The Right Boat Cover Support

A boat is a big investment, and a cover helps protect that investment from the elements. Yet under rain or snow, precipitation can pool up on the cover, stretching it out of shape, weakening it, and eventually causing a hole. A boat cover support, however, will help extend its life. Boat cover supports work by tenting the cover from underneath and keeping it taut so water always runs to the ground. 

Bow-Type Boat Cover Supports

With a bow-type boat cover support, thin planks of wood or fiberglass are cut a few inches wider than the boat, and set in sockets placed opposite each other along the inside of the boat. The width of the planks and the angle of the sockets keep the support bowed upward and will keep the boat cover taut. Sockets can be permanently mounted on the inside edge of the boat, or some manufacturers sell connectors that clip onto the boat rail and hold the planks, with no assembly required. Adjustable-length planks are also available in case your needs change. 

Boat Cover Support Poles

A boat cover support pole stands on the floor of a boat and can be adjusted to the right height to keep the cover taut. Some poles can be shrunk as small as 20 inches or extended to 60. Generally, a boat cover support pole is made of aluminum with a rubber base to stand on, and a cushioned tip that will hold up the cover without damaging it. However, some boaters recommend reinforcing your boat cover where the tip of the pole touches it. A cover requires two or three poles for complete support. 

Boat Cover Support Systems

Boat cover support systems use one pole in the middle of the boat to support the center of a large “X” of webbing. The ends of the webbing have hooks to attach to the bow and stern without scratching. When the webbing is attached and tightened, the tension supports the boat cover. The cover is not stressed too much in any one spot, so it should not need reinforcing. 

Venting

While a boat cover keeps weather out, it can keep damaging moisture trapped inside. For this reason, some boat cover support poles and systems come with a venting mechanism. A plastic or metal collar is attached to the cover for the pole to go through. The pole, which is ventilated, pokes up through the collar and opens to fresh air. Some vents come with their own small metal cover to keep water from getting into the pole.