Please delete

[TrollGRG]

I have a 16 ft fishin machine. I got a generic boat cover from Costco - the fit is close but a little large which is a good thing because I want to support it in such a way as there is a curve/arch to the cover to sluff off rain and snow.

Any good ideas on how to build such a thing? I was thinking wooden slats but what else is there? PVC piping? How would you anchor the support structure to the boat when it is just sitting or even for travel?

For the time being I have the cover stretched over the boat and secured to the trailer with those plastic quick release clips.

All thoughts and ideas will be gratefully received except if you want me to put the cover/boat somewhere where it is anatomically impossible.

Thanks in advance

[Canehdianman]

My boat cover has grommets in the middle of it (one near the front, one near the back).

tent poles stick up through the grommets and push the fabric up so that water runs off.

I can't find any really good pictures of it online, but I believe it is a very common way of doing it.

here are a few pics:

http://www.canvas-boat-cover-and-repair-advisor.com/images/grommet-tent-pole.gif

http://www.copediscountmarinemart.com/store/images/boat%20cover%20support%20pole.jpg

[BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES]

Find your 1 or 2 telescopic poles

[Mayhem]

Another option, there are small pocket brackets available to attach (rivet) just below the top of the gunwale along each side.

http://www.go2marine.com/product/161226F/boat-cover-bow-sockets-die-cast.html

Then cut some strips of hardwood to hook in on each side with the amount of arch you want to support the cover. Clamp brackets temporarily about 18-24" apart, will take a bit of adjusting to get it just right.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5573032_put-wood-bows-boat-cover.html

[Walleyedude]

My boat cover has grommets in the middle of it (one near the front, one near the back).

tent poles stick up through the grommets and push the fabric up so that water runs off.

I can't find any really good pictures of it online, but I believe it is a very common way of doing it.

here are a few pics:

http://www.canvas-boat-cover-and-repair-advisor.com/images/grommet-tent-pole.gif

http://www.copediscountmarinemart.com/store/images/boat%20cover%20support%20pole.jpg

Same idea but I use three telescoping poles that actually snap on to the underside of the tarp. Keeps the rain from pooling and they keep the tarp tight when trailering.

You can buy the poles and snaps at Basspro.

[Mulestalker]

when I had my C-liner I made 2 hopes out of pex , they fit in the flush mount rod holder holes perfectly ,cut fairly long created a nice arch which held up my crappy winter tarp to shed the snow/rain etc.

Summer I used the factory travel tarp.

[EZM]

PVC is not a bad idea - light, cheap and easy to make. You can heat and bend it if required. Many off the shelf fittings.

I would imagine a simple pole (with a cap on the top so it does not tear your cover) down to a "t" fitting base and then to another couple "t"'s to make a "H" base.

The "H" lays flat on the floor with the center pole coming up from the middle of the "H".

15 minutes of work and about $20.

Most importantly - the satisfaction of making something yourself ...........

[Bjay]

I have laminated curved hardwood pieces clipped onto the side of the boat in 4 places. I will post pictures tomorrow, Saturday. Works like hot dam.
Columbia Old Guy

[TrollGRG]

Thanks guys

Lots of good ideas - Now I just have to do some ponderin and decide which way I want to go.

[Mike_W]

I would get a cheap mixing bowl from the dollar store or Walmart cut a piece of 1.5' x 1.5' plywood then
Piece of dowelling (1.5") and connect the two bowl upside down

[Bjay]

Boat cover photos as promised. Here are 8 photos out of 12. I will post the remaining 4 next. I believe the wood we used for the canvas supports was hardwood. It doesn't have to be hardwood. the strips are 1/4 inch thick and 1 @1/4 inch wide and are glued with waterproof wood glue with about 4 or 5 coats of exterior varnish. The strips are made first then glued and screwed onto the end pieces. The end pieces are screwed top and bottom or they would split. The strips were made on a mold. The center of the strips were held in in place then the ends were bent to shape. You will have to play with this as the supports sit in different places along the boat and the width is different along the length of the boat. When done the strips including end pieces are only a little longer than the width of the boat with just enough tension to hold them in place. I don't know how much snow load the supports would take as I remove the snow as it falls on the boat. The supports are very flexible. all I have to do to remove a support is push in on a support and it pops up and off. I does take a lot of time for the first support but the the rest are easy. My boat is 15 foot 6 inches long. Any questions contact me. PS the blue things on the side of the boat are my rod holders.
Columbia old guy

[Bjay]

See new thread on boat canvas support
Bjay

[Bjay]

See new thread on boat cover support
Bjay

[FisherPotch]

Two frisbees nailed to an old hockey stick. Make two if needed.
Super easy solution

[Reeltime]

I had the same challenge and elected to use 16" truck tire 'tubes'.

I inflated them with air and placed them in between the seats of a 18' Misty River and had no issues thus far.

[TrollGRG]

Now that is a quick and simple solution. Might just have to try it.