spartyon8 Posted September 17 Share Posted September 17 I am in the need for a new cover for my 2012 G3 Angler 185 and am unsure of the route to go. The OEM cover is made by Dowco and includes snaps and poles (mine never had the snaps installed on the boat so that would need to be done). Or do I go the custom route? OEM cost is roughly $700 and I have one quote for a custom cover at $1200. If custom, any recommendations in the piedmont area of NC? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Jig Man Posted September 17 Super User Share Posted September 17 I have a Dowco for my boat. The poles are only necessary for outdoor storage. It works great going down the road. You might find a custom cover maker who can make you one without the boat being present. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airshot Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 How well do you want it into fit and how long do you want it to last ? Most over the counter covers won't last long when towing because the cover will flap in the breeze. Most over the counter covers don't shed water or support snow as well as a custom made cover. A custom cover will go on and come off easier and quicker. You get what you pay for !! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartyon8 Posted September 20 Author Share Posted September 20 I wasn't going to buy an over the counter cover. I was going to order the one made specifically as a dealer option tailored to my boat model, or a custom one. I was just wondering if others out there have factory covers made by dowco and how they liked them vs going the custom route. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted September 20 Super User Share Posted September 20 I think cover quality and up front cost is dependent on how you intend to use it. I rarely travel with my boat over night and my boat sits in my garage when not in use. So I rarely use my cover except when I bring it in for winterization (which takes a few days every October). I do leave the cover on mine during the winter even though its in the garage. Its just a factory version worth 500 bucks that they threw in as a bonus at no charge when I bought my boat and its suits me fine. If I was to spend more time on the road and over night at fishing destinations, I'd definitely go for a nicer custom version like you are. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User TOXIC Posted September 20 Super User Share Posted September 20 My boat sits outside for most of the summer. I now put it in the barn on my daughters farm though. It’s a 2005 and was outside most of its life. I never towed with a cover because I had a different trolling motor from stock that altered how a stock cover would fit. Most don’t take the proper precautions to trailer with a cover and on glass boats end up with rub scratches. Same with painted tin. I bought a cover from a guy off a website that was made for a 621 Fisherman model and I put it on my Z21. That allowed me to leave the seats in which helped shed rain and snow. If I were to decide to cover my boat towing, I would have to go custom because of the modifications to the boat. With covers, the general consensus is you get what you pay for. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaubsNU1 Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 Are you looking for a travel cover? Or just a boat cover? If you are looking for a travel cover, I would get custom for sure. I picked up a Cabela's generic boat cover for my old boat...mainly to keep covered @ outdoor storage facility. Sun, wind, rain and show took it's toll over the years. That cover was not intended for travel use. It worked okay as a boat cover, using adjustable straps to hold cover to the trailer frame. One of the reasons I went with Lund was the OEM travel cover. There are four snaps at the front. Along the sides the cover has plastic clips that feed in to a channel on side of the boat. It is super easy to install, and remove. And just those few snaps. When driving, the cover sucks down towards the boat and doesn't flap around at all. Note: the only time I use the travel cover is on longer trips, probably two or three times a year. Boat is garage kept. Good luck! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airshot Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 2 hours ago, spartyon8 said: I wasn't going to buy an over the counter cover. I was going to order the one made specifically as a dealer option tailored to my boat model, or a custom one. I was just wondering if others out there have factory covers made by dowco and how they liked them vs going the custom route. The biggest issue is...are you going to tow with it ? For just weather protection, most any will work, but towing puts the most strain on them. How much effort to you want to out into taking the cover off an on. Over the counter covers usually take more time to get them to fit right and stay taught. Custom covers typically last much longer and are much quicker to install and remove. My last custom cover was over 10 yrs old and other than being a little stained and faded was still in excellent shape when the boat was sold. As far as Dowco brand goes, I have saw decent fits and not so decent fits, how lucky are you ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User S Hovanec Posted September 20 Super User Share Posted September 20 I prefer custom. That way it can be made to cover the trolling motor and outboard. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartyon8 Posted September 20 Author Share Posted September 20 I would love a trailerable cover but if that means double the cost it isn't a necessity. Boat sits outside year round in our driveway. My biggest concern is the NC hummidty that sticks around for a while and the occasional snow we get on the western side of the Piedomnt/ foot hills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airshot Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 28 minutes ago, spartyon8 said: I would love a trailerable cover but if that means double the cost it isn't a necessity. Boat sits outside year round. In our driveway. My biggest concern is the NC hummidty that sticks around for a while and the occasional snow we get on rhe western side of the Piedomnt/ foot hills. You might consider building a leanto or other simple structure to keep your boat in. At a prior residence, we had a 6' talk wood privacy fence, I used steel roofing panels and 2x4 to build a roof and three sides to park my boat under. Behind the fence where no one could see it. Snow, rain and sun stayed off the boat ! Only a few dollars more than the cost of a custom cover. When we moved out into the country, I built a pole barn so no cover us needed and if I change boat size, I don't need to get another cover made...lol.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User TOXIC Posted September 20 Super User Share Posted September 20 @spartyon8 I feel your pain. Here’s how I kept mine whenever it wasn’t on the water. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartyon8 Posted September 20 Author Share Posted September 20 9 minutes ago, airshot said: You might consider building a leanto or other simple structure to keep your boat in. At a prior residence, we had a 6' talk wood privacy fence, I used steel roofing panels and 2x4 to build a roof and three sides to park my boat under. Behind the fence where no one could see it. Snow, rain and sun stayed off the boat ! Only a few dollars more than the cost of a custom cover. When we moved out into the country, I built a pole barn so no cover us needed and if I change boat size, I don't need to get another cover made...lol.. I am in total agreement but because of the pie shape to our land and the house being built into a hill, we just don't have the ability to do that. Other than excavating our backyard and putting up a "cheap" aluminum building, it just isn't in the cards financially. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User slonezp Posted September 25 Super User Share Posted September 25 I had a custom cover made for my Lund after the factory cover dry rotted in 4 years. The custom cover was still like new 6 years later when I sold the boat. Lund was stored outdoors year round. The guy who made the cover, his main gig was custom car interiors. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartyon8 Posted September 26 Author Share Posted September 26 I inquired to about a half dozen makers near lake norman and high rock lake. Nothing was cheaper than $1,200 with the avg being around $1,500. That is too rick for my blood. Order one from Dowco and will have to try my best to keep the leaves and direct sunlight off as much as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airshot Posted September 26 Share Posted September 26 23 hours ago, slonezp said: I had a custom cover made for my Lund after the factory cover dry rotted in 4 years. The custom cover was still like new 6 years later when I sold the boat. Lund was stored outdoors year round. The guy who made the cover, his main gig was custom car interiors. Many car guys that do upholstery can also do boat covers, especially during the off season. I have had many covers made by car guys that worked very well and about 30% less than a boat shop ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartyon8 Posted October 9 Author Share Posted October 9 Have any of you intalled snaps into the boat rails? The new cover is coming with snaps installed but I don't have any in the boat. Didn't know if there were any tips floating around as I couldn't find any on YouTube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airshot Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 Like anything there are some tricks to get it right. Have done it a few times and they came out OK. Getting the cover on right and keeping it tight are the keys as you add the snaps. Some extra hands and non marring clamps will help a bunch. Don't be afraid to put the cover on and off a few times before starting the snaps, you need to get a feel for how the cover fits before you start making holes !! Good luck, hope you have lots of friends....lol... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartyon8 Posted October 13 Author Share Posted October 13 It turned out to be way easier than I thought. Dowco included snaps as well as little black inserts (think drywall anchors) that fit into the channel under the rub rail. The only probIem I had is the fasteners across the bow use twistlock snaps which I didn't already have on the boat. I ordered some to finish it up. I also took webbing straps that were supplied and added snaps to mount around the frame instead of dealing with routing straps each time. It turned out pretty well. Thanks everyone! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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