Baller Onside135 Posted April 21, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 21, 2014 Any suggestions for a cover for a SN196. I'd like to find a good cover that also performs well at highway speeds. Also, I'm wondering what guys are doing to get covers on/off with the bow wedge on the front of the Ramlin trailers. My boat seems to ride pretty tight up against that wedge, so I'm not sure how to conveniently get a cover on or off with this thing. Thanks for the help... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Jody_Seal Posted April 21, 2014 Baller_ Share Posted April 21, 2014 Most of the time we wait til we can back the boat off the trailer at the ramp to get the cover loose from the bow stop. I keep (among other tools) a 3/4" box end wrench handy and loosen the bow stop upright bolt (Also provided I remembered to tighten the bolt when I last pulled the cover). So far these guys make the best over the counter, best fit mooring and road cover. http://commercialsewing.com/ truly a 100 mph cover! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jhughes Posted April 22, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 22, 2014 I have Rankin cover. They are no longer in business but it was an 800.00 cover at the time and it's still amazing to this day. Any comparable cover that fits the boat like a drum with no straps or snaps is well worth the investment. As for the Ram-Lin bow stops, don't worry about them with the cover. No need for cutouts, etc. I find that when I put down the jack stand on the front of the trailer (enough to take the tongue weight off the hitch) the pressure comes off the nose of the boat enough to remove the cover. No problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller GOODESkier Posted April 22, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 22, 2014 What ever was available from the factory is the GREATEST cover, but I think they were pricy? Anyone remember who made those for them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller swc5150 Posted April 22, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 22, 2014 These are the best after-market covers for the 196. I've had a couple, and they are essentially a Rankin. The owner, Brent, actually worked for Rankin back in the day. I believe I paid $680 for them. Here are pics of the '08 and '07 196's with them... http://www.cover-sports.com/theprocover.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uflbret Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 +1 on Cover-Sports covers. That will be my next one. The ones I've seen are amazing. As far as being able to get your cover over the bow, here is what I do. I keep a crescent wrench in the truck so when I get back to the truck to retrieve the boat from the ramp I tighten the bolt holding the bowstop up snug. Load boat like normal. When you want to put the cover on, loosen that bolt and you'll have enough play in the bowstop to put the cover on. Simple as it sounds. Just gotta remember to tighten it back up between launching and retrieval. If it is still a little too tight, you can always loosen the turnbuckle some and push up on the bow while sliding the cover over at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uflbret Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 I emailed commercialsewing since Coversports is really far out on their lead times right now, and they told me they only sell through Nautique dealers who have to buy directly through Nautique. That's 2 extra channels of markup so the end user price is astronomical. The covers look really nice but I just can't justify spending well over $1000 on a cover for a SN196. There's just not that much material to justify the cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ The_MS Posted April 23, 2014 Baller_ Share Posted April 23, 2014 @onside135 What year is the 196? We have an 05-08 cover that wont fit our 09 that is basically new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Onside135 Posted April 23, 2014 Author Baller Share Posted April 23, 2014 Thanks to everyone for the responses. @uflbret @Jody_Seal I think the 3/4" wrench / crescent wrench trick is exactly what I'll need to give me the room to put the cover over the bow. I'm not sure why I didn't notice that! I also contacted Commercial Sewing via phone, and they told me they didn't make a cover for an '01 196, and that if they did they only dealt with dealers or the manufacturer. I'm still waiting to here back from Cover-Sports. Their website seemed to be under construction. Anyone have a phone # for them? Hmmm...@MS It's a 2001 196. Tell me about this cover... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller swc5150 Posted April 23, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 23, 2014 Brent at Coversports can be really slow with communication, but his covers are worth it. I'll try to dig up his phone number, I know I have it somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller swc5150 Posted April 23, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 23, 2014 Coversports: Brent Fleming 425-491-9641 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Onside135 Posted April 23, 2014 Author Baller Share Posted April 23, 2014 @swc5150...Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ The_MS Posted April 23, 2014 Baller_ Share Posted April 23, 2014 @Onside it is a custom cover from Skip D. It will not fit your 01. We plan to sell ours and get the 09 version from Skip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skier2788 Posted April 23, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 23, 2014 Do these companies make a cover that goes to the waterline? Really would like one to cover the sides of my 02 196 while it sits on the lift. All I see are covers that go to the spray rail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uflbret Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 After further research I decided to get a Carver sun-dura cover. 95% of the time our boat is safe in the garage. The only time I need the cover is if we tow down the 2 hours to my parents house or to my brother-in-laws house to leave on his lake for the weekend. The sun-dura cover was $300 shipped including trailer tie-downs. @MS, wish I saw your post before I ordered! Oh well. That cover "should" (not certain) fit '02-08. The TSC3 hull is ever slightly different, beam is only 3/4" narrower and OA length minus platform is also 3/4" shorter. Not sure exactly what they did to the deck to change the dimensions, I thought the only differences b/w TSC2 and TSC3 was below the waterline. Maybe Jody can chime in with what I'm missing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ The_MS Posted April 23, 2014 Baller_ Share Posted April 23, 2014 @uflbret I think it is 02-08. @skier2788 our cover goes over platform and down to water line. No sun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skier2788 Posted April 23, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 23, 2014 @ms sent you a pm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ The_MS Posted April 23, 2014 Baller_ Share Posted April 23, 2014 Nothing in my box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Onside135 Posted April 24, 2014 Author Baller Share Posted April 24, 2014 It seems I'm leaning towards ordering from Brent @ Cover-Sports. My only concern is that even when tightening/loosening the bolt for my bow wedge on the trailer it doesn't create much room to work with to get the cover on and off. I guess I'll make something work. Does anyone have any experience putting a hinge on the bow stop wedge? Pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtallweed Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I was always told to never travel with your cover on as wind movement on your cover can bun the gel coat. More than one person relayed that advise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller oldjeep Posted April 24, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 24, 2014 @jhughes Little scary that the trailer frame flexes that bad within a couple of feet. Wouldn't give me any warm fuzzies about what happens when you hit a bump and that tongue sees even more load. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Onside135 Posted April 24, 2014 Author Baller Share Posted April 24, 2014 @oldjeep...I don't think it's trailer flex, but when you lift the tongue with the jack (trailer not attached to receiver ball), the location of the center of gravity of the boat allows you to physically lift up the bow to install the cover. The trailer isn't flexing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skier2788 Posted April 24, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 24, 2014 My trailer for my 196 has a hinged bow stop. Will take pictures tonight when I get home. Just pull the pin and it falls away from the boat. Cover and uncover super easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller swc5150 Posted April 25, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 25, 2014 @bigtallweed Unless the cover is specifically designed for towing, you are correct. I'm sure all of us remember the days when one didn't dare tow with the cover on. Many factory covers are now designed for towing, like Rankin and Coversports. I prefer the factory SN200 cover to any I've had in the past. I think the MC covers are really nice too, but I don't have any real world experience with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Onside135 Posted April 25, 2014 Author Baller Share Posted April 25, 2014 @swc5150...Do you know if your factory cover for the SN200 may be an Outer Armor cover from Commercial sewing? I think they've made a bunch of them. Also, you spoke highly of the Cover-Sports product earlier. Comparing the two...which is your preference, why? Thanks for all your inputs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller swc5150 Posted April 25, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 25, 2014 @Onside135 I believe I heard Commercial Sewing made the 200 cover, but I'm not positive? I'll see if I can find a tag on it showing the manufacturer. I personally prefer the factory cover due to it's light weight, intuitive install design, and ventilation ports. It's almost a vinyl-like material, that's easier to clean than Sunbrella too. CS covers are great, but not entirely user-friendly at first install. There are little J hooks you need to install, via Velcro strips, to attach the cover to the rub rail. Also, the rear straps can be confusing as to where they attach at first. The CC cover also has some webbing on the inside to totally prevent water from pooling. If I one could get the 200 cover made to fit a 196, it would be my first choice, but I'm not sure the option exists? You still can't go wrong with a CS cover, it just takes a couple tries to tweak it for a perfect fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ The_MS Posted April 25, 2014 Baller_ Share Posted April 25, 2014 Here are a few pics of the waterline 196 covers. Excellent for both on the lift and traveling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skier2788 Posted April 25, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 25, 2014 Lighting was bad last night took these this morning. Pretty simple to make. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skier2788 Posted April 25, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 25, 2014 I cant get them up right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uflbret Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 http://secondstateofnature.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/tilted-head-dog-225x300.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller AggieSkier Posted April 27, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 27, 2014 Last year, Zach at N3 boatworks had some great deals on covers for TSC1 hull. Not full waterline or quality of Rankin but pretty good bang for the buck. Might see if he has any left. http://www.n3boatworks.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
303Skier Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Just put my new Cover Sports cover on today for my 2008 Ski Nautique 196. I have to agree, this is the best cover made hands down! Brent knows how to make a cover and you can tell some thaught went into developing these boat covers. You can tell quality when you see it...the front of the cover has leather so the fabric doesn't get worn through, there is felt/fabric padding under cover where it contacts the windshield frame so they don't get scratched/worn, the cinch mechanism in the back of the boat has leather wrapped around it doesn't scratch the boat and all around the sides of the boat there are rail hooks to keep the cover from pulling up. This cover has it all, can't be happier! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller storm34 Posted July 11, 2016 Baller Share Posted July 11, 2016 Nice looking rig! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blikhim Posted August 13, 2020 Share Posted August 13, 2020 Does anyone know if Cover-sports is still around or where I can get one of Brent's covers for my '05 SN 196? Or anything that has the same quality fit? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller oldjeep Posted August 13, 2020 Baller Share Posted August 13, 2020 Still has a website http://www.coversports.net/store/c1/Featured_Products.html https://coversourceinternational.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blikhim Posted August 13, 2020 Share Posted August 13, 2020 nm, I found him coversourceinternational.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Xpropman Posted August 13, 2020 Baller Share Posted August 13, 2020 Look on Ski It Again under cover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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