196 Cover

[Horton]

I have a 2008 196 in my garage but I am afraid that the old girl needs to go outside.

 

Question is who sells the best after market 196 Cover?

[ski6jones]

skiboatcovers.com makes a nice cover. You can get a waterline cover that comes down to the chine to protect the gel coat. I have over 10 years on mine and it was still in good shape.

[Jmoski]

I have a coversports cover for my 196, works well for me since I mostly use it while trailering and then for two weeks every summer docked on the lake for vacation.

 

If you primarily moor it or have it at the dock all summer, I would go with skiboatcovers like @Than_Bogan has given I think it will shed water better with the pole supports.

 

I also had one of the factory commercial sewing covers, which is similar in design to coversports, but sent it back since the coating was defective and leaked like a sieve!

[Wish]

Old Girl.. Well if it's a burden.. I'll come get it.

[PatM]

skiboatcovers.com

[Horton]

does anyone have a business contact at http://www.skiboatcovers.com/

[303Skier]

@Horton - I'd say to not go with coversports as I had one of their covers that turned my upholstery black because of excessive heat inside the boat. No vents on their covers.

 

I had a long road with this with my 08' and the best cover (if you can find one) is the factory cover made by Commercial Sewing. This is the same people who make the 200 Nautique cover. It has a ratchet system and is hands down the best cover! I used it on the boat all the way from CO to FL, 1900 miles and it didn't leave a single scratch on my boat also it drum tight so rain just rolls off. Also has vents!

 

I got mine from Dave Hendricks @ Nautique. Part number #90310

(407) 956-6477.

 

Good luck! BTW, it's not cheap but sure you can get a good deal.

[303Skier]

 

[303Skier]

Oh also - If the factory cover is too spendy, reach out to Skip Dunlap. I got a cover from him for my 200 and it's pretty nice and is a mouring cover. Approx $450 +/- few dollars.

 

PM me if you need his number.

[swc5150]

x2 on Commercial Sewing covers. I had 3 Coversports, which were nice, but CS cover on our MC is much nicer.

[Mateo_Vargas]

www.bluetarp.com

[Jmoski]

My cover does have vents - you just have to add them when you order.

 

My exp. with Commerical Sewing was probably an anomaly - their customer service was excellent and it looks like the covers have improved over the 7 years since I had one. The other issue I had with this cover was it didn't have any protection in the front to prevent my trailers crash pads from chewing it up. Notice the CoverSports cover has a beefy section of ballistic nylon on the nose.

 

One drawback to the skiboatcover is it appears you have to use the tie-downs on the side to trailer with the cover on.

 

 

[208skier]

I just got a custom cover from Tumacs - pittsburg. Fits like a glove. Too soon to tell regarding durability but i think it will be good. Very reasonable.

[skier2788]

Angola canvas did a great job with mine. Bunch of options and relatively cheap.

[skierjp]

@Horton, get with Skip! He has the best cover in the business.

[skierjp]

Maybe you can do a unboxing on it

[Jmoski]

@OB1 - that's a huge bummer, I wonder if I have been spared that same fate given I don't leave it in the Sun with the cover on for extended periods of time.

[LeonL]

Skip is known on BOS as @Xpropman. As @skierjp said, best covers and prices.

[LeonL]

Off topic, but what do you guys know about "pinky". Apparently it's a mold or fungus that is sorta pink in color. Has nothing to do with being under a cover, or so I'm told. High humidity areas are prone to it. You'd think all lakes would be high humidity, but it's mostly in Florida. They say it goes away sitting out in the sun.

[igkya]

Anyone remember Pinky Tuscadaro?

[Jordan]

https://goo.gl/v72fxK

[storm34]

+1 for Angola Canvas.

[oldjeep]

x 10 on commercial sewing. They made my factory Malibu cover, no complaints at all. Also agree with the gray instead of black. My gray cover keeps the boat so much cooler than my inlaws black cover.

 

 

[LeonL]

@Jordan thanks for the info on "pinky". Based on @OB1 is it heat that causes the pink to appear and not humidity? I have to assume it is.

[oldjeep]

@LeonL Common issue reported on Malibu's in the Malibu forum. Seems to be entirely heat related, not moisture. Odd thing is that what makes it go away is setting the boat uncovered in the sun.

[LeonL]

I had heard of a SN 200 with the "issue". I highlight the word issue because my wife and I have a joke about the use of that word. It comes from someone saying "he has alcohol issues". No, he has a alcohol problem, he's a fricking drunk. Consequently I would call the vinyl thing a problem.

[BrennanKMN]

I also need a cover for my TSC3 196. I called Brent at CoverSports and I can get one made from him for $740 shipped. To get a Commercial Sewing cover the cheapest dealer I found was $1300 + shipping. Neither Nautique or Commercial Sewing would work directly with me.

 

That is a huge difference for me. I had a CoverSports cover on my TSC1 boat with zero issues, but I also like the look and feel of the Commercial Sewing cover better, but definitely not $600 better.

 

It looks like those are the only two players in the game for trailerable covers that don't require poles or straps. Every other cover I can find either requires poles or straps to the trailer - I have no interest in either of those things.

 

[skierjp]

Get with Skip on the cover (xpropman) he has the best cover in the business. It's easy to put on and it completely covers the sides down to the waterline.