cover mods

[smedman]

We've had some crazy storms the past month or so here in Austin. (Good for filling up the lakes - bad for my wet boat that sits unprotected other than the cheap cover from Malibu) Luckily we haven't had any hail damage...

Anyway...

One problem I've had with my cover is that the holes for the tower (Illusion X) do not close tightly enough. I've had the "pleasure" many times recently of opening the cover and seeing the carpet soaked as the water is leaking through.

With the poles up it is almost like they direct the water straight to the holes and into the boat. (Is this why everyone talks about Rankin and other covers on this site?)

Anyway, wondering if anyone is having the same problem or is my cover not sewn right?

Anyone have any ideas on how to remedy?

I've thought about contacting a local canvas shop and having them make some "gators" (think old-skool over your pants when snowskiing) that would go over the towers about 6-10 inches up from the cover and seal with velcro around the tower and to the cover itself.

Interested in hearing everyone's ideas.

[Baddog]

Have no idea how your cover is set up, but I have found that minute changes on the pole heights make a huge difference on where water pools or not.

[sgtsandbagger]

I bought a couple of neoprene things that go around fat peoples stomaches add Academy Sports for about $3 each. I wrap them around the tower over the edge of the cover. It has hepled keep rain out of the boat. I with the wraps were made from good neoprene and shaped like my tower. Maybe something life my seal savers on my MX bike forks.

Edited May 11, 2006 by sgtsandbagger

[WakeAndSno]

I have had similar issues in the past (SE WOW last year).

I like the neoprene belt idea.

Perhaps you could contact speakersox or screamin sacs - I'm sure they'd love to fab up something to solve your problem. Perhaps if you used some neoprene at the top or even the old rubberized elastic bands.

JZ

[RiverRunner]

Cory at CoverCrafts and I were talking about this problem on Monday, he is making a protype for me to test and play with, I will post pictures HERE as soon as I get them.

[WakeGirl]

We've had some crazy storms the past month or so here in Austin. (Good for filling up the lakes - bad for my wet boat that sits unprotected other than the cheap cover from Malibu) Luckily we haven't had any hail damage...

Anyway...

One problem I've had with my cover is that the holes for the tower (Illusion X) do not close tightly enough. I've had the "pleasure" many times recently of opening the cover and seeing the carpet soaked as the water is leaking through.

With the poles up it is almost like they direct the water straight to the holes and into the boat. (Is this why everyone talks about Rankin and other covers on this site?)

Anyway, wondering if anyone is having the same problem or is my cover not sewn right?

Anyone have any ideas on how to remedy?

I've thought about contacting a local canvas shop and having them make some "gators" (think old-skool over your pants when snowskiing) that would go over the towers about 6-10 inches up from the cover and seal with velcro around the tower and to the cover itself.

Interested in hearing everyone's ideas.

The Rankin & other covers that people talk about on the site are good because they have the gators that you're talking about sewn into the cover, so you may get some rain but it works well for the most part (you'll probably get a variety of reports on that depending on how well a cover may or may not fit). Rankin uses elasic, velcro would work as well I think. I'd give serious consideration to your idea of having a local canvas shop alter the cover - I wouldn't think that it would cost that much & it would be more functional than any other kind of add-on that you could come up with.

[vette-ski]

I'm glad this was posted - gives me something to think about now. I was planning this weekend to take mine over to a local canvas shop and have it modified to have slots cut for the tower to be up (Monster Tower, not Illusion) when covered. But I hadn't really given much thought to having boots installed at the cutouts. Is this a problem only with the illusion, or should I consider having this done as well. I debated modifying my cover, as it does cover everything up w/ the tower folded down under it. But then I'm pretty sure I'll lose the "towability" this way. I really want to be able to tow with a cover.

[WakeGirl]

It's not just the Illusion that this is a problem with, but the Illusion is a little more difficult if only for the size of the tower. You should look at having the boots installed, especially since you're having other work done to the cover. You'll thank yourself later.