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

Winter Boat Storage Tip #3: Don’t let pockets of rainwater collect on your boat cover.

Don't let rainwater collect on your boat cover.

Support your boat cover with a support frame from a marine store or a homemade PVC boat cover frame. Make sure there are no pockets where rainwater can collect. Put a tuck in the cover or reinforce the frame where necessary. You can even use life jackets or seat cushions to keep the cover from sagging in specific areas.

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.

Support your boat cover with a PVC frame.

A boat cover support prevents sagging.

Why Use a Boat Cover Support?

To keep water and snow from collecting on your boat cover, you will need to use some type of boat cover support. This support system will keep the cover from sagging and will prevent excess moisture buildup.

You can either purchase a ready-made boat cover support system, or you can make your own with materials from your local hardware store. Making your own boat cover support is often cheaper, and you can easily customize the fit for your boat.

Tips on Building Your Own Boat Cover Support

1 1/2 inch PVC pipe is a popular choice for a boat cover frame. It’s sturdier than one inch PVC pipe, so it’s less likely to break under the weight of snow and ice.

Use one long pipe from bow to stern and add several pipes as cross braces from side to side down the length of the boat. Arched PVC pipes can help prevent puddles from forming on your cover. Moisture will slide right off the boat cover and onto the ground.

Here’s another tip to protect your boat cover and boat: If the windshield or other edges are too sharp, cover them with padding, such as foam insulation tubes slit down the middle. This keeps your cover from tearing on sharp edges.