How to Use an Adjustable Support Pole in a Cover

X-HT-200614

After sharing our first power boat project, How to Make a Power Boat Cover Video (#200616XHT), we wanted to highlight a helpful piece of that video. If you're building a new boat cover or you need a little extra tension in your existing one you can use adjustable support poles to get the tension just right.

Video Chapters:

Pole Demonstration – 0:26 min.
Sewing Reinforcement Patch – 1:33 min.
Installing Fasteners – 3:59 min.
Shortening Pole Length – 6:21 min.

Materials List:

Support Poles Adjustable 40" to 70" – #103041
Support Poles Adjustable 48" to 96" – 103045
Marine Cover Fabric (to match boat cover)
Seamstick 3/8" Basting Tape for Canvas – #129
PremoBond White UV Bonded Polyester Thread 4 oz. – Tex 70 #124738 or Tex 90 #123337
Sailrite® Snap Fastener Normal Action Socket (Nickel-Plated Brass) – #999050 (optional)
SnapRite® Snap Fastener Button 1/4" (Nickel-Plated Brass) – #104154 (optional)
#2 Spur Grommet 3/8" (Nickel-Plated Brass) – #26316 (optional)

Tools List:

Marking Chalk for Fabrics – #102464
Multiuse Pins 1-1/2" (250 pack) – #102985
Sailrite® Standard Fabricator® Sewing Machine Package – #400500
Sailrite® SnapRite® System Complete Kit – #104500
Sailrite® #2 Hole Cutter 3/8" – #125481
#2 Spur Grommet Die Set 3/8" – #18203
Sailrite® Round Maul 1# – #123969
Sailrite® Poly Cutting Board 12" x 12" – #123964
Ruler, Yardstick/Straightedge, Pencil, Hacksaw (optional)

How to Use an Adjustable Support Pole in a Cover Video 2

Adjustable support poles are great for keeping your cover taut and preventing water from pooling. Since these poles are adjustable, they can be transferred from cover to cover and boat to boat as needed and always provide a perfect fit.

These poles are installed using one of three different end fitting options: a snap fastener, a stud that fits in a grommet, and a rubber end cap. If you already have a cover for your power boat, it might already have a snap or grommet installed for a pole. If it doesn’t, you can use the rubber end to prop the cover up without any extra work or install your own grommet or snap. And, of course, if you’re making your own cover you can choose between the three!

In this video, we’ll demonstrate how to sew a reinforcing patch in the cover, and how to add a snap and a grommet. As an added bonus, we’ll also show you how to shorten an adjustable support pole if a shorter length is needed.