An Unbiased Guide To The Best Pontoon Boat Covers
We all know boats are expensive. If you don’t know for sure how expensive, whoever bought or built you a boat knows for sure. Pontoon boats, in spite of being used for leisure activities instead of rapid water rafting or ocean cruising, are definitely not on the cheap end either, even if you build them yourself. What’s more, there are many other types of boat that don’t have the luxurious accessories you can find on a pontoon boat. Just think about a leather sofa, a proper hardwood table with assorted chairs and floor, an expensive sound system for the parties you’re throwing, a good quality grill, and many other things you can fit on such a versatile platform.
Now that you’ve thought of all these expensive things, it’s time to also think how to protect them from whatever expensive things don’t like, such as bad weather and thieves. And the best way to do that, besides the arduous and generally undoable task of removing all accessories when not in use, is to provide your boat with a proper cover. Otherwise, you may find out how custom-made furniture ages in little to no time.
Yes, many boats come with a factory cover, or at least you can purchase such a model-specific cover separately. However, in the latter case it’s probably going to be awfully expensive, as you can be quoted even around $1500 for a custom cover for your boat, depending on the size of the boat and material of the cover. What’s more, sometimes the factory cover simply gives in to the weather or maybe a branch scratching it or something like that, so you’ll be forced to purchase one anyway. In this case, it’s recommendable to get one on Amazon, as the things sold there are generally cheaper than in the average store and you can also get high-end materials fitted to your needs with little to no extra financial effort.
What to look for in a cover? Well, there are a couple of things. To begin with, the size is of particular importance here. After all, even if your cover is made of gold, it’s useless if it only covers half the boat. Most of the reviewers agree that it’s best to purchase a cover a little bigger than your boat. This means that not only will it cover some of the front deck as well, but also that seasonal changes in size (as there will be an inch or two difference between summer and winter) will not cause any kind of issues. As such, you can get a slightly bigger cover without any problem. Secondly, there’s the question of material. You need something to be impervious to things such as wind, dust, rain, storms, even the occasional hail if it’s a common occurrence in your region. As such, a tough canvas covered in polyurethane works wonders. Thirdly, there’s the design and construction. You better make sure that the stitching is seriously solid or it won’t last through a storm, and same goes for the straps and buckles and whatever else comes with it. And, even more importantly, if you’re a boat owner, you know how annoyingly difficult is to mount a cover. Make sure to buy something that’s fairly easy to mount, or else you’ll be quite tempted to not do it at all and buying a cover will be a waste of money.
In case you don’t really want to do all that search effort, here are a couple of our recommendations for the best pontoon boat covers you could find online.
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#1 Yescom Pontoon Boat Cover
What really makes this cover be in a class of its own, besides all of the above, is the absolute ease of mount, due to its quick-release belt-and-buckle system. Among all the options we’ve explored, this is by far the easiest to put on and take off, which allows anyone to use it whenever necessary. What’s more, this is also one of the safest in terms of wind resistance and such, due to its double stitching. Unlike many other alternatives, there are no reviews stating that it has torn apart at the stitching.
#2 Vortex Pontoon Boat Cover
The problem with this cover seems to be the stitching, which is not as solid as our top pick. It is, however, almost as easy to install, with belts and buckles similar to the Yescom cover. It also doesn’t cover the sides of the boat quite as well. However, it’s an overall excellent choice and you can definitely trust a Vortex cover. In case of any issues, you have a 5-year warranty, as well as a support center to which you can address.
#3 Pyle Armor Shield Trailer Guard Pontoon Boat Cover
There are two drawbacks to this cover: the seams (like pretty much every one besides the Yescom cover) and the slightly longer time it takes to be put on. Don’t let it deter you from getting it, though, as it seems to be quite good value for the money.
#4 Brightent Pontoon Cover
You can shop the latest price for the Brightent Pontoon Cover here:
