Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I have a pontoon cover with three pole support system. Each pole has two straps that attach to the sides of the boat and one more strap that attaches to the other poles. I have tried everything to keep water from pooling on the cover. No matter how tight I tie the cover or how high I raise the poles, it always collects water. I am wanting it more to block the sun than keep rain off of the boat. Any ideas how I can cut vents in the pontoon cover for the rain to go?

Where is the water pooling?

Personally, I would try to fix the pooling problem with more poles or beach balls in the corners or -------- before I took a knife to the cover.

Tucker I have been having issues as well! It just made a light bulb go off! Stay tooned...... I may try and fab something this weekend! if it doesn't rain....

I know this is common sense but it is pooling where the water is the lowest. Usually right before the cover goes over the outside railing. I have tried to pull the cover tighter but it doesn't matter. Enough rain and it starts to sag. A beach ball in one location will just make the water pool in a lower spot.

I hope my reply did not come across as being a smart ass.

My Bentley cover pooled during a heavy rain (it was a 20' boat with only 3 poles in the middle) and I had to add more short poles (PVC with a tennis ball on top and bottom) by the front and rear seats. My South Bay and Excursion covers never pooled. They have 4 long poles plus one short pole by the sun pad.

following. I know this will happen to me too when it rains.

ive had this problem before also. I figured out if I crank the jack all the way up on the tongue it helps all the water drain off the cover. Super easy fix... might want to give it a shot!

I've done 2 things. 1, I lowered the tongue jack all the way down. This is mainly when stored for the winter or long periods of time. Second, I drilled holes in the poles once they were extended as far up as they could, without stretching the cover too much. Then I put bolts through the holes, which made it so they were in essence, non-adjustable. Again, I did this for winter, as snowfall doesn't just roll off like water does. I've never had a problem with rain draining off, but if we get more than 2-3 inches of snow, it adds a LOT of weight to the cover, and the poles would always collapse back together no matter how tight I had the thumb screws. The bolts solved the problem for me.

GXPWeasel wrote:if we get more than 2-3 inches of snow, it adds a LOT of weight to the cover, and the poles would always collapse back together no matter how tight I had the thumb screws. The bolts solved the problem for me.

Exactly the problem I had this winter. Good idea!

Mine never pooled with rain in the 9 years the cover lasted. Mine was a custom cover, the dealer has his own canvas shop. Just curious if yours has the slack to "tent" up this high? Mine just had 4 poles no straps.

I was going to buy a new one after 9 years mine started tearing but ended up selling it 1st. BTW, dealer had quoted me $625 for a new one for the 22' toon. Cant believe some of the prices I've seen on here

On my Harris Cruiser I have the rear lounger. The factory cover is the same as if I had a rear sunpad instead of the optional lounger. This has a lower edge for the aft port section.

I purchased a plastic pole system that has black plastic sections and a mushroom top piece from Walmart. I want to say it was around $7 in their boating section. I sit it in the back corner of the lounger and no issues anymore with sagging water. This would help if the beach ball option won't fit.

I wish I was reading here sooner. I would have tried that beach ball option out myself!