®
Fall 2024
Y
ou finally saved up enough scratch to land that
hot bass boat you lusted after, but will the
relationship last when she looks old and tired? When the skin shows blemishes, and the carpet fades
will you love her just the same?
Lasting relationships don’t happen by chance, they result
from care and attention. If you love your boat and want to be
proud of her two decades later, stay tuned for some relationship
tips to keep her looking young and sexy. The tips that follow will
“cover” what you need to know based upon decades of experience.
Case in point, my Ranger Z20 bought new in 2007 looks as good
today as when it arrived at the dealership, despite having fished
hundreds of tournaments and traveled roads, lakes and rivers
across the country for thousands of miles.
Every single day of its life has been spent under a boat
cover. Despite living near Seattle where the winter rain or
snow and summer-sun can take its toll on anything kept
outdoors, my girl looks better than boats kept indoors.
The key is understanding boat covers and knowing how to
maximize their ability to protect your investment.
TIP 1
Buy a quality cover made specifically for your boat. I bought my Ranger with a factory cover that fit like a glove.
TIP 2
When your cover wears out or no longer fits because of the six big screen sonar units you added, buy a custom-
made replacement designed to cover your new electronics and trolling motor. For more than thirty years I have ordered mine through Aurora Canvas who specializes in quality covers that fit your model boat with all your custom changes.
TIP 3
Make sure your cover has soft padding at every area that touches the high points like the windshields, trolling motor and graphs, seat tops, and transom and bow corners.
TIP 4
If you are a minimalist, consider a flat cover. Most factory covers are flat. They are quick to remove and fold into a small package. This is handy when you arrive at the lake and remove the cover to place in your car while fishing.
If you live in an area with a HOA and must keep your boat behind a fence and not visible from the street, a flat cover will not show above your gate.
The downside is that flat covers do not shed rain well and make it hard to retrieve fishing gear from your boat without removing the cover.
You also must remove your pedestal seats before installing the boat cover. But they do look sleek so if looks trump function this is the cover for you.
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