Boat Cover Care & Maintenance

Protect your investment by following our care tips for your cover.

  • Avoid letting water, snow or other materials like leaves and sticks stand on the boat cover.
  • Use support poles, straps, or bows to prevent water from pooling on the boat cover.
  • Always tie boat cover down securely. When trailering, use heavy-duty tie down straps. Avoid using bungee cords that can stretch possibly causing damage to the cover and your boat’s finish. If the cover is over 20′ in length, we recommend the use of two tie-down kits.
  • Take the precaution of padding windshield, trolling motors, depth finders, etc. before installing boat cover to avoid accidental tearing.
  • To keep your boat cover looking its best, regularly brush off any loose dirt with a soft brush and rinse with lukewarm water. To clean, a solution of lukewarm water and mild natural soap such as Ivory™ may be used. Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry. The use of detergent is not recommended as it may diminish the water repellent finish on certain fabrics and invite the growth of mildew. We also recommend the use of 303® Marine Multi-Surface Cleaner to safely remove dirt and difficult stains.
  • Regular exposure and cleaning can diminish the water repellency of certain boat cover fabrics over time. The water repellent finish used on most boat cover fabrics allows water to bead and run off similar to that of a waxed car. When water beading diminishes, we recommend the use of 303® Marine Fabric Guard after a thorough cleaning to restore the water repellency of your cover.
  • Allow boat cover to dry thoroughly before folding for storage.

Read our Mildew Prevention and Treatment guide (PDF)