snowmobile cover will protect your sled from damaging exposure to sun, UV rays, rain, snow, dust, and other elements. It should also be designed to prevent moisture buildup by allowing moisture to evaporate. Dual access rear vents in the DuraShield snowmobile cover allow moisture to escape from underneath the cover and allow the cover to breathe.

If you plan on trailering your snowmobile at all on an open trailer, make sure the cover is trailerable. A trailerable snowmobile cover is specially designed to withstand the forces of high speed travel. A tie down system secures the cover to your snowmobile, and the thicker material resists rips and tears from exposure to the strong wind effect created as you drive on the highway.

Things were getting tight at the old office with the growth of business, so we recently made the move into a new office and warehouse just a few blocks down the street. Now that we’re settled in to the new DuraShield Covers office and warehouse, we thought you might like to take a look around.

Entrance to the DuraShield Covers office

Unloading containers and shipping out more covers to our customers

Our new office (and yes, the Christmas tree is still up)

Our new warehouse with 51,000 square feet of space for new cover products

New! Deluxe Trailerable Snowmobile Cover

These premium trailerable covers come in three different sizes (M, L, XL) for one-person, two-person, and touring and work sleds. Our snowmobile covers fit the most popular makes and models, including Polaris, Arctic Cat, Yamaha, and Ski-Doo.

The DuraShield Deluxe Snowmobile Cover is trailerable for protection on the road, and it makes an excellent storage cover in the garage or outdoors. The 600 denier, thick polyester material is weather resistant, UV coated, and heavy duty for superior protection against the elements.

The scratch-proof hood liner protects your windshield, and the dual rear vents prevent moisture damage by allowing the cover to “breathe.” A zippered gas tank access allows you to fill up on the road.

This snowmobile cover comes with a built-in storage bag, a trailer tie down system, and rear safety markings. The snug-fit elastic hem ensures a secure, semi-custom fit, and the double-stitched seams guarantee the quality of construction.

Better yet, the DuraShield Deluxe Trailerable Snowmobile Cover is backed by a best-in-class Five Year Warranty!

Get yours now at DuraShieldCovers.com, starting at only $54.99! Always free shipping.

Your ATV or UTV cover needs to be cleaned regularly for the best protection.

Special Precautions

To protect the coating, which in turn protects your ATV, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning the cover. The following instructions apply specifically to DuraShield ATV covers, but they also provide general instructions for cleaning most ATV covers on the market.

If the Water-Tec coating (or other special coating) does get damaged, or if it starts to wear off after years of use or exposure to harsh climates, you will need to either replace the cover or re-apply a water-resistant or waterproof coating.

Washing the ATV Cover

Because of the special coatings on your ATV cover, we recommend hand washing the cover for the gentlest cleaning. Use a soft brush and plain, lukewarm water to clean the cover. If you don’t want to hand wash the cover, you can compromise by cleaning the cover in the washing machine with COLD water, NO SOAP, and on the DELICATE cycle. The use of soap or detergent may remove the protective coatings on the cover and may even void the manufacturer’s warranty.

Drying the ATV Cover

After the ATV cover is washed, we recommend letting it air dry. Your other option is to machine dry the cover on a delicate or air only setting. Remove the cover as soon as it is dry. Make sure the cover is completely dry before folding it for storage.

Frequency of Cleaning

How often should you clean your ATV cover? That all depends on the climate you live in and how much the cover will be exposed to the elements. Wash the cover as often as it needs to be washed. The longer you go without washing a dirty cover, the less protection the cover will offer as the material becomes clogged with dirt and other particles.

Heavy snow can damage your cover.
Brush snow off the boat cover regularly.

First off, avoid parking the boat under a tree. As snow falls off the branches, it will land on the boat cover, and the more snow that collects on the cover, the more damage it can cause. Also, in the spring, the sap from the tree can drip onto the cover, which means you will have to wash the cover or replace it if the sap damages the fabric.

Support the cover with a boat cover support, whether a homemade PVC frame or a ready-made frame from a supply store. The supports keep the boat cover from sagging under the weight of snow or rain, and they allow moisture to run off the cover instead of collecting in puddles. Make sure the pole supports are secure and the cover is tight to prevent pockets where rain could collect.

Never put a plastic tarp on top of the boat cover (except to protect the cover temporarily during painting, roofing, or other house and yard work). The tarp compromises the cover’s breathability, trapping moisture inside your boat, where it can cause major damage and mold growth.

Don’t just wait for the snow to melt off the cover. If the weather turns colder, the snow can start to melt, then turn into a heavy block of ice. If the weather turns warmer, the melted snow can turn into huge puddles of water that, if left to stand, can seep through the cover. Water that is left to collect on the cover will collect dirt and cause the cover fabric to rot. Make sure that rain and other water can easily run off the cover without getting stuck in folds or pockets.

Brush the snow off the boat cover every time it snows. Don’t let the snow build up over the winter. The weight of the snow can damage your cover. Clean off the snow with a broom or large brush.

The time has come to move on to bigger and better things! With the rapid growth of the DuraShield Covers brand, we needed to find a larger facility to house our warehouse and office space.

After shopping around for new digs, we decided to expand into a 51,000 square foot facility (about the size of a football field) located just outside the city of Minneapolis. The expanded facilities give us more than enough room to add more of the new motorcycle, ATV, boat, and powersports cover products that you’ve asked for.

We’re proud to be your “go to” source for the ultimate in cover protection, and we look forward to keeping you satisfied as we expand our product lines. As always, we welcome your feedback! Don’t hesitate to contact us with suggestions, comments, and requests for new products.

Thanks a bunch!