Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

While I wait for my new boat to get in the water sometime in the next 2 weeks I was wondering if I need a full mooring cover. It comes with seat covers and a helm station cover but not a full mooring. The deck is vinyl. the boat will be in the water all summer on a dock no cover just the seat covers.

Will that be enough or do I really need a full mooring style cover. This is my first toon.

Thanks

Well the seat and helm covers are certainly better than no cover at all.... Consider that the full cover is exactly that a full cover as not only does it protect the seat and helm but it protects everything left exposed in the boat from coolers to fishing poles etc from the sun and rain but from prying eyes too....

My boat is slipped under roof and when I'm at work for 4 weeks it gets covered even though it is under roof... Bird as well as spider poop adds extra upkeep....

Never thought of spider poop but they are as big as a baseball up north.

Maybe I will start with the seat covers and switch to a full cover mid summer.

If its going to be parked out in the weather all the time, I would sure consider one. You can get a cheap universal cover off Amazon and Ebay that would work just fine.

Here in Kansas at El Dorado Reservoir, I've asked that question....

Our boat came with a full mooring cover.

Some of our "Neighbors" at the Marina put their covers on.

They don't have as much bird poop or spiders/spider poop, but they have it.

We go frequently enough that we swipe off the spider webs with a brush and periodically get out the hose and hose things down.

If it's left too long, it takes a while to clean up but for the most part, it's six to one half a dozen to the other.

If it wasn't a covered slip, I'd put the mooring cover on it every time.

it's your investment sitting there in the UV light getting baked and drying out and cracking,,, I can't sleep at night thinking about my stuff sitting out all the live long day with no cover,,,, but that is just me

Guys, I a bumping this post because I have the same question about when to use the cover. In my case I have a very nice, factory provided mooring cover with my new pontoon. My pontoon is at an uncovered slip.

I'm just wondering, does it make sense to use the cover every day when the boat is not in use? Or just cover it Sunday evenings if we won't be using it for a few days. The cover looks kind of like a pain to put on with 4 supporting posts and lots of snaps. But I guess its probably just a 15 minute job once I get familiar with it.

Should I be more concerned with protecting it from rain or from sun?

I'm going to order up some of the 303 product for protecting the seats as well.

tooned_in wrote:Guys, I a bumping this post because I have the same question about when to use the cover. In my case I have a very nice, factory provided mooring cover with my new pontoon. My pontoon is at an uncovered slip.

I'm just wondering, does it make sense to use the cover every day when the boat is not in use? Or just cover it Sunday evenings if we won't be using it for a few days. The cover looks kind of like a pain to put on with 4 supporting posts and lots of snaps. But I guess its probably just a 15 minute job once I get familiar with it.

Should I be more concerned with protecting it from rain or from sun?

I'm going to order up some of the 303 product for protecting the seats as well.

We don't cover ours during the weekend when we are using it, but we do put the cover on when we leave on Sunday. The cover is more to protect from the sun than the rain (it's a boat, it's supposed to get wet). When I remove the cover, I fold it long ways into thirds then I roll it up starting at the bow. The cover goes in one of the storage compartments. Then on Sunday, I put the cover on starting at the stern and unroll the cover. We are fortunate that we can reach both sides and the front of the boat while standing on the dock. So the rear snaps are the only ones I have to remove/attach while I'm standing in the boat.

Yeah, you'll get really good at putting it up, and taking it down, and you won't miss all the damage from bird crap, and vermin, not to mention rain etc.

let me chime in with the others here.... my opinion is if your boat will be sitting outside 24/7, then I would sure consider a full cover..... it's amazing what damage the sun can do with the boat just sitting there...

I'm with everybody that say use full cover

you don't "need" one in the same way that you don't "need" to roll up your windows when you park your car.

Tim

Yep, as everyone said, cover it. Once you've covered it a couple of times, then the process goes much quicker.