When it comes to choosing a suitable cover to protect your boat from the Australian elements, the market is saturated with hundreds of choices. But what is the best option? There are many things that need to be considered when making that choice, to ensure the best fit for you and your boat’s needs. Let’s decipher the ideal features, benefits, and properties needed for the perfect boat cover.
What features should you be looking for in a boat cover?
UV Resistance
Boats, being stored in outdoor areas are more susceptible to UV ray exposure. This exposure can lead to costly damage, most notably deteriorating the fabric finishes, which acts as an outer skin to the exterior of the boat. UV rays often cause cracks and colour changes in performance-enhancing coatings, thus leading to the decreased integrity of the boat’s exteriors. Therefore, UV resistance is a must.
Waterproof
It goes without saying a cover for a boat should ideally be waterproof, due to the likelihood of moisture build-up in textile materials. Moisture buildup can lead to mildew and mould growth, which can damage the exterior of the boat. With the inclusion of a waterproof treatment on boat covers, the material does not absorb the water and retain moisture, it repels it. Thus, making an environment where it is harder for mould and mildew to grow.
Anti-Fungal
In wet, warm environments anti-fungal treatments are an added layer of protection that ensures the cover stays usable and performs to its best ability.
Abrasion Resistance
Abrasion resistance is the ability of a fabric to resist surface wear and tear. These types of fabrics are usually stiff, and thick, offering a strong and durable layer to protect a boat from the uncertainty of the ocean, or storage areas. To have your boat remain in tip-top condition without, scratches, dints, or any other cosmetic blemishes, a cover with abrasion-resistant properties is the way to go.
Material Composition
The best-performing material when it comes to boat covers is Polyester. This synthetic material possesses all the benefits needed to ensure the highest protection of boats and general marine applications. This is due to its resistance to UV, water, and abrasion, as mentioned above, which are all essential properties when talking about marine covers. Polyester also offers a long useable lifespan, meaning due to its durability replacing the cover will not be as frequent. This along with its reasonable initial price makes the investment into a polyester boat cover a cost-effective decision.
Dark Colouring
Dark colours aesthetically require less cleaning compared to light colours when regarding boat covers. But the most important reason for choosing a darker colour for boating and marine applications is the greater amount of dye darker materials contain, which increases the fabric’s UV resistance and longevity of the material’s construction.
So, what can we offer at Rickys?
Jetty Plus is one of the most popular options at Ricky for Boating and marine covers. It is a 100% Solution dyed polyester with a non-woven backing, that is UV stabilised, anti-fungal, abrasion resistant, and waterproof. It is lightweight, provides an excellent strength-per-weight ratio, and is backed by a 5-year UV warranty.
Available in three colours, black, navy blue, and charcoal, with a width of 200cm and a roll length of 30 meters. Need more information on Jetty Plus or want to ask a question? Call Ricky Richards today at (02) 9735 3333 or visit our website. We'd love to hear from you!