Pontoon cover...designed for an RV

You know the drill..

Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner

Post Reply
Message
Author
onlybillhere
Posts: 253
Joined: Tue May 14, 2019 6:41 am

Pontoon cover...designed for an RV

#1 Post by onlybillhere » Mon Jul 08, 2019 7:51 am

Hello all! so even before I took possession of my pontoon I knew I needed a cover for it. I was looking through this forum and one member used an RV cover instead of a pontoon cover and it got me thinking. I just need a cover for when my pontoon is here at the house, I do not plan on driving with the cover on. So searching website after website I came across this one from Amazon of all places: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BY ... UTF8&psc=1

I have a 21' Party Barge so I needed a cover at least 22' long.
I had to make some kind of canopy so the cover would lay on and allow the rain and leaves to fall off of it. I used 1/2" pvc, some clamps, and boom...a canopy is made (I have to get some pics of it).
The cover has a zippered side that lines up with the side door of the pontoon perfectly.
This works for me, may not be for everyone, but for the cost of the cover and the pvc parts I'm still a couple hundred dollars cheaper than what a cover specifically for my pontoon would have cost...and I can get in with the cover on and still do work inside.
BTW...I have a fan under the cover to help circulate air. The cover is breathable and keeps the rain out but it still gets warm under there in the Florida weather.
Here are the pics:
20190708_074319.jpg
20190708_074319.jpg (414.77 KiB) Viewed 2315 times
20190708_074307.jpg
20190708_074307.jpg (394.19 KiB) Viewed 2315 times
1995 Sun Tracker 21 Party Barge
60HP Mercury 2 stroke
It's new! to me
Loving the life here in Deland, Fla.

BobL
Posts: 589
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:41 am
Location: Louisiana

Re: Pontoon cover...designed for an RV

#2 Post by BobL » Mon Jul 08, 2019 8:45 am

Is the cover "breathable"?

My main concern is mildew forming on the seats. My first cover (came from Bentley) did not breathe worth a crap and I was always fighting mildew. The covers that came with my South Bay and Xcursion were breathable and I have never had a mildew issue.

I'm looking of for a better solution now because the only time I use the cover is when it is on my covered lift and I am getting tired of snapping the thing down each time. I think one of these would work and no snaps required (would figure a way to tie it down to the pier for high winds).
SOLD - 2009 20' Bentley w/4 Stroke 90hp Mercury
SOLD - 2011 SouthBay 522CR w/115 4 Stroke Mercury
2014 Xcursion 23RF XS package w/150 4 Stroke Mercury

onlybillhere
Posts: 253
Joined: Tue May 14, 2019 6:41 am

Re: Pontoon cover...designed for an RV

#3 Post by onlybillhere » Mon Jul 08, 2019 8:57 am

BobL wrote:
Mon Jul 08, 2019 8:45 am
Is the cover "breathable"?
The cover is breathable (at least it says it is) and there are some "vents" on the side also to help with airflow. Adding the fan underneath will help but I understand no everyone will be able to put a fan under there.
The cover comes with some adjustable straps at the bottom of the cover that you can snap together under the trailer to keep the cover secure.
This isn't the most expensive RV cover available, there are some that have more features but for what I needed it to do it was a good fit.
1995 Sun Tracker 21 Party Barge
60HP Mercury 2 stroke
It's new! to me
Loving the life here in Deland, Fla.

User avatar
curtiscapk
Posts: 5393
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:31 am
Location: OP KS\Hillsdale Lake

Re: Pontoon cover...designed for an RV

#4 Post by curtiscapk » Tue Jul 09, 2019 7:24 am

Nice work! need pics of your frame. :nana :nana :nana :nana
Craig and Paula
"THE FLOATER" rebuild Spring 2013
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15328
94 Party Barge 24' 115 merc
Turning Point hustler 14 x 13 prop
22mph gps 3 people
12 F150
Overland Park Ks
Hillsdale Lake, KS

onlybillhere
Posts: 253
Joined: Tue May 14, 2019 6:41 am

Re: Pontoon cover...designed for an RV

#5 Post by onlybillhere » Wed Jul 10, 2019 9:05 am

So here is a quick pic of the inside of the cover, the pvc has started to bow so I might have to make some changes, maybe add some supports that sit on the deck.
20190710_102726.jpg
20190710_102726.jpg (403.22 KiB) Viewed 2264 times
And here is how I attached the pvc. I used 1" pvc and attached it to the fence. The 1/2" PVC just slips into the 1" PVC and is easily removed.
20190710_102624.jpg
20190710_102624.jpg (198.93 KiB) Viewed 2264 times
I'll probably make a new version, something more sturdy, but since this was the first attempt I don't think it turned out bad.
1995 Sun Tracker 21 Party Barge
60HP Mercury 2 stroke
It's new! to me
Loving the life here in Deland, Fla.

User avatar
curtiscapk
Posts: 5393
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:31 am
Location: OP KS\Hillsdale Lake

Re: Pontoon cover...designed for an RV

#6 Post by curtiscapk » Thu Jul 11, 2019 10:53 am

that was going to be my exact plan as well!
Nicely done!
Craig and Paula
"THE FLOATER" rebuild Spring 2013
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15328
94 Party Barge 24' 115 merc
Turning Point hustler 14 x 13 prop
22mph gps 3 people
12 F150
Overland Park Ks
Hillsdale Lake, KS

onlybillhere
Posts: 253
Joined: Tue May 14, 2019 6:41 am

Re: Pontoon cover...designed for an RV

#7 Post by onlybillhere » Thu Jul 11, 2019 11:04 am

i'm switching over to 1/2" metal conduit so I don't have the issue of the pipes bending. I think with the weight of the cover plus the width of the pontoon the PVC was just not rigid enough to hold up. I think the metal conduit will be better. I will update once I get it changed out.
1995 Sun Tracker 21 Party Barge
60HP Mercury 2 stroke
It's new! to me
Loving the life here in Deland, Fla.

User avatar
bansil
Posts: 1103
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 4:10 pm
Location: Watâ'gi lake...Beautiful Waters

Re: Pontoon cover...designed for an RV

#8 Post by bansil » Sun Jul 14, 2019 8:10 am

Great idea, i like it :thumbsup
Check out "Dudes" site www.whereisdude.com

onlybillhere
Posts: 253
Joined: Tue May 14, 2019 6:41 am

Re: Pontoon cover...designed for an RV

#9 Post by onlybillhere » Tue Jul 16, 2019 11:05 am

ok...so here is take 2! I replaced the pvc poles since they couldn't hold up, they just started bending under the weight, so I used 1/2" metal conduit and bent the pipe to how I needed it.
The conduit came in 10' long pieces and I kept them that long so that the cover doesn't touch the ground anymore.
I also added another set of brackets to the side to give the conduit more support.
20190714_181723.jpg
20190714_181723.jpg (429.19 KiB) Viewed 2189 times
20190714_181719.jpg
20190714_181719.jpg (371.16 KiB) Viewed 2189 times
20190714_181710.jpg
20190714_181710.jpg (230.69 KiB) Viewed 2189 times
so far much better. still some tweaking needs to be done but overall a better system.
1995 Sun Tracker 21 Party Barge
60HP Mercury 2 stroke
It's new! to me
Loving the life here in Deland, Fla.

User avatar
Marc K
Posts: 742
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2018 4:35 am
Location: Eustace, TX

Re: Pontoon cover...designed for an RV

#10 Post by Marc K » Tue Jul 16, 2019 3:02 pm

Looks like that will work! I was wondering about PVC sag when it rains.
Big and ugly but we love our 1999/2000 Crest II DL with a Yamaha F115

Post Reply