There are a lot of winter cover manufacturers that make boat covers to keep your boat protected from the harsh winter elements. However, whether or not you cover your boat can depend on several factors. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about if and when you should cover your boat in the winter!
What type of weather will your store your boat in?
The USA has a massive amount of variance when it comes to weather all throughout the country. Because of this, it also means that you will want different types of covers, and even can determine if you should be covering your boat at all! Let’s go over the different weather situations.
Is it raining a lot?
If it is raining a lot, cover your boat to prevent water damage. Rain is one of the most damaging things to a boat. This is because it can soak down into the flooring of your boat, and cause the wood to expand, or worse yet, start to fall apart.
Yes, for some reason boat floors are made of wood that falls apart when it gets wet. This is one of the major damages you see on boats that haven’t been covered!
If you deal with mainly rain, I would highly recommend just a lightweight waterproof cover for your boat.
What if you get mainly sun?
It may seem like you don’t need to cover your boat if you are only dealing with the sun at the time! However, this can be one of the most damaging things to your boat. While it may not cause your flooring to fall apart, it will cause your seats to fall apart.
Seats in boats are normally made of a plastic-type of fabric, and this can dry out, expand and contract depending on how much sun it gets. Your goal is to keep it as close to the factory, however, the sun quickly will fade the fabric, and cause it to malformed and crack.
If you are dealing with the sun on your boat’s interior, I would just recommend a standard lightweight boat cover.
Can snow damage your boat?
Oh boy, can snow damage your boat! Not only is it wet like rain, meaning it will damage your flooring, and cause mold. However, it can also be incredibly heavy as well.
If you don’t remove snow from your boat as it builds up, you might find that any structure you have over the boat may collapse, and may mean you don’t be able to access your boat until spring.
Snow also tends to melt, re-build up, and then melt again. This means if you aren’t careful, you could find a ton of water in your boat in the spring.
For snow, I highly recommend building a structure in your boat, putting a heavy-duty waterproof cover over it, and then covering that with a heavy-duty tarp. This way snow will slide off the sides, and not have a chance to build up during the winter. Remember, if snow builds up on a tarp, it can make its way through the tarp, so don’t leave it on there.
How often do you use your boat?
One of the main factors to consider when deciding if you should cover your boat in winter is how often you use it. If you only use your boat a few times a year, then it’s probably best to cover it.
This will protect the boat from rain, snow, and ice buildup which can damage the boat over time. If you use your boat more often, then you may not need to cover it as often. However, be sure to keep an eye on the weather and cover it if there is a chance of bad weather.
Where are you storing your boat?
Another factor to consider is where you store your boat. If you have a covered storage area, then you don’t need to cover your boat. If you don’t have a storage cover and store it outside, then cover it! You can get covers that fit over the trailer to help keep snow from building up on top of your boat while still in the water.
What cover you use depends on your boat. You can get custom covers made to fit your exact boat or just buy a generic cover that fits over the top of it, depending on what type of cover is best for your needs.
Conclusion
In addition to considering these factors when deciding whether or not you should cover your boat, cover your boat as soon as possible if you do cover it. This will help prevent snow from blocking the openings of the boat and allow moisture to get inside, which can cause rusting or other damage that reduces the life of your boat.
Whether you live in a snowy state or not, there is no doubt that winter cover manufacturers make great products to cover your boat in the winter. By following these tips, you can help keep your boat safe and protected from the harsh winter weather!
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