boat covers

4 years for a PVC cover left in full sun is about right. People underestimate the effects of UV, and 4 years is about what manufacturers of PVC will  give as reasonable life. Acrylic canvas will last longer...

How many years would you expect a decent quality cover to last ? Just wondering

Nigel

PVC coated fabric (muslin apparently) Sail Register one on my laser 1 (GRP) - falling to bits as described.

Rain and sun polycotton on my 3000 (foam/polyester) - very nice cover but being fabric does show the dirt.

Standard laser heavy duty pvc coated fabric on the pico (rotomould) - lasting fine and easy to clean but we ripped it.

My vote's for rain and sun. Not very cheap but pretty good value.

I also note that banks' price list is extremely similar in price and layout to rain and sun's - though they're a few quid more expensive.  I wonder if perchance they are related.

Edited by NickA

Banks were great when they made a custom sized cover for my boat.  Thoroughly recommend them.  As mentioned earlier, the two material choices are polycotton and PVC.  Polycotton costs more but is breathable.  If you have wood decks you need polycotton.  If the boat is all plastic PVC is fine.

Sail Register (http://www.sailregister.co.uk/) gets my vote, not as breathable as some, but very well priced and a good fit. Mine has 'snap-lock' style fittings which also makes it very quick to secure. They usually offer an extra discount at the shows, I bought my Vareo's cover at last years dinghy show and saved 10% on the list price. I also put a traffic cone inside my boat when I cover it up, it holds the cover slightly higher than usual and avoids the water pooling in the middle of the boat, there is a loop on the cover to attach the main halyard, but the use of my traffic cone avoids leaving a bend in the mast

Nigel