Boat covers for Ranger Tugs

[McTug31CB]

I have a 2016 Ranger Tug 27 and am wondering instead of spending thousands of $'s for a custom cover, has anyone looked at using different size tarps to cover their boat? This is mainly for UV rays and to keep clean, not for winter storage. Thank you

 

[knotflying]

I used to use a 25 X 30 white lightweight tarp. I used it for winter storage. I am not sure if I would want to use it during the summer for UV protection. Any tarp or cover is still a lot of work to put on and remove.

 

[acdfpic]

You might look at an old cargo parachute as a cover. I had one I used as a sun shade for a previous boat and it worked well, was light weight, and was easier to bunch up and stow.

Chris Boyd
Ex RT 25SC owner

 

[Pandion]

Is your boat stored on a trailer or in the water?

I went through the same decision process when we bought our R-27. Our boat lives on its trailer in a Pacific NW wooded area, so we needed to cover it primarily to keep it clean and dry. After looking at all of the options, we spent the thousands of dollars (about 2.5 of them) for a custom mooring cover, but used a tarp for a few months while the cover was being made. It's a huge expense but we've never regretted spending the money.

It takes me about 10 minutes to install or remove the cover by myself. The benefit over the tarp is that the cover is heavy and custom-cut, so it's easier to handle in significant wind. It doesn't blow off while I'm getting it over the boat (the folding/unfolding process all takes place on top of the boat) and the entire cover is secured using six webbing straps at the stern that take about 60 seconds to buckle up. The whole process is pretty painless and I do it every time we use the boat (which is year-round).

The down-side is the cover is heavy, so it could be a challenge for some to hoist it up onto the top of the boat. I've not weighed ours but my best guess is it's around 40-50 pounds. It also gets pretty stiff and harder to fold when the temps are below 40. If you don't need the cover to be waterproof, using lighter material may solve those issues.

Bottom line for us, after using both tarps and a custom cover, we wouldn't hesitate to pay for the cover again.

 

[MegaloDon]

We too purchased a custom cover and although fairly expensive, it was worth the investment. We spent a couple hundred more to get one of a lighter weight material than the heavy canvas. We keep boat (R-27) on the trailer over the winter and the cover goes down to the water line for full coverage. Easy access through zipper door. Still looks like new after two years. A few photos in my album.

 

[panderson57]

Who makes custom covers?

 

[Barry Cohen]

There is an excellent company on the East Coast that makes custom covers for Ranger Tugs. I am getting ready to put mine on for the first time for my 2022 R31-Sedan.

www.pmwinterboatcovers.com. Located in New Jersey

Darren Fitzgerald is great to work with. He gets his product from Fisher Canvas Products, also in New Jersey.

I had a custom cover on my R27 Classic for 10 years. Regardless of the cost, I wouldn't do it any other way.

 

[Pandion]

Who makes custom covers?

Ours was made by https://www.kingmarinecanvas.com/ in Seattle.

The owner, Dave, was adamant about patterning the actual boat rather than using any existing pattern that he had from previous jobs. Factory equipment and production methods can change, particularly in this era of supply-chain issues, and he wanted to ensure that the fit was correct and that any high-wear areas were reinforced. If you want a truly custom cover, it may be best to have it made by a local company.

 

[MegaloDon]

Ditto for PM Winter Boat Covers. Our cover has been through two wet Seattle winters and is holding up great. We also use it in the summer to keep the sun off the boat if not in use for a couple of weeks or more.