A boat is a big investment, one that you, your family and your friends can enjoy for years to come. But without the right protection, you can say goodbye to that dream of peacefully drifting down the waterways. 

Without adequate shelter from the elements your boat can quickly become a burden of hidden costs and expensive repairs that are easily avoidable if you have the right boat cover. 

Lucky for you, there are plenty of options for boat covers out there, the only problem is that with so many to choose from, how do you find the best boat cover to suit your needs? Well, we’re here to help.  

Read on to find out what you must have from a boat cover and why tarpaulins are one of the best options out there.   

What do you need from a top boat cover? 

When you’re searching for a boat cover or a cover for a boat motor, there are a few key features that the material must have to avoid your precious cargo being damaged. Your boat cover must be: 

The best boat covers 

The list of ‘must-haves’ for your boat cover is lot to ask of one material, but here at Tarpaulins Direct, we have the solution. Enter the trusty tarp, a material as versatile as it is resilient. But can it really be the ideal boat cover?  

You may be surprised to know that many of our regular customers are boat owners, looking for something cost effective to cover their boat over winter or a protective sheet to work under. But what does a tarp offer that traditional or custom boat covers don’t? Let’s take a look.  

A tarp will tick all the boxes 

While our list of non-negotiables for your boat cover may seem extensive a tarp ticks off every one without compromise. Using a tarpaulin as a boat cover offers: 

A tarp ticks all the boxes and offers all the protection your boat will need which also helps to reduce your maintenance costs considerably, making a tarp a great cost-saving measure. 

A choice of boat cover that suits your needs 

What tarps offer, that most other boat covers don’t, is choice. When you choose tarps for boat covers or boat motor covers, you get the perfect way to protect your prized possessions. Tarps offer: 

Protection for every occasion 

Not every boat will need the same protection. Some may cover their prized kayak while storing it in the garage away from rain whereas others may want to protect their cruiser while it’s hauled out for repairs, and so it’s important that a boat cover meets your specific needs. Tarpaulins give you exactly that.  

We offer boat cover tarps in a range of different thicknesses or, as we call it, weights. These weights offer different levels of protection for different environments meaning you can choose exactly the right boat cover for the job rather than getting a one-size-fits-all solution.  

For example, a 100 gsm tarpaulin offers excellent UV and weather protection but is also light weight, ideal for a boat or canoe stored in a more sheltered environment, or something you move and uncover more frequently. Whereas, if you wanted a cover for a craft that was going to be spending the winter outside then you might choose a thicker, 570 gsm tarp. 

A size to fit almost every boat 

Sure, it’s ideal to get a boat cover custom made so it fits your craft like a glove, but this often comes with a hefty price tag. Tarps offer a huge array of sizes to fit almost any boat and at a more affordable price range. 

If you have a 20-foot cruiser then you may be looking for a 7 x 5 metre supergrade tarpaulin or if you have smaller craft, like a kayak or canoe, you may just need a 2.5 x 2 metre topgrade tarpaulin. From 1.5 to 30 metres and beyond there is a tarp size that will make the perfect boat cover for your boat. 

A colour that suits you 

While colour may not seem like the most pressing issue when it comes to protecting your boat, it’s still a factor when people search for the perfect boat cover and it’s something you shouldn’t have to compromise on. 

If you’re looking for the right boat cover in the right colour, then tarpaulins are the perfect solution. Whether you want a visible and vibrant blue for safety and security, a camouflage to blend in with the surroundings or just a clear Monotex cover, the huge range of colours offered by tarpaulins simply is unbeatable.