Boat cover fitting around A-frame

[_monkey]

I've recently had a new cover made by the business which supplies Ballistic with covers - they already had a pattern and I assumed the fit would be good.

Generally, the cover is fine, but after heavy rain the area below the a-frame is wet. I am pretty sure it's because the cover is not fitted optimally around the uprights of the a-frame and it's allowing water to pour because the cover is not closely fitted - see pics.

I've emailed the supplier and they've dusted off my concerns with a 'it's the standard Ballistic cover we supply' and offered to add an additional strap. I'm not convinced this will make much difference.

I'm looking to go back to the supplier with a suggestion to improve the fit around the a-frame, but apart from asking them to reduce the gap, I'm not sure the best approach. Any suggestions?

[Oldman2]

Maybe make or have made a couple of secondary covers that overlap the slot and fit tight to the 2 tubes.

[Ribtecer]

^^^ wot he said, that's a very good idea.

[willk]

I've got this sort of deal - my cover maker designed an "upstand" fabric collar on the main cover that stopped run-off entering the hole and a velcroed flap that covered the gap between the tubular steel. It's not watertight, but it's pretty damn good. It's very important to allow ventilation under a cover so some opening to air at a high point is good.

[_monkey]

Originally Posted by willk

I've got this sort of deal - my cover maker designed an "upstand" fabric collar on the main cover that stopped run-off entering the hole and a velcroed flap that covered the gap between the tubular steel. It's not watertight, but it's pretty damn good. It's very important to allow ventilation under a cover so some opening to air at a high point is good.

Sounds interesting, have you got a pic?

[willk]

Originally Posted by _monkey

Sounds interesting, have you got a pic?

'Fraid not - but it's very simple. Imagine a double thickness of the same material you used, stitched around the edge of that slot in yours, raised as a cuff, about 30mm. This stops large volumes from running down off the main cover into the hole. The velcro flap goes over the remaining small gap in the cuff, reducing the amount of rainwater that can actually fall directly into the gap between the tubular steel. You can get reeeel fancy and add internal flaps to the cuffs so they can be wrapped around the steel - but IMO it's overkill.

[GuyC]

It's a bit of a rubbish photo as I've zoomed in to a tiny bit but I think this is what willk is meaning.

[_monkey]

Originally Posted by GuyC

It's a bit of a rubbish photo as I've zoomed in to a tiny bit but I think this is what willk is meaning.

Thanks Guy - that looks like it should prevent water pouring in via the holes for the a-frame.

I'll send the cover people the pic so they understand what should work.

[willk]

Originally Posted by GuyC

but I think this is what willk is meaning.

Yeah, in broad brush strokes, that's it.

[Tim2Mar]

This is how my cover solves that problem

[willk]

Yeah - that's what mine looks like, approx.