posted 05-02-2002 11:00 AM ET (US)            

I got a cover from Overton's for my '82 Montauk in 1992 for about $170. Trailered with no ill effects from Kodiak to Homer (via 125 mile ferry ride), then 550 miles to Fairbanks, then 660 miles to Haines, Alaska, then another 60 mile ferry ride to Juneau. It worked fine, held its shape, didn't beat up the hull. Just checked the Overton's prices $252.99.

There was another thread posted recently that pretty much said, "You get what you pay for." One guy had no luck with the "cheaper covers" (lasted 2 years), so he went with a Mills cover that lasted much longer. Guess it depends on what you can afford.

posted 05-02-2002 08:46 PM ET (US)            

Your memory is serving you well re: the gunwale clips. They will open up over time and need to be bent back a little - no big thing.

The Mills cover has loops sewn in to the gunwale seam between the clips from which I always bungeed down to the trailer with two bungees at each loop going diagonally down away from each other. To defeat the air billowing I had a local canvas shop sew overlapping flaps at each stanchion slot that would velcro together after the top was in place. Once the drawstring was snugged up and the bungees were set, it was tight as a bowstring. I trailered thousands of miles that way, occasionally at speeds that were not only considerably more than the law would allow, but are hard even for me to believe as think back on them.

I preferred the top down lower rather than over the bow rails because it was WAY more aerodynamic and easier to pull with less argument especially at Ludicrous Speed. And I will freely admit, I liked the engineering of the Mills cover, as I do all of their products.

posted 05-03-2002 10:00 AM ET (US)            

One is certainly free to choose anything he or she desires in a cover, and Mills products aren't necessarily the best choice for everyone for any variety of reasons, but your statement that, "...Mills makes...the worst covers.", not only is not up to your normal high standard of objectivity and accuracy, but is patently incorrect and misleading.

What's up??

posted 05-03-2002 10:08 AM ET (US)            

Maybe worst wasn't the correct word. I possibly should have said that from my experience working in a Whaler dealership I feel like Westland covers fit much better than Mill's.

posted 05-03-2002 01:09 PM ET (US)            

I commented on the misleading nature of your statement and expressed surprise that it was not of the typical high quality I've come to associate with your posts; I appreciate your willingness to correct the record. I don't appreciate your parting implication that *I* was some how out of line in bringing the inaccuracy to your attention.

I have typically profitted from your posts when they were in an area of common interest to me, and I have been impressed with their "...normal high standard of objectivity and accuracy...", as I clearly stated. I don't know where you got the notion that I didn't like your standards.

I'll continue to read your posts and I hope you will continue to read mine.

I will also continue to comment on posts that appear to be misleading, especially when they appear to contradict a previous statement of mine; I would expect you to do the same, be they mine or anyone else's.

kingfish

posted 05-03-2002 01:53 PM ET (US)         

Not many here have experience with such a large Mills cover, but I'll tell you, they are the BEST mooring/trailering cover that I have seen, especially for a large boat. I have seen many other large boat covers, and none seem as well made or designed as Mills.
The installation drawing that came with mine showed "RJD" initials approving the design. That's good enough for me.

posted 05-03-2002 07:49 PM ET (US)            

I've got 20K+ miles towing my Montauk, and
no road damage. Even the bugstorm in the
central valley didn't get on the boat (the
truck shielded it).

posted 05-03-2002 10:37 PM ET (US)            

Sorry It looks like my first cup of coffee for the morning hadn't kicked in and I missread your post. Again sorry about that.

I would like to clearify one point though. My statement that Mill's covers were the worst was based on my opinion so it was not missleading , incorrect or inaccurate.

I thing Mill's makes some great products but I can't put up with the gunwale clips on their covers.

posted 05-03-2002 11:38 PM ET (US)            

Fair enough - apology accepted and I'll take your clarification under advisement. (This would be the place for a smiley face as it is an attempt at wry humor that may be a little obscure.)

Differing opinions and different experiences are a large part of the dynamic of this forum, and I value both those things.

Chuck-(and Larry)

I trailered my Montauk covered for two main reasons: first is that I had to store it outdoors and so the cover was on all the time anyway, and second was that particularly on long trips we'd stow luggage and food and God knows what inside the Montauk so the cover provided protection from the elements as well as protection from curious eyes.

posted 05-04-2002 08:37 AM ET (US)            

I ordered a Mills storage cover with my new boat in December 95 for about $700. I am a little disappointed with the cover especially since it was so exspensive.

I have had some stiching redone about 3 times. Some wear spots have worn through and I put patches on the inside several times. I wish the rear section had a motor hood because it doesn't really cover the transom/splashwell as well as I'd like to see.

I rarely trailer with this cover, have washed it by hand several times and every year applied waterproof.

After 6 years it's in poor shape and this year I'll need to replace it. I e-mailed Mills and asked for a quote on a new cover with a motor hood sewn in and to extend the cover to cover the splash well. They never replied.

I've done some research on other covers and many use new types of thread and various fabrics.

I'm tempted to try a less expensive cover maybe even find one with a hood and replace it every few years, no cleaning or waterproofing and still be ahead financially.

To me though, I wouldn't mind the high price if it fit a little better and held up a little better.

I really like the way the side of the cover fastens to little stainless clips compared to straps. Pros and Cons to all covers I suppose.

posted 05-08-2002 01:57 AM ET (US)            

Don Fisher asked about a trailering cover for his Montauk. Mills makes a mooring cover for the Montauk that has been equaled by nobody, but the Mills mooring cover will not work well for trailering. There are no loops for under the hull straps.

I had two Montauks, one of which had the Mills mooring cover and the other a locally made cover that was identical to the Mills right down to the special clips. Neither would hold on the road at highway speeds. lhg's covers for his Outrages mount in a different way so that may explain why he has had good success trailering with his.

The Mills canvas is made of Sunbrella like most good covers are. This is the material Don should look for.

By far the best aspect of the Mills mooring cover is the ingenious clip that holds the cover onto the gunwale. Another superb Whaler innovation thanks to Wm. J. Mills. These covers are fit very tightly. You always want to put them on dry because when they get wet they shrink and it is very difficult to stretch them over the stern of the boat. But once the cover is in place the draw string can be cinched down with the 2x purchase advantage between the stern eyes and the D-rings on the cover. The cover will be very tight indeed and will drain water no matter what.

This is something that none of the aftermarket covers will do.

The other unique thing about the Mills mooring cover is that they do not make one that goes over the bow rail. They do this deliberately. They provide slots that go around the bow rail stanchions. By not going over the bow rail the slope is increased and drainage is assured.

In contrast, most after market covers require bows or some other home made contraption to hold the cover up through an entire winter.

In truth, I never liked the slotted covers of the bow rail model Mills covers. I don't like the idea of any rain water, pine needles, ect. getting under the cover, but it does keep the water off the cover. I avoided the whole issue by not having a bow rail on my 13' Sport, 15' Striper nor either of my Montauks.

posted 05-08-2002 10:39 AM ET (US)            

By the way, Cabelas appears to have a nice Out board motor cover for around $100 that is custom for Merc’s and BMOC. Does anyone have one and how do you like it? I just picked up the spare tire cover on sale for $9.99 and I was really surprised how heavy duty it was. I was expecting some cheap thin vinyl cover but was pleasantly surprised.

posted 05-08-2002 01:30 PM ET (US)            

I don't know if this dog has any room left for me to kick it again, but here goes anyway- ;-)

My Mills mooring cover for my Montauk came *with* loops sewed on the gunwale seams between the clips(don't mean to be repetitious, I already said this above, but this is contrary to the condition Tom just descrbed - maybe the loops are a late addition to the Montauk covers?).

I can't even begin to imagine trying to tow with just the clips; I'm sure anyone who tried it would be disappointed with the results or worse, just as has been reported here. But as Tom said, I don't think the clips were designed to be the only means of holding the top down at highway speeds. I am puzzled that some tops apparently came with the tie-down loops and some apparently didn't.

Anyway, I added SS eyebolts to the trailer rails, one under each clip; then with two bungees at each loop, one going to the eyebolt under the next clip foreward, and the other bungee going to the eyebolt under the next clip rearward, it stayed on for 1500 miles at a clip that I know of, and at one point, speeds in excess of 100 miles an hour.

As I said earlier, I had overlapping flaps (heavy vinyl) sewn on at the stanchion slots that velcroed together after the top was in place, so no air or water to speak of was able to get in. The only other thing that I had forgotten about, was that I had the motor well "scoop" replaced with the same vinyl, and put a couple of grommets in the trailing edge that I bungeed to the tow-eyes so the scoop wasn't able to flap and beat itself to death.

I probably had another hundred bucks or so in the additional stuff, and some of my time (in my book, I consider my time spent on something to do with one of my boats actually as a credit though, not a debit), and what I had when I was done was bullet proof and was Sunbrella. I was a happy camper.

posted 05-08-2002 02:37 PM ET (US)            

Thank goodness you're a patient guy - that question sort of got left by the wayside.

I don't know just exactly what your rod holders look like or just exactly how they are attached or to what, but I can tell you this: BOTH style covers we have discussed here (over the bowrail and under the bowrail) go over and stretch across the side rails on a Montauk with additional space under the cover as it comes back from the console rails. So if your rod holders are flush with or underneath the top side rails, they are covered. If not, they might not be covered.