Undercovers

   Are undercovers only for use whilst transporting a boat?
The reason I ask is that they probably protect the gel coat from UV but they will also trap rain water against the hull which I guess is not good.
Opinions anyone?

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Marine Boy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 01 Sep 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 42	Post Options Post Reply Quote Marine Boy Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Undercovers Posted: 28 Feb 07 at 4:21pm
	Are undercovers only for use whilst transporting a boat? The reason I ask is that they probably protect the gel coat from UV but they will also trap rain water against the hull which I guess is not good. Opinions anyone?

MRJP BUZZ 585 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 05 Mar 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1496	Post Options Post Reply Quote MRJP BUZZ 585 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Feb 07 at 4:25pm
	I guess if people could be bothered they probley would put undercovers on every time but not many can be bothered, i guess if the boat was to be left for a long time you would. I was always told to put a couple of small holes in the bottom of an undercover to stop the build up of water
	Josh Preater BUZZING IS FUN

Matt Jackson Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 21 Sep 04 Location: Darlington Online Status: Offline Posts: 962	Post Options Post Reply Quote Matt Jackson Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Feb 07 at 5:04pm
	I'd say they are good to stop UV damage but can also create a 'boil in the bag' situation. On balance I'd rather my Gelcoat faded a bit (which can be t-cut back to nearly as new) than the internal structure of the hull went all soft and failed the next time I put the rig tension on.
	Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36

craig-m Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Newbie Joined: 28 Oct 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 34	Post Options Post Reply Quote craig-m Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Feb 07 at 5:29pm
	I was told to only use my undercover when travelling, because unless your undercover is breatheable, the undercover makes the gelcoat absorb the water because the boat is unable to breathe. This causes the gelcoat to crack over time.
	RS300 406DERBYSHIRE YOUTH SAILING Burton Sailing CLub Sailing: The only sport that's called off for nice weather

Rob.e Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 19 Oct 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 545	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rob.e Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Feb 07 at 8:52pm
	Re: the breathable issue, my RS300 cover had a "flash" across one corner in some sort of none breathable plastic stuff, and over a winter that was enough to cause the deck to form tiny bubbles just under that small area. Fortunately they were only superficial, but I did cut the thing off, and I notice that all later covers had this in the middle where they didn't touch the hull. The moral is, you don't want anything holding water against your gel coat for any length of time!

scottishgem Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 10 Sep 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 16	Post Options Post Reply Quote scottishgem Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 07 at 6:06pm
	i put the undercover on the 420 if im towing her either a long distance or on gravelled roads, im too bone idle to bother otherwise if we're just going a short way