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A boat is not only a lot of fun and a cherished possession, but it is an investment as well. As with any investment, proper care and maintenance is essential to getting the most for your money. Keeping your boat covered and away from exposure to the elements with a quality cover is a must. Ideally, you’re able to store it in a facility that offers secure boat storage to reduce the risk of theft or vandalism as well; but certainly, a good cover is a no-brainer. When it comes to buying a quality boat cover, there are plenty of options available and in my experience, the old adage that “you get what you pay” for applies. There are a wide range of materials to choose from and a variety of manufacturers as well. While the cheaper covers may appear to be the more economical choice upfront, they use a lower quality canvas that is not well treated for UV protection and will stop protecting your boat much sooner than a quality product. With these cheaper canvases, the sun will easily degrade the material within one year, rendering the canvas unable to provide the protection your boat deserves. A sure sign of failure in the canvas is fading of the color. When fading occurs it is simultaneously weakening the fibers. When the fibers get weak it is a short time before the boat cover rips. From experience I know that inexpensive covers will rip shortly after 1 year. It might be a little painful for the pocketbook, but an investment in a more expensive and well-made cover will generally last 4-5 years. Let’s face it, if you’re replacing your cover once a year, not only is it inconvenient, but you end up saving much less than you expected. Worse still, we all know this happens: the old cover needs to be replaced but you don’t get around to it for a few months and your boat is getting exposed to the elements anyway, which was the point of purchasing a cover in the first place. Bottom line: you’ve dropped some serious coin for a boat in the first place, don’t get cheap now. So, as you’re preparing to find a self storage facility with parking for boats, it’s important that you consider the quality of the cover you’re purchasing. When store your boat away, either at a boat storage facility or at your home, it is important to put lifting sticks under the cover. These sticks are aluminum or wood and they’re placed vertically under the cover from the floor of boat to push the cover up in the middle forming a kind of tee pee. This will keep any rain water from collecting on the cover and wearing it out prematurely. Transporting your boat with the cover on is not recommended. Sure, it usually works fine, but one loose buckle, rope or snap and you’ll be scratching the boat on your way to the ramp. Not the best way to start a day on the lake! Better to be safe than sorry. Follow these tips and you’ll be on your way toward years and years of fun in the sun!
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boat cover, boat storage, self storage,
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