posted 10-26-2002 11:43 PM ET (US)            

Westland Industries
3601 East La Salle
Phoenix, AZ 85040-3912
(602) 437-1332
Fax (602) 437-1149

My cover has reinforcements for the console but I cannot remember if it has them for the rails.

posted 10-27-2002 12:30 AM ET (US)            

If you want an OEM cover they are still available from Wm. J. Mills & Co. ( http://www.millscanvas.com/ ) This is the outfit that made them for Whaler and they are still is business and will most likely be for some time to come. They make all the OEM canvas parts for all the Classic Whalers as well as any custom work you might want done. I know of no better source for a top quality cover. I've owned three of them.

posted 10-27-2002 07:14 AM ET (US)         

My origonal cover for my Montauk was a Mills and overall was adequate. Since then (1986) I have had two custom covers made/modified. I have to go custom because I have casting seats front and rear and rail mounted downriggers. My biggest gripe with the Mills was water coming in through the slits around the rail mounts. My latest cover was made by Berlin Boat Covers and has lips that stick up around the rails that force the water away from the holes. The day I brought home the boat and cover it was a monsoon. Left the boat out in the rain all day and all night. The next day I went out to get the water out. None, zero, zip, nada. He incorporated some other nice features, all for $340. The cover fits like a glove as I left the boat there for a week. I'm still using the origonal Mills clips etc. but did add two extra on the second cover in the front bow as I had problems with the cover coming loose at higher speeds. He reinforced that cover in areas Mills dosen't and added a pole that snaps to the cover and telescopes down to the deck between the console rail and leaning RPS that makes water fly off that cover. Also got a matching motor cover. Nice thing about custom is you get to choose color and fabric. I paid exttra for a real heavy grade polyester that should add years to the life.

The down side of most custom covers is poor workmanship. You have to find a high quality shop. I asked around for a couple of years while I was thinking about it and kept hearing rave reviews on Berlin from boaters, camper owners that had had work done their. During my visits I saw him doing custom firetruck covers, snowmobiles you name it. This is his fulltime job with two helpers and it takes weeks to get an appointment. Bottom line is if you go custom check out the shop. I have seen a lot of custom covers go to hell in a few seasons, seen others that barely fit. If you go custom consider adding the extra clips up front you won't regret it. They are still availble from Whaler, a bit pricey, but avalible.