The type of fabric used to make a boat cover or PWC cover affects how durable, breathable, and waterproof it will be. Not all boat covers are equal in quality. Below are some factors that affect the quality of a cover.

Type of Fabric

Boat cover made with marine-grade polyester fabric

1. Poly/Cotton Blend

The cheapest boat covers are made from a poly/cotton blend. This fabric breaks down faster and doesn’t protect the boat as well as other types of fabric. Covers made from a poly/cotton blend are typically only under warranty for a year and are only suitable for mild climates and minimal use.

2. Marine-Grade Polyester

Marine-grade polyester is a much more durable fabric than poly/cotton blend. These boat covers are slightly more expensive, but the durability is well worth the cost. Polyester boat covers offer an ideal balance of strong protection and cost effectiveness. They resist wear and tear and mildew growth much better than poly/cotton covers.

3. Acrylic

Acrylic boat covers are high end covers that offer superior protection; however, they are also more expensive to produce, which means that their cost is much higher than for other types of fabric.

Fabric Weight and Weave

In most cases, the heavier the fabric, the more durable it will be. However, durability is also affected by the tightness of the weave. A boat cover with a lighter weight and tighter weave may be more durable than a cover with a heavier weight but a coarser weave.

Fabric Color

Reds and yellows tend to fade the fastest. Blues seem to keep their color the longest. A UV protective coating will make the color last even longer.

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.

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).

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.

Keep your boat cover clean to prevent mildew.

The true culprit is the combination of moisture and the dust or dirt that collects on top of the cover. Mildew thrives in a dirty environment, which means that keeping your boat cover clean is the best way to prevent mold and mildew from taking over.

You can cut down on the need for deep cleaning by brushing off debris and rinsing your cover with a hose once a month. This slows down the buildup of dirt and dust and helps prevent debris from becoming ingrained in the cover fabric.

Keeping your boat and storage cover dry is another way to fight mildew. Make sure the inside of the boat is completely dry before installing the boat cover. The boat cover should be stored in a dry, protected area when not in use. Don’t store the cover inside your boat, where it is more susceptible to moisture.

If you store your boat outside, the cover MUST be breathable to allow trapped moisture and condensation to evaporate. Moisture trapped inside the boat creates ideal conditions for mold and mildew growth.

In order for the cover to “breathe” properly, it must be clean and free of debris. You should also never throw a tarp or plastic cover on top of your boat cover. This will block the air flow and trap moisture inside.