Touchless cover or waterline cover for FL dock?

[ScarletArrow]

Just installed boat lift on my Florida dock. Facing west - so I will get plenty of sun. Considering going touchless cover (dropdown curtain), or waterline cover (cover entire boat). What are your thoughts? Pro's / Con's of each?

[markn]

Been in Florida 22 years. The sun can rapidly fade gel-coat. I am a fan of waterline covers rather than touchless "drop down". A neighbor down the street had a drop down...big storm (not even a hurricane) took it out and a few others around the lake have also been damaged by strong winds. Granted, our lake is 2500 acers so we can get some heavy winds. Save some money and potential damage and just buy a waterline cover.

[Jody_Seal]

https://www.tumacscovers.com/

[The_MS]

Water line cover and a blower fan inside the boat.

[DavidN]

The Touchless Covers are really nice and well made, but being north of $5k are quite the investment. It’s a nice feature to be able to simply push a button on the remote to raise them, climb into your boat, and you are ready to go in a matter of minutes.

However - with the boat being completely open inside the cover, you have spiders, bugs, and sometimes birds leaving their mess inside the boat.

Not to speak of pollen who are present in this area almost year round.

 

We have (or had) 3 boat lifts with touchless covers on our lake.

In 2017 hurricane Irma blew directly over our lake in Clermont and took two of the covers down and left them beyond repair.

 

Most common setups on our lake are boat houses and waterline covers on the boats. Mostly Tumacs by Skip @Xpropman who seems to be the go to guy here. I just ordered myself one for Christmas, but didn’t need the waterline feature, as my portable lift has a canopy with side curtains to keep the boat completely protected from sunlight. But - I put a cover on the boat anyway to keep the dirt and bug-/spider- mess out.

[Nickpep22]

+1 for Skip great covers

[skierjp]

Get withe Skip

 

[skierjp]

FYI, I never bungee it down unless it is a tropical storm or greater. Winter Haven Florida. You can put this cover on faster than the touch less cover can go down, 1 person!!!!

[Wish]

I have to agree with spiders and other critters in FL messing things up. Believe it or not a raccoon got in my boat with an almost water line cover in a boat house on a lift. No idea how it did it but with my motor box propped up for ventilation, it actually got into the bilge and came out with greased up feet. Then proceeded to walk around the boat. Somehow it got out as well. I know have a full water line cover...just sayn.

[skierjp]

I’m so picky if I had a touchless cover I would still have a cover on it, especially if I wasn’t going to use it for a few days. The touchless covers on my lake did make it it through hurricane Irma, thats pretty impressive. If you notice in my picture I also have bird deterrent installed. It’s awesome.

[ScarletArrow]

Thanks everyone for your response.

 

Is Skip at the tumac boat covers site @Jody_Seal gave? He's not listed on their website.

 

What material do you go with (Sur Last, Aqualon, Sunbrella)?

 

How do you set up a fan / dehumidifier?

[foxriverat]

@ScarletArrow You can find Skip and his contact info and covers in the highlighted SIA ads here. https://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skiitagain.php?endless=summer&topic=Search&category=Boat_Cover

[luckyone]

 

[luckyone]

Going to do something like this on my 2002 American skier

[GaryJanzig]

I would get the waterline cover if it was my boat. Red is one of the colors that will oxidize faster so keep it waxed too. Boats are not getting any cheaper. Maybe having both in place may keep the boat cooler.

 

[skierjp]

@ScarletArrow i sent you Skips number

[ScarletArrow]

I didn’t realize it was THE Skip. I’ve connected with him. Thanks everyone.

[ScarletArrow]

Got the cover... what fan / dehumidifier do you recommend?

[The_MS]

I use one like this. Run the power cord down through the gas fill opening on the cover.

Harbor freight has a few to choose from

 

 

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjE_-q5oI71AhUJKIYKHZ2tAIEYABAJGgJ2dQ&sig=AOD64_3LfSpcVxpUi-YNb-gyOL8UHfjEQQ&ctype=5&q=&ved=0ahUKEwjb1-S5oI71AhVcRjABHXfNC2sQww8IVA&adurl=

[skierjp]

Check West Marine

[Jordan]

Expensive, and won't work on every style of lift. It does allow for waterline covers to be easily put on and taken off.

 

 

 

[ScarletArrow]

Ok. There’s gotta be a trick to tightening the ratchet strap as it’s underneath the platform.

 

[dave2ball]

@ScarletArrow the best thing to do is tighten the strap where it will slip over with a small amount of effort. When putting the cover on the transom sit on the back of the boat and use your feet to slide the cover near or over one corner of the platform. Then do the same for the other side. You may have to bend over and stretch a bit depending on the boat and how thighs the cover is.

I have the same type of cover and once I set the strap for tension I have not touched it sense.

[skierjp]

@ScarletArrow. Exactly what Dave said. I use my feet to push the cover over the edge of the platform. It will not blow off.

[MalaysianBaller]

Installed one of these about 6 months ago in my boathouse in central FL. Took a while to get but love it. Raises in 5 sec, and breathes so everything dries out.

https://www.shorestation.com/canopy-cover-systems/shorescreen-power-curtain