Boat covers and rain

[lbhsbz]

Some of us store our boats outside and rain sometimes tends to create a pool in the cover...regardless of whatever steps are taken to prevent it. I have a PVC structure underneath the cover but sometimes the straps stretch or move and it doesn't work.

This has always pissed me off because typically there is no way to solve it without creating a bigger mess.

Then it dawned on me...I have a pile of bilge pumps from various projects so I set one up with some alligator clips and about 10ft of wire and some heater hose, grabbed an old boat battery that still has enough life left in for stuff like this and pumped out 50 gallons of water in a few minutes...fixed the straps and we're ready for the next one.

You can get cheap bilge pumps on amazon for $15 or so.

I don't know why it took me until this week to figure this out, thought I'd share the idea.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

I just used a cargo bar in the center of the cockpit of the boat tied off to the sides and the front and it holds the cover up completely in the middle. No low spots for water to pool.

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[LHC Kirby]

pumped out 50 gallons of water in a few minutes....

Dang ... 50 GALLONS .... where is the water in the boat that it’s not going out the plug hole (you don’t have the plug in - right?)

 

[phuggit]

Blow up beach ball

 

[ElAzul]

I blow up the inflatables and lay them on edge has worked pretty good the last couple seasons

 

[lbhsbz]

Dang ... 50 GALLONS .... where is the water in the boat that it’s not going out the plug hole (you don’t have the plug in - right?)

It was all in the cover...boat is dry. It rained pretty damn hard last night

 

[buck35]

On my old boat stored oudoors, I built a deal out of scrap 2x4s to run down the center and tied the crap out of the tarp. There's nowhere for water/ snow to pool up now. I should have done that 10 years ago.

 

[outboard_256]

wet vac works pretty good

 

[Bobby V]

When the rain stops, Its best to pull the tarp off for awhile. Mildew starts fast. I learned the hard way. Got new interior sooner then I had planned...

 

[DRYHEAT]

When the rain stops, Its best to pull the tarp off for awhile. Mildew starts fast. I learned the hard way. Got new interior sooner then I had planned...

I thought you had a big ass garage? Or was that many moons ago?

 

[Bobby V]

I thought you had a big ass garage? Or was that many moons ago?

This was about 35 years ago. Before I bought in Havasu.

 

[mobldj]

this cover with the poles under work great

 

[Dylan]

If you have an overhead tower or bimini, you can use the hangtyte like here:
https://www.amazon.com/Hangtyte-Boat-Cover-Suspension-System/dp/B007792S20
I have heard a frisbee and rope works the same, but have not confirmed.

Otherwise, support poles and a tube sideways is a good idea

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

Costco has 10x20 shelters for $230. That $230 will save you so much wear and tear it's unbelievable! Costco has a great return policy too if need be. When I was down and out in 2009-2012 I even parked my 25 Daytona under one with just the forks sticking out.

 

[lbhsbz]

Costco has 10x20 shelters for $230. That $230 will save you so much wear and tear it's unbelievable! Costco has a great return policy too if need be. When I was down and out in 2009-2012 I even parked my 25 Daytona under one with just the forks sticking out.

I tried one of those at my old house and the city made me take it down.

 

[Classic Daycruiser]

35 years ago, when I stored my boat outside, I layered up many covers.

I started with my custom cover, and then put two cheap covers over the nice one. Then I covered up everything with a cheap blue tarp. I used 3inch PVC to build a frame, to push off rain water. The down side was it took an hour to cover everything up, but it kept the interior dry.

 

[PlanB]

We used to keep our toon in the side yard in Havasu when we rented to snowirds. Had a winter cover with poles, made of Sunbrella that covered everything (including the folded biminis. Never had any problems with leaking, and it was like that for five months of the year. The cover needs to be tight so it does not move around in the wind.

 

[ToMorrow44]

I have one of the semi-custom covers from National Covers. Nice sunbrella material repels water very well. I just run a support pole in between the front bolsters and cinch down the straps, water rolls right off. My boat is stored indoors 95% of the time, but if it’s in my driveway in Florida, you can count on rain every day.

 

[wettrthebettr]

I use PVC, and the cover plus two traps, beach ball on the bow deck, A Box fan
to circulate the space, two 75wt Incandescent light bulbs for heat . It works great.
I have used this for over ten years, no Mildew, no leaks, if even snows on it and i just broom it off.

with a box van

 

[cole_skier]

This works for me.

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[Riverryder]

This works for me.
View attachment 828909


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Where did you get that? How much it run you and how big? My mom has a lot of land I want to store my boat closer to me( even tho having it close to lake mead is nice!)


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[cole_skier]

Where did you get that? How much it run you and how big? My mom has a lot of land I want to store my boat closer to me( even tho having it close to lake mead is nice!)


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Carport USA I think it was called. $995.00 installed. I have had it about 6 years. 11’ wide by 26’ deep. 7’ tall at the peak.


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[Riverryder]

Carport USA I think it was called. $995.00 installed. I have had it about 6 years. 11’ wide by 26’ deep. 7’ tall at the peak.


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Dam Thanks!! Just would like to panel it all the way down and the back as well! Vegas sun is no joke!


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[Carlson-jet]

I rent an indoor space for $53 a month. Saves on all the hassle and time spent focking with covers. I priced it out and it's about $10 extra per month vs. covers and tarps.

 

[highvoltagehands]

It was all in the cover...boat is dry. It rained pretty damn hard last night

Holy chit 50 gallons in the cover? Since it’s all stretched out and sagging guess you can use it as a hammock now.

 

[Riverryder]

I rent an indoor space for $53 a month. Saves on all the hassle and time spent focking with covers. I priced it out and it's about $10 extra per month vs. covers and tarps.

Where and is inflatable? Haha


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[Carlson-jet]

Where and is inflatable? Haha


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I live where few men want to live, Including me.

 

[highvoltagehands]

Let me guess, California?

 

[Carlson-jet]

Let me guess, California?

Ha ha, More liberal and the weather sucks. My big reason was snow removal. It makes rain look like puppy stuff. Nothing like a 24'x10' ft' cube of ice you know is a boat somewhere under there.

 

[highvoltagehands]

Ha ha, More liberal and the weather sucks. My big reason was snow removal. It makes rain look like puppy stuff. Nothing like a 24'x10' ft' cube of ice you know is a boat somewhere under there.

NY or Michigan?

 

[River Runnin]

2 1100GPH Bilge pumps and a hardtop!

 

[Deja_Vu]

That’s a good MacGyver set up!

I’ve always stored in an indoor storage unit but then they leak like crazy so I end up pitching up my telescopic pole under the cover and cover it all with a tarp.