Cockpit Cover woes!

wakevortex · **Joined:** Wed Dec 09, 2015 2:23 am **Posts:** 161

Hi all
I have the full camper cover, bimini , and trailer cover for my 2000 vista 248 - they all came with it , but really want a cockpit cover for protection and ease of attachment while out all day in the long days of sun here .
I have been quoted $1150 including local tax for one to be custom made here in Spain..thats the one that goes from the cockpit window to the stern ..
This seems WAY too much to me
So maybe I can get one cheaper , delivered from the USA
I talked with Great Lakes Boat Top Co who didn't make the vista 248 cover that year , only from 2002 on ...

does anyone have any ideas what I can do to source a cover ?
seems crazy to pay that much money here locally to have one made up

thanks

LouC · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2016 10:29 am

I really doubt that you can get it done cheaper here when you factor in shipping (you have to pay duty on foreign goods)?
Here in Long Island NY (high cost of living area) I paid about $900 for a cockpit and bow cover for my 20' bow rider...back in 2003!
I'd go with your local place, if there are any fitment issues you can easily resolve them.

wakevortex · **Joined:** Wed Dec 09, 2015 2:23 am **Posts:** 161

Hmm

you may well be right, thought maybe someone may comment from Europe with a possible solution.
I agree shipping and import duty from the USA may make that prohibitive.
And this one WILL be a perfect fit at the end of the day

thanks

Jdpber · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2016 12:49 pm

just set the bimini up and call it a day whil on the hook. A cockpit cover for while i am on the hook at an island or beach seems like a pain and useless to me.

wakevortex · **Joined:** Wed Dec 09, 2015 2:23 am **Posts:** 161

Thats not my situation here ,

my boat stays in a marina , where it it is open to the elements (and people having access) - its moored stern in to the pontoon ...
The cockpit cover was so it has some element of protection from nosy people , and from the sun on it every day

The bimini IS up at the moment.... :-)

Also it will stay in the water in fall and winter, so needs protection from rain as well , which the cockpit cover would provide, without going to the trouble of the full camper cover

Jdpber · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2016 2:02 pm

oh! well the way you said "in use during the day" implied not longterm dockage. then yes it is worth getting. And as for the price. Their are some things you can go cheap on. and others you should not. Like i do not buy bargain life jackets or tires. Covers and Bimini tops are the same i buy quality as it is protecting your investment. So you will have to invest in protection for your investment. i would make a bunch of calls around for some quotes. ALSO a snap on cockpit and bow cover are considered CUSTOM unless you are ordering the FACTORY made one. so considering materials, time and specialized commercial sewing equipment. sometime that is the price you have to pay for custom. $1,150 does not sound bad to me for a custom cover.

97_245_sd · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2016 2:28 pm

I had the cockpit cover replaced on our 1997 245 Sundowner last year to help it sell. The factory cover bought from a Four-Winns dealer was around $400 US. I'm not sure the size difference but the 245 has a large cockpit. They charged about $100 to install the snaps. Not sure what shipping and taxes might be, but it would be worth looking into. It was much less than I was expecting, I'd done it sooner at that cost. I'll admit I never saw the new cover. We were out enjoying the new boat and just letting the dealer broker our old boat.

wakevortex · **Joined:** Wed Dec 09, 2015 2:23 am **Posts:** 161

JDpber "in use during the day" I didn't actually say that , I said it was out all day ...ie out in the elements :-)

no worries....appreciate your input... :-)

97_245_sd yes I had factored around 5-600 USD , but that could easily mount up to over 1k to ship to Europe with taxes

I may well go with the quote I have..problem is , I can't ask around for lots of quotes...boat cover specialists simply don't exist here ..its a small market ...

I guess I was hoping a fairy godfather/mother would offer me one they didn't need in Europe LOL :-)

ever the optimist !

Jdpber · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2016 3:16 pm

all good I read into it i guess

wakevortex · **Joined:** Wed Dec 09, 2015 2:23 am **Posts:** 161

Found a great guy who custom made my cover for $700 --- great service, measured to finished in 4 days....... and I saved a LOT of money from the previous quote.....
1150 USD from the first guy.....
here is the result....

Jdpber · **Posted:** Wed May 18, 2016 8:03 am

glad to see that you finaly got a quality cover for the $$$ value. i hope it holds up for you .

wakevortex · **Joined:** Wed Dec 09, 2015 2:23 am **Posts:** 161

Thanks

its the same cover (material wise and fitting method )quoted for originally..Im sure it will do the job well :-)

www.iFourWinns.com

Cockpit Cover woes!

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