www.iFourWinns.com

What do most of you use to cover your boats while at the dock? Do you keep the camper canvas up
or do you use the cockpit cover? I use both but to be honest I will not use the boat as much with the cockpit cover
as opposed to the camper canvas. I just don't want to wear out the c canvas because I think its cheaper
to replace the cockpit cover . What do ya'll think. My wife says I'm saving it for the next guy.

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2011 Bennington 2075 GLi
2012 Key West 211 DC
2005 Four winns 180 Horizon LE
1997 Horizon QXsold
2000 248 Vistasold
2002 Key West 2020WA sold

Downside to the camper canvas is the UV issues through the windows/windshield and the impact on the interior surfaces.

That being said, we solely use the camper canvas, but we are moored full time in covered moorage.

We have the cockpit cover, but it literally just takes up space in my garage currently.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

I use the canvas cockpit cover exclusively. I have yet to put the camper covers on. They are rolled up under the v-berth seat.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

It just seems like a lot of work taking off the cockpit cover every time you use the boat. I was thinking
about putting a canvas or cover over the camper canvas, anyone do this?

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2011 Bennington 2075 GLi
2012 Key West 211 DC
2005 Four winns 180 Horizon LE
1997 Horizon QXsold
2000 248 Vistasold
2002 Key West 2020WA sold

This is the first year we slipped for the season. We are really enjoying it. Never minded talking tha camper canvas up and down, launching on Friday and loading on Sunday, but wow, this is nice. We leave the camper canvas up all the time, just get to the marina, unzip the Windows to let some air in, and we are ready for the weekend. I highly recommend it.

I agree with your wife on this one, you are saving it for the next guy. Use it, enjoy it.

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

We use the camper in the winter months and the cockpit cover in the summer. It's just too hot for the camper in the summer and the spider poop in a covered slip will make a real mess of it.

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Martin
04 268 Vista - Knot Again
08 Boston Whaler 130 Sport - Double Good
Previous Boat:
97 278 Vista - Buoy Howdy

I use the camper all the time. Very easy to take it off and it's nice when docked to be able to just walk in and out without having to unsnap. Our Marina has a pool and bbq area in which we spend a lot of time with the kids, so going in and out for towels drinks etc.. is a must.

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2005 Four Winns 268 Vista

Camper Canvas in the winter and cockpit cover in the summer. We spend enough time under cover boating in the winter I like to be topless all summer

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2000 268 Vista "Reely Nauti"
http://www.facebook.com/#!/rivercruiser

Bimini top up with cockpit cover on. If anything just to give it some shade and hopefully reduce temps. In my 248 I had all of the camper canvas redone w/ isenglass and screens. Used it once - literally one day.

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V475
Chris Craft Catalina 23 w/ 300 G2
Previously-V338, 248 Vista, H210

In the winter I left the camping canvas on - with the back open, it made a nice warm place to have a glass of wine overlooking the canal. I only recently started using the cockpit cover and it really only adds a couple of minutes to the cleaning of the boat. The pain is that the interior has to dry first... Last year we just left the bimini open, but regret we did that as the extra protection is definitely worth the little more effort.

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Richard - FL - 2005 Vista 248

Another reason I don’t like to leave my camper up in the summer is that you never know when a hurricane will form in the gulf. In 2005 when Rita hit we had 30 hours of gridlock in Houston as everyone tried to evacuate in a post-Katrina panic. My camper canvas was up and I was an hour from the lake (in normal traffic). The roads finally opened up the night before landfall and I headed for the marina first thing in the morning. That was a very scary trip because there were still hundreds of cars broken down or out of gas on the side of the road. I vowed never to be in that situation again.

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Martin
04 268 Vista - Knot Again
08 Boston Whaler 130 Sport - Double Good
Previous Boat:
97 278 Vista - Buoy Howdy

I'm really jealous of you southern boaters that get to use your boat all year round. Not so jealous
of the hurricane threat though. Keeping my fingers crossed for all of you down near the gulf.
My "winter" cover consists of about 200 pieces of PVC and 2 huge covers that make it very dark, no
worries from uv damage. It takes a day to put on and to take off unlike you southern boaters
"winter" covers.

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2011 Bennington 2075 GLi
2012 Key West 211 DC
2005 Four winns 180 Horizon LE
1997 Horizon QXsold
2000 248 Vistasold
2002 Key West 2020WA sold

Thank you. This summer is supposed to be an active hurricane season - let's hope they are wrong.

I am more worried about the oil coming in our direction while the big chief is just yelling that BP has to pay but he doesn't do anything himself to stop the oil. What is BP going to pay for? Per dead pelican?

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Richard - FL - 2005 Vista 248

I'm curious what the damage is to boats like ours that draw in sea water to be cooled? Since the water in the Gulf is getting more oily by the day, what happens in the engine cooling system as it starts to suck in more oil?

The fact is, for anyone with a lick of common sense regarding BP (which excludes our fearless leader), is that they will NEVER be able to pay for the damage. They don't have the resources or the cash. This has become much too large. IMO, BP would have had to cap it within 15 days to be able to manage the fallout. The American taxpayer, mostly the middle class, is going to take it on the chin for this.

This event, more than anything, puts me closer and closer to concentrating on moving towards alternative energy sources where I can. In my case, that's bio-diesel for my truck and an EV vehicle like the new Nissan Leaf or the Tesla Model S for an in-town car.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Well at least where I am we don't have to pull the boat every time a hurricane threatens. That was the main reason that we chose the lake over the gulf. I could not handle the worry. I keep the boat tied up with eight 5/8" lines. It may be overkill but I am always (inland) hurricane ready.

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Martin
04 268 Vista - Knot Again
08 Boston Whaler 130 Sport - Double Good
Previous Boat:
97 278 Vista - Buoy Howdy