Boat Cover for EC21

[KeithK]

Has anyone, particularly with an EC21 had a boat cover made? I have the bimini already installed and now considering adding the panels that would zipper onto the existing cover. I know that the factory uses King Marine Canvas... and will contact them shortly. But, could you give any ideas whether or not to have the eisenglass(?) on all panels, or all canvas, or a combination of the two.

Also, are they a 'pain' to put up/take off? I am assuming that the boat cover isn't something you would cruise around with...? Your experiences: do they hold any heat, do the panels 'sweat'?, Anything good or bad!

Any thoughts... thank you very much.

Aboard 'Little Toot',
KeithK

 

[Thefb]

Kieth,
I have the top made at King including the side panels. We cruise with the panels on in the winter to extend the season.
We trailer with the top on with no issues as well. You can see some photos in my album, mine are all clear, hadn't thought of partial canvas. I like the visibility offered by the clear especially cruising the Puget Sound where any much bigger boat can appear from any angle. So far we have enjoyed having the top but look forward to summer and removing all the panels and top segments.

Marcus

 

[Tugalong]

Hi Keith,

We have a bimini which covers the entire back area of our R21ec, it is made in 2 pieces.
This then gives a few options,
(1) Unzip the front one and fold back, this then leaves the rear bimini in place for shade.
(2) Unzip at the centre and fold back the rear half, this then leaves the front bimini for shade.
(3) Unzip them at the front and centre and fold both back and have a mostly open deck.
I must confess, we haven't done any of the above, we just leave the cover there all the time. I am very fair skin and get sunburnt very easily, so I prefer to get protection from our blistering sun. We went away on the boat for 3 days over Easter. Friday, Saturday and Sunday were 30 (+) degree days here in Sydney, I would have been burnt to a crisp if I didn't have the shade.

We also have "clear" roll up sides all around, they have canvas up to the rail height and then the clears. These totally enclose the back area and at night give you a cosy area to sit and eat. We just roll the side curtains up and leave them on all the time, however, they can be zipped off if required. We do take the rear curtain off when we are trailering the boat around. The curtains also give good protection if it starts to rain when we are out. Another reason to leave the curtains on when we are cruising around is where do you put them ? There is limited room on the R21, we are still sorting out what to take and where to store it. Plastic lidded boxed seem to be the ideal fix for food and clothes.

We don't have any problems with them sweating, they do cloud up a bit if there is a lot of rain and then the sun comes out and the canvas is in the drying out process. We are very happy with our covers etc. We had the biminis and curtains fabricated in Sydney after our Tug arrived from USA.

I will find some pictures and post them for you.

Geoff

 

[KeithK]

Good morning, and thank you Marcus and Geoff,

Thank you for the input, that helps a lot. Space is quite limited, for sure, so it is good to know about trailering with the top on... I believe looking at you picture, Marcus, that bottoms of each panel snap onto the sides. (Great photo of a fine, proper yacht, Marcus!!).

Geoff, hope you can send some pictures, look forward to that.

Thanks so much,
Keith

 

[RProffer]

If you are looking for just an entire boat cover for the R21-EC, and it does not have to be a "custom fit", then I would recommend saving some money and get a pickup truck cover for an extended cab, long bed truck. I got an ADCO 12280 for about $99.00 and it fits pretty good and weathered the rain and snow this last winter pretty good - better than custom covers I have had for other boats.

 

[ogger]

I had a cover made for my Ranger 21. It is in 3 pieces and zips together to provide a complete cover. The first part covers the bow, the second the wheeelhouse and the third the stern. It is extremely effective as my tug is kept under trees and leaves are a problem. Takes about 5 minutes to remove and about the same or a little longer to replace.
Ogger
Western Australia