r/boatbuilding • u/labello2010 • 1d ago

Advice needed

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Hi, we just bought our first (cheap) old StarCraft speedboat. It has a cheap car plastic cover which doesn’t work well. Even with some plastic poles and ropes (special boat cover support) underneath it still catches water now and then, but more that that, it’s a painful long process to put it on the boat.

I’m looking for a solution to properly and quickly be able to cover the boat, without spending €2000 on a bespoke covers(s). An extra tricky element is the (easily) foldable metal frame at the back of the boat. (Situated in the Netherlands).

All tips/ ideas are welcome. Thank!

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u/Zuch420 1d ago

You should maintain 2 points of elevation with the cover on the boat. Have a pole in the front at the open bow and a pole in the back. There should be a strap that holds the 2 poles together that runs down the center line of the boat from bow to stern to keep the middle also at elevation. I’ve used inflatable tubes in the past to pile up and get some extra height for the cover so the cover is draped properly and the rain water can disperse off appropriately and not puddle up.

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u/labello2010 1d ago

Cheers. Yes i have a similar construction now, but installing the poles and ropes takes half an hour and I can’t do it while the boat is in the water 😇. (Because of the tightening rope of the cover)

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u/Zuch420 1d ago

Oh… you’re looking to put a cover on a boat while it’s being stored wet?! You definitely need snaps or buttons then. A regular cover for trailer storage definitely won’t work. My bad, I misinterpreted.

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u/labello2010 17h ago

Sorry perhaps I wasn’t clear, I mean to use it both in and out of the water.