convertible13

Hi Gang,
Any suggestions for the best color for a boat cover? The boat and cover will be sitting in the open in Florida all year. The installer suggested black which doesn't make sense to me. Thanks for the help!

nitro943

light to med grey. had one hides stains well. and the black doesnt make sense. He's probably trying sell some material thats been lying around

SJYS PP

I agree with the light grey or an offwhite. Black, no way.

Flatout71

Depends on the material. A lot of guys that make covers out of sunbrella will tell you black. The material breathes and underneath will not really retain any more heat that a lighter color will.

If the material is a top gun canvas then light grey is the way to go.

Lighter sunbrella will show dirt and stains etc a lot more. Since the sunbrella is not died but infused color darker fabrics of sunbrella really to not fade much faster than lighter colors. I have had many custom covers made for my boats over the years.

I only use sunbrella now. A lot of shops use the panorama black color now. But if you don't want to go black the charcoal grey is a good option.

SCSaltwater

Always had light grey covers, on boats and vehicles.

fltsfshr

The guy is steering you right. Black Sunbrella is the best stuff to use. Black is the best color.

You don't get mold or mildew under a black cover. It gets too hot in the afternoon. All other colors will allow mildew!! That's an old Florida boaters trick.


fltsfshr

Flatout71

Good Point! i forgot to mention that one!

convertible13

Thanks for steering me in the right direction and for the quick responses. . I guess black isn't such a bad idea after all. It is going to be made from Sunbrella..

Parthery

If not black, then Captain's Navy in the Sunbrella line...it too doesn't show dirt.

Mine sits under a canopy of trees and stuff is always dropping on it...the only thing that ever shows is pollen in the Spring...



IMG-20120602-00036.jpg by parthery, on Flickr

Commocean

Uh, allow me to throw a wrench in the gears regarding the black Sunbrella...I had a black cover on my Panga Skiff, and will never go with black again...

1. It gets so hot that when I'd take the cover off, I couldn't touch the railings, steering wheel, or anything else stainless on the boat. Even the decks were nearly too hot to walk on. Many times taking the boat out later in the day, I'd have to rinse it down with a hose to cool things off.
2. I too thought that the cover being so hot would prevent mold, but it absolutely does not. I had so much mold on the inside of the cover that I'd get a sore throat taking it off the boat. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop or get rid of the mold.
3. This is anectodal, but I think the black gets so hot in the sun, that the life of the waterproofing characteristics is reduced. My black cover stopped beading water after 6 months, while my year-old tan cover still beads water.

I've got a tan cover on my Scout, and it's nice and cool, and mold-free. Based on my personal experience, I'd rethink going with black if it's going to be in the sun full-time...

icemang

Plaid.

satbeachbill

I kept getting different answers too, so I called Sunbrella. They said go dark....black, or navy.

My new cover is made of captains navy.

edwardh1

ben franklin or somebody the color squares in the snow.
darker was hotter.

A Few Dollars

Light gray

Flatout71

Was you black cover Sunbrella or another manufacturer?

Chiliando

I have had my black sumbrella cover for about 3 years now and am satisfied and I am in S Florida where we do see high temps all the time.

jayyy

I have had good luck with brown sunbrella, doesn't show dirt no mildew issues.

fireboat

I remember reading that darker sunbrella fabrics will last longer than lighter colors due to better UV resistance. That is why I went with black. The main thing is make sure that Tenara thread is used.

76 Stamas

I had a black Sunbrella cover on my lake and Bay. It did get hot under there, but it also kept the boat dry. I was concerned about the batteries cooking all day in the heat, but then I thought of how hot the batteries get under the hood of a car/truck. Loved the black cover.

convertible13

Once again, thanks for the responses. I never would have thought about calling Sunbrella. Black it is!