I built a rack and was looking to cover the poly boats individually. The are hung in 4" web slings. I see some ideas on line when I searched. Other option is to have custom made by canvas which is probably expensive. What material is best? Any personal experience with stuff online? I see them from 50 bucks to over 250. I would like something to last a number of years. Thanks for any tips. I was thinking along the lines of these http://www.kayakcoversofcharleston.com/

or these http://www.danuu.com/html/BuyNow.htm

I'll ask my bat canvas guy tomorrow.

I have two covers by Max Dahl of Minnesota. Google Dahl's Canvas Covers.

Custom made (I supply the boat's dimensions) of marine grade UV resistant canvas w. belly straps and cinches. Excellent work for $89.95 plus $10 shipping. One of mine is 4 seasons old and looks just like the new one I got last year. I did launder the first one and it came out great.

Canvas breathes, plastic tarp does not. This won't matter for the plastic boats, but it will if there is any cloth in your seating.

Danuu is a good company, I chatted w. their VP at a paddle show, but their standard covers are too wide for my boats.

I checked out there width and it did seem real wide. I see kayak sak but they are a lot more than yours. I'll google yours. Even a plastic baot needs to breath as I would not want the metal fittings to be trapped in a wet poly tarp all winter. Sent Max an email. Thanks!

Danuu is a very good company, but yes, I find all their covers are way too wide for my kayaks.

I agree w. your thoughts on tarps.

Max will custom fit to your boat, and he's very good to work with.
I bought my second one this spring, and so far he has held his prices for three years and counting.

Went by the local canvas guy and I will see what he came up with in the morning for price made out of sunbrella fabric. I am guessing over 300 probably near 400.

If I had to keep my boats outdoors, my choice would be to build a proper fitting box with screened ventilation and a top that would shed water. This would keep the creatures of all types out of the boat and it wouldn't take much to secure it.

Dog you do not need Sunbrella - that is a trademarked, patented fabric and *very* expensive. You are overspecifying. You want marine grade canvas and verify it is UV resistant.

he told me 360 for a custom cover in Sunbrella. Not bad considering some on the net semi custom are 350.

Dog, that's just under four times what Max Dahl charges for a custom cover made to fit your boat(s). His price, I repeat, is $89.95 + $10 s&h. I have two of them. They are flat out excellent. This is his main line of work.

even Danuu ready mades at $125-$175 (depending on length) are a far better deal.



IMO Sunbrella is overkill and so are the total charges your guy is quoting.

:::shrug::: your money, your boat.

Peace out

I stalled on the cover idea as I may be selling the Solstice GT. I went out for 3-4 hours and the seat pinches my thighs. I guess I really heed the HV model that has the wide seat base. I guess the 3/4" higher hull would make a difference. Current Design has a new seat this year but they say it doesn't fit. I doubt that I could not make it work. They probably won't sell them either as they would rather sell you a new boat. The plastic sides press on my legs when I brace with my legs. Not bad till your out a while.

I may try a heat gun on the plastic but don't want to ruin the seat or have it look like who did it and ran.


edit
Having the dealer call now about the seat if they will sell it.

edit 2 will not fit they told the dealer.

The new seat is designed for their rec boats and daytourers which have wider, deeper seatpans than the performance models (like the Solstice series).

If the seat is already tight on your thighs then it's only gonna be worse when you wear winter layers and drysuit.

If you really like the boat IMO the best options are

a) lose weight/work out so that your hips are slimmer. You wouldn't be the first person to use a kayak as motivation!

b) remove the whole seat pan and either make or buy a seat carved of foam. Install it so that is is sitting ~3/4 lower than the extg seat and that'll give you more clearance.

Check out the Hot Seat kayak pad (self adhesing) ~$25 -$29. Comes in a Grande Size for big butts. (no offense) Made by Surf to Summit. Adhears right to extg. seat or to the floor of the boat which is what you could try. Use it and keep the extg backband, at least for now.

Used their Blue (Mild) Touring one for a couple of years on my first kayak and really liked it. If I wanted to augment the seat on my new Pyranha Fusion S (don't, so far) I'd use the Black (Chili) pad.

either option is a lot cheaper than another boat!

tight on my thighs and I doubt much weight is coming off there. See when seat comes this week I hope from CD.