Does anyone cover their boat at the slip (wet)

[meegwell]

My slip is a single finger I can't see me getting the mooring cover on it after use but would love to. Just curious what folks do...

 

[Babin Farms]

Yep, while on vacation. You might have to back in or pull in depending on the cover. Not too hard once you do it once or twice to figure out what works best.
my home slip has docks on both sides but they’re short which makes it more interesting but again, after a few times you find out what works best.

 

[crazy4life]

My slip is a single finger I can't see me getting the mooring cover on it after use but would love to. Just curious what folks do...

just parked this today. The key for me is to have someone hold the boat by the tower and I put the cover on and then dock lines and then the rubber bumpers.

 

[meegwell]

Yep, while on vacation. You might have to back in or pull in depending on the cover. Not too hard once you do it once or twice to figure out what works best. View attachment 147275View attachment 147276
my home slip has docks on both sides but they’re short which makes it more interesting but again, after a few times you find out what works best. View attachment 147277

So that bow will not become a swimming pool in a big rain? How do you velcro around the tower on the water side? I guess I also need to figure out how to use the crank-tightening from one side only. Thank you for this input.

 

[Julian]

Always covered when it's in my slip. Too many birds like sitting on the tower edges.

 

[Babin Farms]

So that bow will not become a swimming pool in a big rain? How do you velcro around the tower on the water side? I guess I also need to figure out how to use the crank-tightening from one side only. Thank you for this input.

Usually I’ll use the anti-pooling poles but while on vacation, going out every day & no rain in the forecast I skipped the poles. I Velcro & tie off as I work my way to the rear. Practice, practice , practice. First time I thought “this is a PITA” but the I figured it out & now I can have it covered, fenders positioned, tied off and finished up in 5-7 minutes.

 

[meegwell]

Usually I’ll use the anti-pooling poles but while on vacation, going out every day & no rain in the forecast I skipped the poles. I Velcro & tie off as I work my way to the rear. Practice, practice , practice. First time I thought “this is a PITA” but the I figured it out & now I can have it covered, fenders positioned, tied off and finished up in 5-7 minutes.

Awesome. Thanks for the input and confidence booster!

 

[johhnyboat]

It would seem to me this would be a lot easier if the swim platform was not covered. I’m going to have the same problem and I was thinking about cutting off the canvas and having it sewn and adding snaps to it. Anyone think of any drawbacks to this?

 

[Julian]

It would seem to me this would be a lot easier if the swim platform was not covered. I’m going to have the same problem and I was thinking about cutting off the canvas and having it sewn and adding snaps to it. Anyone think of any drawbacks to this?

The swim platform makes it easy to get the stern of the cover on. You just kneel on it, attached the eye straps and then ratchet on the side. Easy.

 

[johhnyboat]

The swim platform makes it easy to get the stern of the cover on. You just kneel on it, attached the eye straps and then ratchet on the side. Easy.

Thanks, I just bought the boat and haven’t taken it off or put it in yet. I guess I’m just used to a cover that snaps on.

 

[TreeRX]

I dock at a finger slip, on my port side. This is my process for getting the mooring cover on:

anti pooling poles, bow cleats, close the windshield, stern cleats. *I've found the battery compartment is the best place for me to store the anti pooling poles while underway.

cover the bow, start unrolling and lay the remaining rolled up cover on the windshield. *be sure to roll the cover up neatly while removing, it makes it much easier to put back on. rolling it nicely, and then folding it over once will also allow it to fit perfectly under the bow seats.

crawl under the windshield, continue unrolling the cover. buckle and Velcro starboard side portion of cover around tower base. *do NOT velcro/bucket port side yet, but do lay cover over port side.

turn off batteries and plug in shore power. *I leave the radio on so I can't forget to turn the batteries off.

remove clean out plugs.

cover starboard corner of swim platform, make sure cover is tucked all the way under the corner.

cover port side of swim platform, again making sure the cover is tucked all the way under the corner.

buckle/velcro port side of cover while standing on dock.

check all lines and fenders are properly secured. *all fenders are tied on under the cover (except for one which hangs off the tower).

tighten port side ratchet (starboard ratchet is left as loose as possible).


The cover is a serious pain in the ass, but totally worth keeping your interior nice. My wife always wants to help put the cover on, but I honestly find it easier to do myself (unless it's windy). She usually ends up bringing all the stuff from the boat back to the car in the time it takes me to cover the boat. You just have to do it a bunch of times until you figure out your own process.

 

[2kwik4u]

I've only done it once, and am somewhat amazed how people do that on a regular basis with only one side of the boat accessible. I ended up wading out and putting one side on while on vacation.

Glad I did though:

 

[Canuckjetboater]

My slip is a single finger I can't see me getting the mooring cover on it after use but would love to. Just curious what folks do...

I purchased the OEM Yamaha snap on bow and cockpit covers and had a local canvas shop install the snaps and transom bungees - for the price it was worth it as hey guarantee their work. A snap (Ha Ha) to use when moored at a slip. No way I could have installed the black Yamaha trailering cover when at the wet slip!

 

[ctyke]

I have a lift and always cover it during the week when it just sits there waiting for me to take her out. This keeps it way cleaner than just under the lift. You get really good at covering it from one side. Work your way back on both sides over the windshield, then past the tower. velcro/snap up the side away from the dock. After that I put on the corner away from the dock, then pull in so I can complete the tower velcro and final corner from the dock. Having people helps if it is windy, but I do it by myself all the time.

 

[jjmparsons]

It takes a minute or two to get it situated but I can usually have it on and fastened in the slip or on a finger in well under 5 minutes. I thought it was going to be a pain initially but once you get the hang of it after doing it a couple of times you'll be able to get it out and get it on in no time. 9 times out of 10 when we get back to the marina its after dark and not always the best lighting available so though it may seem like a garbled mess up front, you will have it down to a science in no time.

 

[crazy4life]

I have a lift and always cover it during the week when it just sits there waiting for me to take her out. This keeps it way cleaner than just under the lift. You get really good at covering it from one side. Work your way back on both sides over the windshield, then past the tower. velcro/snap up the side away from the dock. After that I put on the corner away from the dock, then pull in so I can complete the tower velcro and final corner from the dock. Having people helps if it is windy, but I do it by myself all the time.

That’s exactly how I do it.

 

[johhnyboat]

I ordered a cover to snap on. I also ordered the Surefas: SUREFAS - next generation fasteners colored studs to match the hull color.
My mooring canvas is in pretty rough shape but I want to repair and keep it as it work well when on the trailer or storage. It's just inconvenient when in a wet slip.

 

[Matt Phillips]

Yes. Between visits. it keeps prying eyes out of it, sun from rotting the seats, and ducks from crapping all over the swim platform.

 

[TimW451]

@johhnyboat did you buy your snaps direct or from a US distributor (and if so, who?). Which type did you get 10mm self tapping? Thanks!

I ordered a cover to snap on. I also ordered the Surefas: SUREFAS - next generation fasteners colored studs to match the hull color.
My mooring canvas is in pretty rough shape but I want to repair and keep it as it work well when on the trailer or storage. It's just inconvenient when in a wet slip.

 

[johhnyboat]

@johhnyboat did you buy your snaps direct or from a US distributor (and if so, who?). Which type did you get 10mm self tapping? Thanks!

I ordered direct but I tell you I received it in 4 days. I did get the 10mm self tapping.