Vendor to supply 230 Outrage Full Boat Cover

A conversation among Whalers
GN18
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Vendor to supply 230 Outrage Full Boat Cover

Postby GN18 » Tue Jun 04, 2024 10:18 pm

Q1: what vendors supply off-the-shelf full boat covers for a 2024 230 OUTRAGE with a hard top than can be used while the boat is [stationary] on the trailer?

UPDATE: the boat cover [will be used only when the boat is stationary, and not used during trailer towing].

Give me pictures of a suggested cover that illustrate how it fits on a 2024 230 OUTRAGE.

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Phil T
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Re: Vendor to supply 230 Outrage Full Boat Cover

Postby Phil T » Wed Jun 05, 2024 7:56 pm

You will need a custom cover made for the bow and stern. Typically boats with hard tops do not have a single cover.
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GN18
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Re: Vendor to supply 230 Outrage Full Boat Cover

Postby GN18 » Sat Jun 08, 2024 8:50 pm

Several companies make single covers for boats with T-tops, many of which are much larger than the 230 OUTRAGE.

T-top cover by Laporte seems to specialize in covers for T-top boats.

Give me your first-hand experience with covers made by Laporte or TaylorMade or any other brand.

We are in south Florida and the baot will need a full cover immediately. The boat is no longer [stored] indoors. A custom-made cover is not an option as [in my south Florida the fabricators of custom boat covers are] booked up [for a long time into the future].

The Carver and TaylorMade covers seem less-fitted than Laporte covers, but the Laporte cover doesn’t cover the T-top.

jimh
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Re: Vendor to supply 230 Outrage Full Boat Cover

Postby jimh » Sun Jun 09, 2024 7:34 am

Most boats with a T-Top have various things like radio antennas, RADAR antennas, rod holders, navigation lamps, and so on installed on the top surface of the T-Top.

Q2: does your 230 OUTRAGE have any gear like that mounted on it?

GN18
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Re: Vendor to supply 230 Outrage Full Boat Cover

Postby GN18 » Sun Jun 09, 2024 9:00 am

[On the upper surface of the T-Top there are] a VHF Marine Band antenna and a navigation lamp. These mounted devices are located in pre-planned spaces on the T-top. Some of the over-the-T-top full-boat covers I mentioned have slits or sleeved areas for items [mounted on the top surface of the T-Top to protrude through the cover]. I think the Laporte cover may be easier [to install] and may be the best-fitted [cover], but it will leave the upper surface of the T-Top exposed to the sun.

After owning [Boston Whaler boats] in south Florida for nearly 40 years and keeping up with the shine, I’d rather not have any horizontal surfaces exposed to the sun on this new boat. Covering the whole boat including the T-top would be ideal. I’d just like the [cover] to be as tailored as possible and would love to see a picture of one on this or another size Outrage.

[Moderator's note: in the original version of this post, the word "top" was used to mean three things: the new full-boat cover that was to be found and purchased ; the T-Top on the boat; and the uppermost surface of the T-Top. I did my best to infer when "top" meant the T-Top on the boat, when "top" mean a cover to be found and purchased, and when "top" meant the upper surface of a flat exposed area.]

GN18
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Re: Vendor to supply 230 Outrage Full Boat Cover

Postby GN18 » Sun Jun 09, 2024 9:04 am

Also all the covers I have seen will have zippered [openings that are located about] midship [or near] the console to either [Port or Starboard] side.

If I were to get the boat cover from Laporte which fits under the [T-top] I could always get a secondary custom cover to go on top of the hard top-- but if there were a nice-fitting overall cover that fits well, then that would be the best choice.

GN18
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Re: Vendor to supply 230 Outrage Full Boat Cover

Postby GN18 » Wed Jun 12, 2024 1:22 pm

I ordered the Laporte T-Top cover in "umbrella" fabric on June 12, 2024.

When I have installed the cover on my 230 OUTRAGE boat, I will update this thread with a review of the cover and the results of the installation.

To me the Laporte T-Top cover fitment will be the closest fit to a custom cover based and from what I have seen first-hand on other boats (not Boston Whaler brand) in my area, and from researched I did with many semi-custom covers.

jimh
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Re: Vendor to supply 230 Outrage Full Boat Cover

Postby jimh » Fri Jun 14, 2024 3:26 pm

GN18 wrote:I ordered the Laporte T-Top cover in "umbrella" fabric...

Q3: what is "umbrella" fabric?

I have never heard of this material used for a boat cover.

The superior material for boat canvas for the last several decades has been the Glen Raven Mills fabric trademarked SUNBRELLA. For many years the color of choice was PACIFIC BLUE. This fabric has a remarkable history of durability, resistance to fading, water resistance, sunlight resistance, and tear resistance.

I hope you were not confused by the term "umbrella" fabric and were thinking you were getting Glen Raven Mills SUNBRELLA fabric.

Cf.: https://www.sunbrella.com/browse-fabric ... e_us=19449

SUNBRELLA is not inexpensive, but the best products are never the cheapest.