How to Make a Winter Sailboat Cover
X-HT-300229
- Securing Boom & Base Structure — 1:36 min.
- Measuring & Using Fabric Calculator — 1:35 min.
- Patterning Boat — 9:54 min.
- Cutting & Basting Fabric Panels — 25:30 min.
- Sewing Panels Together — 33:31 min.
- Cutting Fabric to Size — 45:12 min.
- Marking Pleats, Shrouds & Other Exiting Points — 52:20 min.
- Creating Skirt — 58:56 min.
- Sewing Webbing Loops on Skirt — 1:16:48 min.
- Sewing Pleats — 1:21:06 min.
- Sewing Skirt on Tent — 1:31:35 min.
- Time to Order Zippers — 1:44:38 min.
- Cutting Skirt Ends & Boot Openings at Midship — 1:49:50 min.
- Cutting Boot Openings & Skirt Ends at Transom — 2:01:56 min.
- Cutting Boot Opening at Bow — 2:09:43 min.
- Making Boots — 2:14:39 min.
- Sewing Boots to Tent — 2:20:50 min.
- Sew Zippers — 2:38:57 min.
- Adding Webbing Loops to Zipper Opening Ends — 3:08:08 min.
- Installing Ties, Snaps & Zipper Stops — 3:11:44 min.
- Installing Cover — 3:27:03 min.
- Materials & Tools List — 3:31:13 min.
- Dura-Skrim® Patterning Material 74" (20 yds.) #103134
- Filament Strapping Tape 3/4" #5643
- Seamstick 3/8" Basting Tape for Canvas (50 yds.) #129
- Boat Cover Fabric from Sailrite - we used Top Notch® 9 Tan 60" Fabric #120451
- Thread from Sailrite® - we used Tex 90 White UV Bonded Polyester #100079
- Leech Line Dacron® 1/8" White #21209
- Polyester Webbing - White #PLLWWH or Black #PLLWBK
- YKK® #10 White Separating Molded Tooth Zipper (Delrin® Single Pull Slider) - White #104887 or Black #104830
- Polyester White Hook #105034
- Polyester White Loop #105033
- Seamstick 1/4" Basting Tape for Canvas & Upholstery (50 yds.) #104167
- YKK® Side Release Heavy Duty Buckle Black #125370
- Tan Polyester Grosgrain Ribbon Webbing #PLGGTA
- Tape Shelter‑Rite® 18 oz. White 3" (Not Adhesive Backed) #104223
- SnapRite® Fastener Cloth‑to‑Cloth Set (Nickel‑Plated Brass) #104909
- HullBlanket Headliner Carpet Type Silver Grey 72" #102637
- Packing Tape, Electrical Tape
- Gingher® 8" Scissors Right Handed #19104
- Chalk Pencil Cartridge Set #121669
- Soapstone Fabric Marking Pencil White #102766
- Deluxe 5-1/2" Magnetic Sewing Guide #103597
- Sailrite® Ultrafeed® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine #311602
- Sailrite® Ultrafeed® Collapsible Sewing Table #104821
- Sailrite® Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" #102400
- Triangle Tailor's Chalk - White #121912
- Sailrite® Edge Cordless Hotknife 18V Package #122177
- Sailrite® Tempered Cutting Glass #121915
- Sailrite® Canvas Patterning Ruler #107040
- Scratch Awl Yellow #235411
- Tape Measure 120" #102986
- Sailrite® SnapRite® System Complete Kit #104500
- Pres‑N‑Snap Installation Tool #109011
- Tape Measure, Marker, Straightedge, L Square, Stapler, Drill
First, let's talk about cover fabrics. For our winter boat cover DIY, we chose Top Notch® 9 canvas fabric. Top Notch 9 is a solution-dyed polyester with a fluorocarbon finish. It's breathable, reversible and highly water resistant — a very important feature when leaving your boat on the hard all winter. Both sides of the fabric are the same, meaning that either side can be exposed to the outside. This makes it ideal for such a large project so you can nest panels to get the most use out of your fabric. Not having to worry about right side/wrong side also makes assembly and sewing much easier.
Another reason we chose Top Notch 9 is for its superior abrasion resistance. This is an important feature in a winter boat cover. In addition to Top Notch 9, we'd also recommend Top Notch® 11.5 (heavier weight than Top Notch 9), Top Notch® 1S (lighter-weight fabric for smaller boats) and Top Gun®. If you're wondering whether Sattler® or Sunbrella® Marine Grade Fabric can be used for a winter boat cover, the answer is yes they can. However, where Top Notch and Top Gun excel over Sattler and Sunbrella is in abrasion resistance. Both brands are 100% polyester, and polyester fabrics are inherently more abrasion resistant than acrylic fabrics (Sattler and Sunbrella). So keep that in mind when selecting your cover fabric.
A great resource when shopping for cover fabrics is fabric samples. You can get samples of each marine and outdoor fabric that we recommend for boat covers, biminis, dodgers, protective covers and more. It's a great way to inspect a fabric in person before purchasing yardage. Just go to the product page for the fabric(s) you're interested in and click the "Order Sample" button. When you've chosen your fabric, the Sailrite® Fabric Calculator will help you determine how much yardage you need to order.
Watch the video tutorial for our complete step-by-step instructions for sewing your own winter boat cover. If you have any questions along the way, don't hesitate to reach out to us. Our friendly customer service representatives are available via email, phone and the chat function on our website, and are happy to assist with all of your product and project needs.