Replacing Snap on Bow and Cockpit Cover and Carpet

fourwinnsjay · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2015 2:06 pm

I would like to replace the covers and carpet in my 05 200 Horizon. I just got a quote from the local dealership and it was higher than expected. Has anyone had any luck going else someplace other than dealer. Help is appreciated. Thanks.

babbot1 · **Joined:** Tue Mar 12, 2013 3:46 pm **Posts:** 570

A good local canvas shop can make the cover and probably the carpet. The local guy will probably not be much cheaper but you can request what type of material you want to use and don't have to deal with delivery or not fitting properly. Always buy the best for canvas. You can order carpets online and if they have a template on file you don't even have to make one. The first link below has OEM parts sometimes. The second I have not tried but is on my list.
Corinthian-marine a friend of mine used and they were very reasonable and the product was good.
There are many many others but local would be my first move. I just repaired some canvas locally which wasn't cheap but came out fantastic. I am going to try to make replacement pieces myself if find some spare time.

http://greatlakesskipper.com/
http://www.greatlakesboattop.com/
https://www.corinthian-marine-carpet.com/

mannix2 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2015 6:53 pm

I'm also shopping around a new bow and cockpit cover for my 20 footer. I was shocked to get the first bid back locally at $2250. I was expecting somewhere in the 800 to 1000 range. Curious as to what others may have paid for new canvas.

Family knot · **Posted:** Sat Jan 17, 2015 10:22 am

I bought new carpets from Snapincarpets.com.

They had the best amount of choices and the sunbrella piping/edges which is very durable. I think I paid around $600 for my entire cockpit. They also have the durable, waterproof backing.

LouC · **Posted:** Sat Jan 17, 2015 12:29 pm

mannix2 wrote:

I'm also shopping around a new bow and cockpit cover for my 20 footer. I was shocked to get the first bid back locally at $2250. I was expecting somewhere in the 800 to 1000 range. Curious as to what others may have paid for new canvas.

I had a bow and cockpit cover made for my '88 H-200 back in 2003 from a local shop and it was about $900 then. I'd keep shopping around. Get Sunbrella if you can, it lasts a long time. Mine has needed to be re-stitched a few times in the 12 years I've had it but the fabric is still in good shape. I take it off for winter storage and I use a custom full cover for the winter so its not on all year. But the boat does sit on a mooring all summer so the covers are exposed to a lot of sun, wind etc.
A lot of the variation in prices is due to local labor rates. I'm in Long Island NY which has very high labor rates (local boat mechanics typically charge $115/hr) so you should be able to get it done cheaper than it would be here. As the price of labor goes up, my mechanical skills are becoming more valuable $$$ lol....

pickledboater · **Posted:** Sat Jan 17, 2015 2:01 pm

I had covers made locally in 08 or 09. Price was around $650.00. What I learned is to not accept the covers if you are not satisfied. I did and it was a mistake. First, they looked like military tarps. Nothing smooth or nice about them, but I was in a rush to get them for a trip, so I paid and went. From there, they have shrunk, the stitching has come undone numerous times, the snaps have pulled through... just a mess. I've got quotes to have them done again this spring (different shops) and they range from $900.00 and up for sunbrella and a guarantied fit. Worth every cent!
Side note: Tried to re-stitch myself on the Admirals sewing machine. DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS AT HOME! Sewing machine s**t the bed and then I delved into it to see what I could do. These things are a total mechanical mystery! (Lou, you are up) Cost me about $100.00 to have the damn thing fixed.
Anyway, going to pay the extra for good material and professional labor to get good covers this time.

LouC · **Posted:** Sat Jan 17, 2015 3:59 pm

I did not re-stitch mine, I have a good relationship with my canvas guy, he re-did my bow seats and made the covers back then. I've given him a few other jobs too like re-doing our old couch. Great guy usually he does not even charge for the re-stitching. Has a giant old commercial machine in his garage.

All the other work on the boat I do myself except bottom paint.

Graham R · **Posted:** Sat Jan 17, 2015 5:42 pm

LouC wrote:

I did not re-stitch mine, I have a good relationship with my canvas guy, he re-did my bow seats and made the covers back then. I've given him a few other jobs too like re-doing our old couch. Great guy usually he does not even charge for the re-stitching. Has a giant old commercial machine in his garage.

All the other work on the boat I do myself except bottom paint.

I agree with Lou's comments; it is invariably the stitching that fails ( why a more robust UV resistant , thicker cord can't be used? Well I know it'd be more expensive. Maybe a couple of dollars per boat)

As to stitching it up manually yourself, I have done it but it's VERY hard work !

fourwinnsjay · **Posted:** Tue Jan 20, 2015 1:24 pm

I got a quote from my local dealer for 395 for cockpit cover and 240 for bow plus 90 for them to line up and install the snaps. After your replies this doesn't sound as bad as I first thought. I am thinking of just buying an after market cover that just covers everything and is cheaper. Has anyone bought one of these and if so where? Thanks.

ric · **Posted:** Tue Jan 20, 2015 1:44 pm

Hang around the local marina if you have a big one nearby. There's always some retired person living aboard with a sail making sewing machine that makes covers in their spare time. I wouldn't pay more than $500 total for an H200's cockpit and bow snap in covers.

Carpet? Nasty. Do you even know how much mold, fungus, bacteria, and god knows what else hangs out in boat carpet? It's basically a giant petri dish.

mannix2 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 13, 2015 7:49 am

Took some research, but I found a local guy with a great reputation and 30 plus years of experience to give me a reasonable quote for my bow cover, cockpit cover and outboard motor cover of $1500. That includes all snaps installed and the final fitting, which apparently isn't included with all quotes. Should have new canvas in about 4 weeks!

pickledboater · **Posted:** Sat Mar 14, 2015 11:44 am

Took mine to the shop yesterday. $768.00 out the door for bow and cockpit cover made with sunbrella. Should have it back by mid next week.

Linecapt · **Posted:** Tue May 19, 2015 8:00 pm

If you get Boating magazine, you'll have seen ads for Outer Armor. They make a lot of the OEM total boat covers. My brother in law has one on his '12 Chapparal and I like how it covers the whole boat all the way to the rub rail. Has provisions to keep water from pooling with 2 support poles and inner cross straps going to the cleats. Finally, they have a ratchet system that cinches up the rub rail strap system to keep it taught when trailering.

My '05 210 Horizon came with the standard bow and cockpit cover made of Sunbrella. Fine coverage for 85% of the boat but it also stains if bird poop sits too long. Also came with a tan mooring cover, but I believe it's meant for a trailer as it has provisions to tie it down to the trailer, so what do you do when in a slip?

So I had to order the Outer Armor from my local Four Winns dealer. It was $850.00 plus shipping and tax. Well worth it, as it covers all the way down to the rub rail all around including the swim platform. Must be ok if all these other manufacturers use it. I'll try to upload a pic this weekend.

fourwinnsjay · **Posted:** Tue May 26, 2015 12:25 pm

Ended up ordering a whole boat cover (mooring type cover) with straps from buymarinecovers.com. Only gave $200 for it and it fits my boat really well. It is boat specific. Good option for now.

www.iFourWinns.com

Replacing Snap on Bow and Cockpit Cover and Carpet

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