Tarpaulin over the consol

[Huib1965]

As I dont want to pay £180,- for covers on my Outhill consol and seat covers I decided to use heavy duty tarp to cover them and found this Topgrade Tarpaulin | Tarpaulins Direct

I know it will be a bit of folding to get it right but have any of you got experience to use bungee to tie them through the eyelets and then with I assume hooks to the bottom of the consol..... Ball loop bungee, toggle bungee, tarp grabber, anchor guys are terms used and googled but can come to a conclusion what is best to use.... Any tips ? txs

[Exe treme]

Hi
I had a centre console cover made for a sports fisher a few years back. It was custom fitted but used the bungee loops and console hooks as you have described. It worked perfectly. A cheap option would be to use eyelets and make bungee loops using cable ties.

Just one thing to consider - a tarp will also keep dampness in, so look out for mould etc under the cover.

[Dry Run]

Hi Huib,

From experience I would advise against covering your console in any material that isn't breathable. Trapping moisture inside a tarp will play havoc with your electrics. I assume the £180 covers are breathable? and will do a much better job in the long run.

Steve

[Huib1965]

Hi Steve, I think you both might be right.... As you know I have a cover which is fine when in the stack but was think of making a cheap cover option to cover the vinyl seats when its moored but just dont want to spend £180,- on covers which are hardly used ?

ps, I found a way to do the nav lighting as well..... Need to by them but will go for Navisafe lights which I can either stick on the transom with a Railblaza pole but also the red/green can be done easily.... They are then more temp nav lights which will work better and cheaper for us .....

[Dan Gurney]

Originally Posted by Dry Run

Trapping moisture inside a tarp will play havoc with your electrics.
Steve

What sort of havoc? I've been covering my whole boat with a big tarp since we got it (Nov 2012) with no ill effects thus far. The plotter gets a bit of condensation in it but i think that's more to do with the age of the unit than the tarp; it does it even when there was no cover on when we first got it. Not as waterproof as it used to be.

Was going to get a Ducksback when the tarp started to get manky but may need to pull it forward if there's a convincing argument for it.

[Chris Caton]

Originally Posted by Clamchowder

What sort of havoc? I've been covering my whole boat with a big tarp since we got it (Nov 2012) with no ill effects thus far. The plotter gets a bit of condensation in it but i think that's more to do with the age of the unit than the tarp; it does it even when there was no cover on when we first got it. Not as waterproof as it used to be.

Was going to get a Ducksback when the tarp started to get manky but may need to pull it forward if there's a convincing argument for it.

tarp won't be too bad if covering the complete rib as long as you leave space near the transom to let the fresh air in, more of an issue if you just cover the console & fix it low down, doesn't let air circulate so causes condensation, mould etc

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Chris Caton

tarp won't be too bad if covering the complete rib as long as you leave space near the transom to let the fresh air in, more of an issue if you just cover the console & fix it low down, doesn't let air circulate so causes condensation, mould etc

Yes I use a tarp and as Chris says got to vent Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

[Huib1965]

So what about an article from Ducks back which surely is breathable and £16 a piece......Ducks Back | Protective Outdoor Products | Boat Covers UK.... Not matching and surely not a perfect fit but it keeps the rain out !!

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Huib1965

So what about an article from Ducks back which surely is breathable and £16 a piece......Ducks Back | Protective Outdoor Products | Boat Covers UK.... Not matching and surely not a perfect fit but it keeps the rain out !!

Hi I've got a Ducksback Had it for a few years and still ok. I got two slots made for A frame for a better fit but I still leave the transom open to allow circulation. Overall very please with the cover for the price.

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

[Ribandmotorhome]

I used a garden bench seat cover on my old boat console.
Was breathable and waterproof material.
Cost £10.00 from b&q!
it had a draw string around the bottom, with that pulled tight, never came loose whilst at anchor.
Only used it when the boat was on the water but it was always bone dry underneath each morning!

[tony t]

Originally Posted by Huib1965

As I dont want to pay £180,- for covers on my Outhill consol and seat covers I decided to use heavy duty tarp to cover them and found this Topgrade Tarpaulin | Tarpaulins Direct I know it will be a bit of folding to get it right but have any of you got experience to use bungee to tie them through the eyelets and then with I assume hooks to the bottom of the consol..... Ball loop bungee, toggle bungee, tarp grabber, anchor guys are terms used and googled but can come to a conclusion what is best to use.... Any tips ? txs

I don't understand people that invest a lot of money on a rib then worry about spending a few hundred quid on a quality well fitted made to measure waterproof cover. Mine fits in a bag,light as a feather, fully waterproof and I can even tow with it on takes me 5 minutes to take off and pack away when I use the rib which is a 6.4 It's a no brainer really

[Ribandmotorhome]

I'm my case the rib cost £1500 so it's a different story really

[Huib1965]

Hi... I have a good overall cover but looking for one for the seat and consol when it is moored...this will used occasionally thats why £180 seems a lot....

[Exe treme]

Hi again huib

An alternative thought for your temporary mooring covers...

I used some Ducksback large outboard covers for a double bench seat when my boat was on a mooring. Like you, I didn't want to spend a fortune on a cover that would get covered in seagull s#1t and maybe only last a season or two.

They are made of the same waterproof/breathable material and have a drawstring to help keep them in place. From memory, the cover was about £22.

An extra large one might cover the top half of you console as well. All dimensions are listed so you can check out if they would fit before you buy.

[Dan Gurney]

Originally Posted by Ribandmotorhome

I'm my case the rib cost £1500 so it's a different story really

+1

My whole rig cost 5k a year ago so spending the best part of a grand on a fitted cover is a bit of a no-brainer.

Ofc if I had a 20k+ setup (if only) I'd be right with you.

[Huib1965]

Top tip.... Wanted it in blue to match my tubes and the size seems perfect for my outhill double seat and steering consol.... so £11,- x 2 = £22,- job done !!

[Huib1965]

Well... £25,- including cost to get it posted ... See you around on the Solent !!

[Chris Caton]

Originally Posted by tony t

I don't understand people that invest a lot of money on a rib then worry about spending a few hundred quid on a quality well fitted made to measure waterproof cover. Mine fits in a bag,light as a feather, fully waterproof and I can even tow with it on takes me 5 minutes to take off and pack away when I use the rib which is a 6.4 It's a no brainer really Attachment 89225

Attachment 89227

nice one Mr T, wonder where that cover came from

[tony t]

Originally Posted by Clamchowder

+1 My whole rig cost 5k a year ago so spending the best part of a grand on a fitted cover is a bit of a no-brainer. Ofc if I had a 20k+ setup (if only) I'd be right with you.

The cover wasn't a grand less than half that

[tony t]

Originally Posted by Chris Caton

nice one Mr T, wonder where that cover came from

Same place as I told you all about last year
I hope your not having all my discount ..!