Canvas Recommendation

[jason3317]

I will be adding a winter cover this fall and am looking for referrals, experiences and opinions. I am local to Chesapeake Bay, but will consider mail-order. The boat to be covered is a J/28. I don't pull the mast every year, but would like the option to use the cover without the support of the mast/boom. Finally, the boat is Awlgripped, which I am led to believe prohibits the use of a full cover (down to the waterline)...is this correct?

If you make a referral, I'd prefer if you've had DIRECT experience with the company, within the last couple of years. All recommendations and opinions on type, fabric options, etc, etc...bring em on.

Thanks in advance.

Jason

[sailingdog]

Since the boat is awlgripped, the cover can't rest on the painted parts of the boat or the paint will likely blister... If it extends down to the painted area...it has to have some sort of system to keep a space between it and the painted surface that doesn't involve stuff resting on the painted surface.

[JohnRPollard]

We've been happy with our cover from Canvas Creations in Annapolis. But it is only intended for use with the rig up. I'm glad of that actually, because I would not want to have to store the frame/support system for a free standing cover.

Ours can be used in or out of the water. It is highly tailored to the boat -- has little pockets for antennae/running lights/anchor flukes/etc. Tight, snug fit. It breaks down into four pieces, which makes carrying it more manageable.

The cover was brand new, never used, when we bought the boat. But the former owner was the one who dealt with Canvas Creations so I have no comment about working with them. Their product is quite good, though.

As for use with Awlgripped hulls: I don't have an answer. My understanding was that the incompatibility was with shrink-wrap rather than synthetic covers, but check with Awlgrip.

[jason3317]

Dog and John: thanks for your information.

I think I talked to Canvas Creations at the Annapolis show; I'll have to go back to my notes, but I seem to remember their covers seemed well put together. What material is your cover? Canvas?

[JohnRPollard]

Originally Posted by jason3317

What material is your cover? Canvas?

I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't know what the name of the material is. Like I said, I wasn't involved in spec-ing it -- I'm just the beneficiary.

I would not call it canvas. I think it is a laminate of some kind. The exterior is similar to a heavy, glossy sunbrella-like material, but the interior is coated with a white vinyl-like material. It is very heavy-duty, waterproof, and abrasion resistant (unlike sunbrella).

P.S. I just took a look at Canvas Creation's website, hoping to find the material name. Funny, but they don't seem to mention boat covers anywhere on their website...?

[NauticalFishwife]

Jason, I"m not sure if you've chosen your cover or not, but if you're at Jabins in Annapolis take a look at my winter cover.Our boat is Calypso-a blue hull Dickerson, on the hard next to a red hull Sabre, also named Calypso! Annapolis Yacht Canvas made it several years ago. Dan and Donna are great and located at Annapolis Landing on Edgewood Rd. The cover is wonderful.... it has vents sewn in-which allow good ventilation, which is a very good thing. They paid attention to detail-an old boat with lots of add ons-fits nice on land or in the water, we have an awlgrip hull-its in three pieces and pretty easy to put on. I did not want the lines that go under the hull because I couldn't imagine fitting that on the boat, by myself while the boat is in the water. I'm amazed at the number of people that shrink wrap their boats every season rather than having a good cover made. We have a 37 foot boat and I can manage the three pieces myself. It does a great job of keeping the boat clean and dry through the winter.