Custom Boat Cover, Semi-Cutom Boat Cover or Universal Boat Cover - Which Style is Right for You?

Introduction

A high-quality boat cover is essential in order to keep your boat protected from the natural elements. Most boat owners make the mistake of assuming that a vessel, built to withstand the various conditions of the salty ocean, is capable of enduring all outdoor weather conditions but that is not the case.

Not only is an open boat welcoming to rodents, but the cyclic expansion of its material caused by temperature changes could eventually cause cracks to occur. It is important therefore to invest in a boat cover in order to keep unwelcomed patrons at bay and preserve the longevity of your vessel.

But with so many cover options and styles to choose from, where do you even begin?

There are three types of boat cover to choose from and the one you choose will depend on factors such as budget, climate and whether you will be trailering your boat.

Custom Fit Boat Covers:

Custom boat covers have an exact fit and are the most expensive option out there. These are the best type of boat covers you can buy. They are completely customized to your unique boat for the ultimate snug fit. If you have any protruding accessories, a customized boat cover design will help them all fit effortlessly within their individual cover compartments.

Top quality custom boat covers also accommodate for high-stress points by supporting these areas with vinyl reinforcements so you can be confident of their long lifespan. If you regularly trailer your boat, a custom designed cover will give you the peace of mind of knowing that the cover will not slip off during transport but stay nice and securely fit.

Semi-Custom Fit Boat Covers

A great alternative to the custom boat cover is a semi-custom boat cover. These boat covers are designed for specific boat makes and models, given that they have the same size hull. If you do not have any protruding custom accessories on your boat this cover option should fit very well. These covers usually come with a shock cord encased in hem in order to keep the cover tightly secured onto the boat.

Semi-custom boat covers come with either a motor cover attached to the boat cover or a separate motor cover. If your boat motor is highly specialized, you might need a customized cover specifically for the motor.

If you want to have the confidence in a secure fit without spending an excess amount on a fully customized design, a semi-custom boat cover is a perfect choice.

Universal Fit Boat Covers

These type of boat covers provide the most generic fit making them the most cost-effective option. While they are not the best option for trailering, they can be used for short trips but do not have the resilience to withstand a long interstate road trip.

 

Universal boat cover options come in a variety of size ranges, so when settling on cover size, keep in mind that it will be one that fits your boat as closely as possible so do not expect a high level of precision.

Even though universal covers accommodate a range of boat sizes, they still can be securely fastened onto your boat thanks to their heavy-duty shock chords.

If you are seeking the most economical cover option for boat storage, a universal fit cover is a perfect choice.

Measuring Your Boat

Before ordering your boat cover it is important to accurately measure your boat.

If your boat has many custom protrusions you may need a professional to measure your boat for you, if not, here is an overview of how to measure your boat.

There two important measurements you need to make:

• Centerline Width (the length of the vessel)

• Beam Width (the width of the vessel)

Measuring the Centerline Width

Using a measuring tape, place one end at the point of the boats bow and the end at the center of the boat’s transom.

If you have a swim step, measure its depth and add it to the centerline length.

Make sure the is no slack in the tape line and that the tape remains perfectly parallel to the ground - do not measure up or over any fixtures.

Measuring the Beam Width

When measuring the beam width, measure from the outside to the outside of the widest point of your boat.

Make sure your tape measure remains taught and parallel to the ground.

Great tip:

If it is difficult to measure your boat’s centerline or beam width, place two bricks in line with either the length of the width of the boat and then measure the distance between the bricks.

Conclusion

When selecting a boat cover it is important to keep in mind whether or not you will be trailering your boat often and also whether you will be fitting the cover over custom protrusions.

With whatever boat cover you choose, make sure it does an effective job at keeping your most prized possession safe.