Mooring cover shrinkage & do you cover the cover? - The Hull Truth

RussH · 09-01-2008, 02:52 PM

I am going to have a new mooring cover made for my Scarab Sport that I'm thinking is going to cost about $1,200. I'm considering asking the cover guy to make the cover significantly larger than my current cover since every cover I've had shrinks more and more each year. Is it the material that causes the cover to shrink, meaning is there one type that shrinks more than another? What is the best cover to buy to get long life and would resist shrinking? Any harm in having the cover made "oversized"? I always remove the cover when trailering the boat because I'm afraid of it ripping apart at 65MPH.

I've always shrink wrapped my boats each winter but I see many boaters that just leave their mooring cover on during the winter. Several boats at my marina have their mooring cover on but then cover them with a blue tarp. I did that one year and the wind blew the cover around so much it chaffed holes in the cover which I had to have patched in the spring. Is there any reason to cover a new cover? Does it effect the life of the mooring cover by leaving it on the boat over the winter without another cover over it?

Russ

solarfry · 09-01-2008, 08:05 PM

Heck we are getting so anal we cover fenders so why not cover an expensive boat cover? Iwouldn't. Too much hazzle.

angler5240 · 09-02-2008, 09:01 AM

You didn't say what material your cover was going to be made of. Usually, but not always, covers with some degree of cotton in them will shrink. One of the few materials not subject to shrinkage is Sunbrella. I think you'll be happy with it. Ask your cover maker for his recommendation.

thataway · 09-02-2008, 09:46 AM

If it shrinks, it is not Sunbrella. Sunbrella is a polyester. If it is sewn with gortex thread it should last 10 years--maybe a little more. Agree not to use it when trailering. If you use it during the winter, you probably want supports over cockpit areas. This can be just expandable poles with a stud through a grommet in the center of an area where it might sag.

I only use Sunbrella in all of my boating covers.

cobraarvey · 09-04-2008, 07:53 AM

Your cover manufacturer can answer most of your questions the best. As was mentioned, any canvas/cotton cover will have some shrinkage. Sunbrella will not shrink, but it will cost you. If you have a more inexpensive cotton cover made, you really can't have it made too much larger, as it will not fit right in the early months and may fail due to pooling water or your inability to tie it down tightly. But anyone who makes a cotton cover usually will allow for some shrinkage. You are correct that you should not trailer a boat with the cover on. It is also not recommended that you double up on covers for winter storage. Either use just your mooring cover, or the inexpensive blue tarp, but not both. Air needs to circulate in the boat, and having two covers will not allow circulation and cause mildew problems inside the boat and between the two covers.

jenkinsph · 09-04-2008, 08:06 AM

Russ, I vote for a sunbrella fabric mooring cover and either a garage or parking shed to limit the amount of snow
during the winter months. I would not use a second layer such as a tarp over the mooring cover because it will
limit air circulation and can chafe the new mooring cover.

Steve

c_mccann · 09-04-2008, 09:26 AM

Have 2 boats with Sunbrella covers and they stretch if anything, not shrink. The key to Sunbrella is to clean it once a year, getting the dirt out of the fibers makes it last, my 1st boat had a sunbrella cover that is still in use, looks great- it was made in 1991. For $1200, I doubt it is Sunbrella if it is a full boat cover, check out what Sunbrella would cost you and see if it is worth it.

coopercanvas · 09-04-2008, 09:49 AM

the only product we use is sunbrella for boat covers , it lets air in so everything can still breath . moisture is the enemy with wiring and electronics , trying to use a cheaper product that is not sunbrella is a mistake you will not get the life out of it . it will not shrink , like the other guy said it might exspand a little , but have it patterend to your boat , not oversized ,and also sunbrella stands behind thier product 100 % no questions , good company , hope this helps

RussH · 09-04-2008, 01:11 PM

I met with the canvas guy yesterday and he suggested a material that is heavier than Sunbrella that he thinks will last longer. It's a few hundred bucks more than Sunbrella but he claims it has much better life. The only down side is it's heavier and may be harder to put on the boat. By taking care of it and not trailering the boat with the cover on he feels that 8-10 year life is not out of the question.

My estimate of $1,200 was pretty close to the $1,325 he quoted me.

Russ

angler5240 · 09-04-2008, 07:13 PM

I'm curious to know what this material is that your cover guy is recommending. Why would anyone need a heavier material? Does it breathe better? What is it made from? By the way, Sunbrella material is acrylic, not polyester. I have seen a Sunbrella cover that was 15 years old that was still servicable, but it was dirty. Acrylic WILL not rot. And, I made many Sunbrella covers that were trailered when I was in the business.

Trey1096 · 09-04-2008, 09:08 PM

Like Angler said, Sunbrella is acrylic, not polyester.

It’s an import distinction because acrylic is very susceptible to abrasion.

Make sure your cover guy reinforces wear locations with multiple plies of material.

I’ve seen Sunbrella covers with something that looked like polyester reinforcement at the wear points. I would think that if you reinforced the areas with an acrylic fabric, it’d just delay the inevitable and eventually wear through.

Trey